South Cotabato Explained

South Cotabato
Official Name:Province of South Cotabato
Translit Lang1:Other
Translit Lang1 Type1:Jawi
Translit Lang1 Info1:سلاتن كوتوات
Flag Size:120x80px
Seal Size:100x80px
Image Map1:
Frame-Width:250
Zoom:8
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:July 18, 1966
Seat Type:Capital
Leader Title:Governor
Leader Name:Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. (PFP)
Leader Title1:Vice Governor
Leader Name1:Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. (PFP)
Leader Title2:Legislature
Leader Name2:South Cotabato Provincial Board
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Rank:32nd out of 81
Area Note:(excluding General Santos)
Elevation Max M:2,286
Elevation Max Point:Mount Matutum
Population Rank:29th out of 81
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Density Rank:41st out of 81
Population Note:(excluding General Santos)
Demographics Type1:Divisions
Demographics1 Title1:Independent cities
Demographics1 Title2:Component cities
Demographics1 Title3:Municipalities
Demographics1 Title4:Barangays
Demographics1 Title5:Districts
Demographics1 Info5:
Timezone:PST
Utc Offset:+8
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Blank Name Sec1:Spoken languages
Blank Name Sec2:Income classification
Blank Info Sec2:1st class
Nickname:Land of the Dreamweavers
Seat1:General Santos
Seat1 Type:Largest city

South Cotabato (Hiligaynon: Bagatnan Cotabato; Cebuano: Habagatang Cotabato; Iloko: Abagatan a Cotabato; Maguindanaon: Salatan Kutawatu, Jawi: سلاتن كوتوات; Filipino; Pilipino: Timog Cotabato<ref>{{cite web |title=Mapa ng mga Wika (Rehiyon) - Rehiyon XII |url=https://kwf.gov.ph/mapa-ng-mga-wika-rehiyon/18/ |publisher=[[Commission on the Filipino Language]] |access-date=September 23, 2021 |language=fil), officially the Province of South Cotabato, is a province in the Philippines located in the Soccsksargen region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and northeast, and Davao del Sur to the far northeast. To the southeast lies Sarangani Bay.

General Santos, located on the shores of Sarangani Bay, is the largest city in both the province and the region (by population), but is governed independently from the province. The province of Sarangani used to be part of South Cotabato until it was made an independent province in 1992.

History

Early history

Centuries ago, the area that would be the South Cotabato was sparsely inhabited by Maguindanaon pioneers and Lumads which are under Sultanate of Maguindanao's influence. The Spaniards launched expeditions to subdue the area throughout the colonial era but they never gained control of the region until the middle of the 19th century after the Spaniards established a military post at what is now Barangay Tamontaka, one of the earliest Christian settlements founded south of the Philippines, in present-day Cotabato City. Spaniards already took with them Chavacano-speaking Christians and Muslims from Zamboanga and Basilan, as well as the Visayans, especially the Hiligaynons and Cebuanos.

American invasion era

The area of what is now South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces used to be part of Davao province until 1914, when the reorganization of the districts in Mindanao took place, thus it became part of the then-undivided Cotabato province. Settlers, who would lay the foundation of what would become a progressive province, started trooping down 1914.

The significant thrust occurred during the term of President Quezon in late 1930s. General Paulino Santos led the first of wave of settlers that time.

Philippine independence

After World War II, the final exodus of settlers from Luzon and Visayas poured into the area's virgin land. In the early 1960s as population, trade and industries grew in southern part of Cotabato, a clamor of local self-governance arose. Thus, on July 18, 1966, South Cotabato was separated from Cotabato as an independent province.[2] At that time, the province consisted of 11 municipalities, namely: Banga, South Cotabato, General Santos (now a city), Glan, Kiamba, Koronadal, Maitum, Norala, Polomolok, Surallah, Tantangan, and Tupi. These municipalities were established long before the creation of the province. Other component municipalities were formed after it fully functioned as a province.

With the creation of regions under Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, South Cotabato was grouped with Region XI, also known as Southern Mindanao, in 1975.[3]

In 1992, the province of Sarangani was formed out of South Cotabato. Seven towns in southern and coastal section of the province (Malungon, Alabel, Malapatan, Glan, Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum) became part of the new province, leaving South Cotabato with 11 remaining municipalities.[4]

Regional offices were relocated to South Cotabato in accordance with EO 429 dated October 12, 1990, issued by President Corazon C. Aquino during the expansion of the newly created Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,[5] and EO No. 36 dated September 19, 2001, issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo which says South Cotabato is to be transferred from Southern Mindanao region to Region XII and having the city of Koronadal as the regional center of Region XII.[6]

Contemporary

On August 16, 2000, Republic Act No. 8803 was approved, that converted the municipality of Koronadal into a component city of South Cotabato.[7]

In 2015, the National Competitiveness Council declared the province as the 4th most competitive province in the country.

