by virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 137, after having been a part of the defunct province of Manila.

Montalban was then returned to its mother municipality of San Mateo by virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 942 on October 12, 1903. San Mateo served as the seat of government in line with the economic centralization. Montalban then separated from San Mateo to become an independent municipality again by virtue of Executive Order No.