RA 8973 signed by then President Joseph E. Estrada in February 2001 created the province of Zamboanga Sibugay. A total of sixteen municipalities compose this newest province in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Zamboanga Sibugay was formerly part of Zamboanga del Sur. Attempts to divide Zamboanga del Sur into separate provinces date as far back as the 1960s. Several bills were filed in Philippine Congress, but remained unacted. The new province was finally created by Republic Act No. 8973 on February 24, 2001. George Hofer was elected as its first governor in 2001. In the 2010 local elections, Governor Hofer's daughter, Dulce Ann k. Hofer, the incumbent Second District Representative lost the gubernatorial race to Rommel Jalosjos.