Geography

South Cotabato covers a total land area of . When General Santos is included for geographical purposes, the province's land area is . The province is situated on the southern section of central Mindanao, bounded by the provinces of Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and northeast, Davao del Sur to the far northeast, and the Sarangani Bay to the southeast.

The province is generally flat dotted with some hills and mountains. General Santos City occupies the province's only coastline.

Climate

South Cotabato belongs to the fourth type of climate, that is rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. The average number of rainy days for the year 2004 is recorded between 122 and 180 days with the months of May, June, July, August and October having the most occurrence.

Air humidity generally follows closely the rainfall pattern. Humidity is highest during the period of June to October with 88% being recorded at the Tupi seed farm. The months of February and April have the lowest air humidity recorded at about 72%.

Maximum daytime temperature throughout the province is in the range of 36to, falling to 23to during the night depending on the elevation. The hottest period is January to April while July to December being the coolest.

South Cotabato enjoys a mild, pleasant climate with no pronounced dry or wet season, and is practically typhoon-free.

Administrative divisions

South Cotabato comprises 10 municipalities and 1 component city. The highly urbanized city of General Santos is traditionally grouped with, but administered independently from, the province. It has a total of 199 barangays (225 if the city of General Santos is included).

City municipalityDistrictPopulationAreaDensityCoordinates
km2/km2
Banga2nd76,343240.35km2NaN89164/240.35226.4235°N 124.7734°W
General Santos CityLone697,315594,446492.86km2NaN697315/492.86266.1139°N 125.1717°W
Koronadal City2nd174,942277km2NaN195398/277.00276.5003°N 124.8435°W
Lake Sebu3rd87,442702km2NaN81221/702.00196.2248°N 124.7118°W
Norala3rd44,642123.2km2NaN46682/123.20146.5188°N 124.6567°W
Polomolok1st152,589339.97km2NaN172605/339.97236.2142°N 125.0644°W
Santo Niño3rd40,94786.2km2NaN39796/86.20106.438°N 124.6734°W
Surallah3rd84,539540.3km2NaN89340/540.30176.3756°N 124.7472°W
Tampakan1st39,525390km2NaN41018/390.00146.4439°N 124.9272°W
2nd43,245351.12km2NaN45744/351.12136.5632°N 124.7682°W
T'Boli3rd91,453895.83km2NaN101049/895.83256.2136°N 124.8226°W
Tupi1st69,976228km2NaN73459/228.00156.331°N 124.9508°W
Total975,476915,2893,935.953935.95km2NaNPD/km2NaNPD/km2199

Demographics

The population of South Cotabato (excluding General Santos) was 975,476 in the 2020 census, making it one of the country's most populous province. The population density is NaNPD/km2NaNPD/km2.

When General Santos is included for geographical purposes, the province's population is 1,509,735 people, with a density of .

Inhabitants

The people of South Cotabato have diverse heritages. The province's indigenous people are Blaan, Tboli and Maguindanaon. Ethnic Hiligaynons, descendants of migrants from Panay and Negros in the Visayas who settled in the municipalities/towns of Norala, Banga, Surallah, Santo Niño and the province's capital city, Koronadal, are the majority in the province. The province's major media of communication are Hiligaynon, Tagalog, and English. On the other hand, Ilocano-speaking peoples of Luzon settled in Tampakan, Tantangan and Tupi, and the Ilocano language may still be heard in these towns. The Cebuanos are the main ethnic group of the municipality of Polomolok, and are one of the main ethnic groups of Tupi (along with the Hiligaynons and Kapampangans). Both towns are near to General Santos, which speaks both Hiligaynon and Cebuano. Chavacano speakers are even found scattered in some areas of the province, as well as Maguindanaons because of the province's history of being part of Sultanate of Maguindanao. Tbolis mainly reside around the Lake Sebu area, while Blaans reside within General Santos and its outskirts.

Religion

Roman Catholics predominate the province with 65% adherence,[8] while Islam is a minority religion which is 6% of the population.[9] Other minorities are various Christian Churches such as Prostestants which form about 22% and consist of mostly evangelicals[10] of the province's population which can be mostly found in some urban parts of the province. Iglesia ni Cristo forms about 3-4% population.[11] The remainder are divided among Buddhist and animism.

