This week’s milestones (Nov. 20 to 26)

Nov. 22

The old Cotabato province is divided into three provinces—North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat—under Presidential Decree No. 341 signed by Ferdinand Marcos in 1973. North Cotabato was later renamed Cotabato in 1984.

In 2011, the Supreme Court orders, in a unanimous decision, the distribution of almost 5,000 hectares of land to some 6,000 farmer-beneficiaries of Hacienda Luisita Inc.

Nov. 24

The Ferrocaril de Manila-Dagupan, the first railroad line in the country that ran from Manila to Dagupan, is opened to the public in 1892. The train line, with a total length of 195.4 kilometers, is the forerunner of the Philippine National Railways.

Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research

Sources: DOT, gov.ph, pnr.gov.ph, Inquirer Archives