Pagadian

Pagadian
City of Pagadian
Plaza Luz Dancing Fountain
Pagadian Public Market
Rotunda View Deck
Pagadian Boulevard
City Hall
Pagadian Mosque
Nicknames: 
Home of the 40 Degree Tricycle
Little Hongkong of the South
Motto: 
Asenso Pagadian!
Anthem: Beautiful Pagadian
Map of Zamboanga del Sur with Pagadian highlighted
Interactive map of Pagadian
Pagadian
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 7°49′38″N 123°26′11″E / 7.8272°N 123.4364°E / 7.8272; 123.4364
CountryPhilippines
RegionZamboanga Peninsula
ProvinceZamboanga del Sur
District 1st district
FoundedMarch 23, 1937
CityhoodJune 21, 1969
Barangays54 (see Barangays)
Government
 • TypeSangguniang Panlungsod
 • MayorSamuel Sy Co (Lakas)
 • Vice MayorMonique Shaira “Aiko” Yu To (PFP)
 • RepresentativeJoseph Yu (Lakas)
 • City Council
Members
  • Sam Tyra F. Co
  • Arnold R. Gavenia
  • Ronald Christopher Glenn L. Ariosa
  • Jesuseller M. Duterte
  • Prescilla M. Fernandez
  • Fernando Y. Pameron
  • Troy B. Asugas
  • Vincenzo E. Cagampang
  • Teodoro M. Quicoy
  • Jesus B. Bajamunde Jr.
 • Electorate149,477 voters (2025)
Area
 • Total
378.80 km2 (146.26 sq mi)
Elevation
187 m (614 ft)
Highest elevation
1,402 m (4,600 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)
 • Total
206,483
 • Density545.10/km2 (1,411.8/sq mi)
 • Households
45,633
DemonymPagadianon
Economy
 • Income class1st city income class
 • Poverty incidence
13.36
% (2021)
 • Revenue₱ 1,890 million (2022)
 • Assets₱ 6,755 million (2022)
 • Expenditure₱ 1,024 million (2022)
 • Liabilities₱ 2,302 million (2022)
Service provider
 • ElectricityZamboanga del Sur 1 Electric Cooperative (ZAMSURECO 1)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
7016
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)62
Native languagesSubanon
Cebuano
Chavacano
Tagalog
Maguindanaon
Iranun
Maranao
Tausug
Samal
Catholic dioceseDiocese of Pagadian
Patron saintSanto Niño de Pagadian
Websitewww.pagadian.gov.ph

Pagadian, officially the City of Pagadian, is a component city and the capital of the province of Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines. It is the regional center of Zamboanga Peninsula and the second-largest city in the region, after the independent city of Zamboanga. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 206,483 people. The city will be converted into a highly urbanized city by the virtue of Proclamation No. 1247, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte dated November 8, 2021, but shall take effect after the ratification in a plebiscite.

Pagadian began as stop-over for traders who plied the road between the old Spanish fort-town of Zamboanga on the southwestern tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula and other bigger towns to the north of the old Zamboanga Province. Except for its sheltered bay and good fishing grounds, it was not a promising site because it is situated on steeply rolling terrain. In the course of its local history, waves of different kinds of people came to stay, and eventually called among themselves "Pagadianons".

The iconic symbol of Pagadian is its uniquely designed tricycle built to adopt to the city's hilly terrain. It is the only place in the Philippines with a public transport inclined at about 25-40° angle. In recent years, these iconic inclined public transport have been slowly being replaced by modernized tricycles that are locally called "bao-bao", a kind of auto rickshaw, due to the latter's fuel-efficiency, less noise and being environment-friendly due to its smoke-less emissions.