The Maguindanaon make up the majority of the Muslim population in the province. Other indigenous Filipino tribes are the T'boli and B'laan tribes in Lake Sebu and T'boli municipalities, famous for their brassworks, beadwork and t'nalak weave. The people of these tribes wear colorful embroidered native costumes and beadwork accessories. The women of these tribes, particularly, wear heavy brass belts with brass 'tassels' ending in tiny brass bells that herald their approach even when they are a long way off.

The people of South Cotabato retain many of the practices and traditions of their particular tribal heritages, although infused with a flavor that is distinctly Mindanaoan and the product of cultural interaction between the immigrants and the indigenous peoples of the area. One vivid example of this is the predominant use of the native malong, the colorful, tubelike garment used as a skirt by the indigenous tribes, in place of a blanket or sleeping bag.

Language

Hiligaynon is the most widely spoken language in the province. It is the main language in the capital city of Koronadal—earning its nickname "the Ilonggo Capital of Mindanao"—and the municipalities of the Upper Valley region, namely, Surallah, Banga, Norala, Sto. Niño and Tantangan, followed by Cebuano, which is the majority language of General Santos and the main language in the Municipalities of Polomolok, Tampakan and Tupi. Tagalog and English are widely understood and often used for administrative functions by the local government and in education, with the former serving as dominant language in local media and of everyday communication of speakers of different languages, making it a secondary lingua franca in the province. Other languages spoken in the province are Maguindanaon, Tboli, Blaan, Kapampangan and Ilocano.

Government

Executive Branch:[12]

Legislative Branch:

Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board Members)

  1. SP Nilda Almencion (PFP)
  2. SP Noel J. Escobillo (PFP)
  3. SP Alan Ines (PDP-Laban)
  1. SP Marie Antonina "Junette" Ines Hurtado (PFP)
  2. SP Dardanilo N. Dar (PDP-Laban)
  3. SP Ervin Luntao (PFP)
  4. SP Mike Matinong (PFP)
  5. SP Ratrat-Bing Causing (PFP)
  6. SP Henry L. Ladot (PFP)
  7. SP Cecile Diel (PFP)

Ex-Officio Members:

  1. SP Allysa L. Marie Fale, SK President
  2. SP Rose Grace J. Achurra, PCL President
  3. SP Edgar G. Sambog, IPMR
  4. SP Rolando D. Malabuyoc, LnB President

Provincial capital

The Local Provincial Government holds its official functions in the City of Koronadal. The Provincial Capitol, Provincial Hospital, and all related offices are found in the city.

Legislative districts

DistrictCityMunicipalityPopulation
1st287,082
2nd330,306
3rd358,088
LoneGeneral Santos697,315

House Bill No. 4678, filed on December 13, 2016, by First District Rep. Pedro B. Acharon, Jr., seeks to segregate the highly urbanized city of General Santos from the said district to form its own congressional district, separate from the representation of South Cotabato.[13] This bill was signed by the president last March 11, 2019.

List of governors of South Cotabato since 1967

Musical heritage

See main article: Music of the Philippines and Kulintang.

The native Maguindanaon of South Cotabato have a culture that revolves around kulintang music, a specific type of gong music, found among both Muslim and non-Muslim groups of the Southern Philippines.

Festivals of South Cotabato

South Cotabato is renowned for its vibrant and culturally rich festivals. These celebrations reflect the diverse heritage, traditions, and communal spirit of the region’s inhabitants. Here are some of the most notable festivals in South Cotabato:

!Festival!Date!Location!
Hinugyaw FestivalJanuary 10Koronadal City[14]
Kulitangtang FestivalJanuary 27Tantangan
Pasundayag FestivalMarch 4Banga
Kamayadan FestivalMarch 10Norala
Seslong FestivalMarch 16T'boli
SurbeTube FestivalJune 24Surallah
Tamfaken Lum Alay Festival June 25Tampakan
T'nalak FestivalJuly 18 South CotabatoSouth Cotabato Foundation Anniversary[15]
Agfen Tufi FestivalSeptember 1Tupi
Pinyahan FestivalSeptember 1PolomolokBrgy. Cannery Site Foundation Anniversary
FlomLok FestivalSeptember 10Polomolok
Charter AnniversaryOctober 8Koronadal CityCityhood Anniversary
Helobung FestivalNovember 11Lake Sebu
Hinublag FestivalDecember 23Santo Niño

Education

South Cotabato boasts a diverse array of educational institutions catering to the needs of its growing population. These institutions range from primary and secondary schools to colleges and universities, providing comprehensive education opportunities across various fields of study.

