Prior to gaining separate representation, areas now under the jurisdiction of Zamboanga del Norte were represented under the Department of Mindanao and Sulu (1917–1935) and the historical Zamboanga Province (1935–1953).
The enactment of Republic Act No. 711 on June 6, 1952 divided the old Zamboanga Province into Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur and provided them each with a congressional representative.[1] Zamboanga del Norte first elected its separate representative starting in the 1953 elections.
Even after receiving their own city charters, Dapitan and Dipolog remained part of the representation of the Province of Zamboanga del Norte by virtue of Section 80 of Republic Act No. 3811 (June 22, 1963)[2] and Section 86 of Republic Act No. 5520 (June 21, 1969),[3] respectively.
Under the new Constitution which was proclaimed on February 11, 1987, the province was reapportioned into three congressional districts;[4] each elected its member to the restored House of Representatives starting that same year.