!Institution!!Location
Notre Dame of Marbel UniversityTertiaryKoronadal City
Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Glamang CampusTertiaryPolomolok
University of the Philippines Manila School of Health Sciences Koronadal CampusTertiaryKoronadal City
South Cotabato State CollegeTertiarySurallak
St. Alexius CollegeTertiaryKoronadal City
South East Asian Institute of TechnologyTertiaryTupi
Ramon Magsaysay Memorial CollegesTertiaryKoronadal City
Green Valley College FoundationTertiaryKoronadal City
STI CollegeTertiaryKoronadal City
King's College of Marbel, Inc.TertiaryKoronadal City
Notre Dame Siena College of PolomolokTertiaryPolomolok
Regency Polytechnic CollegeTertiaryKoronadal City
Goldenstate College MarbelTertiaryKoronadal City
Marvelous College of Technology, Inc.TertiaryKoronadal City
ACLC College of MarbelTertiaryKoronadal City
Philippine Science High School Soccsksargen Region CampusSecondaryKoronadal City
Notre Dame – Siena School of MarbelSecondaryKoronadal City
Notre Dame of Marbel University - Basic Education DepartmentSecondaryKoronadal City
Notre Dame of SuralaSecondarySurallah
Notre Dame of BangaSecondaryBanga
Notre Dame of NoralaSecondaryNorala
Notre Dame of Santo NiñoSecondarySanto Niño

Health

South Cotabato is home to a range of medical facilities that provide comprehensive healthcare services to its residents. The province’s hospitals are strategically located across various municipalities and cities, ensuring accessible medical care for the community.

!Hospital!Location
Allah Valley Medical CenterKoronadal City
Dr. Arturo P. Pingoy Medical CenterKoronadal City
Polomolok General HospitalPolomolok
Howard Hubbard Memorial HospitalPolomolok
Norala District HospitalNorala
Lake Sebu Community HospitalLake Sebu
Moorehouse Mission HospitalT'boli
Polomolok Municipal HospitalPolomolok
Soccsksargen General HospitalSurallah
Socomedics Medical CenterKoronadal City
South Cotabato Provincial HospitalKoronadal City
Heramil Maternity and Children's HospitalPolomolok
Surallah Community HospitalSurallah
Bontuyan Medical Hospital, Inc.Polomolok
Tampakan General HospitalTampakan

Notable people

Sister province

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Provinces . PSGC Interactive . National Statistical Coordination Board . May 14, 2014 . Makati City, Philippines.
  2. Web site: Republic Act No. 4849 - An Act Creating the Province of South Cotabato. Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. January 8, 2016.
  3. Web site: Presidential Decree No. 742; Restructuring the Regional Organization of Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. The LawPhil Project. January 8, 2016. July 7, 1975.
  4. Web site: An Act Creating the Province of Sarangani. House of Representatives of the Philippines. January 8, 2016. March 16, 1992. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160207210005/http://www.congress.gov.ph/download/ra_08/Ra07228.pdf. February 7, 2016.
  5. Web site: Executive Order No. 429; Providing for the Reorganization of the Administrative Regions in Mindanao, And for Other Purposes. The LawPhil Project. January 8, 2016. October 12, 1990.
  6. Web site: Executive Order No. 36; Providing for the Reorganization of the Administrative Regions in Mindanao and for Other Purposes. The LawPhil Project. January 8, 2016. September 19, 2001.
  7. Web site: Republic Act No. 8803; An Act Converting the Municipality of Koronadal, South Cotabato Province, Into a Component City to Be Known As the City of Koronadal. House of Representatives of the Philippines. January 8, 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223646/http://www.congress.gov.ph/download/ra_11/RA08803.pdf. March 3, 2016.
  8. Web site: MAP: Catholicism in the Philippines. Michael. Bueza. Rappler. January 18, 2015 .
  9. Web site: MAP: Islam in the Philippines. Michael. Bueza. Rappler. July 17, 2015 .
  10. Web site: Philippine Church National Summary. philchal.org.
  11. Web site: MAP: Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines. Michael. Bueza. Rappler. July 26, 2014 .
  12. Web site: South Cotabato Provincial Officials. June 1, 2021. OFFICIAL WEBSITE Province Of South Cotabato Angat ka sa Lahat.
  13. Web site: House Bill No. 4678 - An Act Creating the Lone/3rd Legislative District of the City of General Santos. February 23, 2017 . December 13, 2016 . Acharon . Pedro B. Jr. . House of Representatives of the Philippines .
  14. Web site: Hinugyaw Festival 2021 .
  15. Web site: January 6, 2020 . T'nalak Festival ⋆ Expert World Travel .