Santo Niño, South Cotabato Explained

Translit Lang1:Other
Translit Lang1 Type1:Jawi
Translit Lang1 Info1:سنتو نيڽو
Flag Size:120x80px
Seal Size:100x80px
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Pushpin Map:Philippines
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Philippines
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Type3:District
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:December 23, 1980
Parts Type:Barangays
Parts Style:para
P1: (see Barangays)
Leader Name:Sulpicio F. Villalobos
Leader Title1:Vice Mayor
Leader Name1:Wilfredo B. Dimzon
Leader Name2:Peter B. Miguel
Leader Title3:Municipal Council
Leader Title4:Electorate
Leader Name4: voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|)
Elevation Max M:440
Elevation Min M:115
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Blank1 Title:Households
Timezone:PST
Utc Offset:+8
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Demographics Type1:Economy
Demographics1 Title2:Poverty incidence
Demographics1 Info2:%
Demographics1 Title3:Revenue
Demographics1 Title4:Revenue rank
Demographics1 Title5:Assets
Demographics1 Title6:Assets rank
Demographics1 Title7:IRA
Demographics1 Title8:IRA rank
Demographics1 Title9:Expenditure
Demographics1 Title10:Liabilities
Demographics Type2:Service provider
Demographics2 Title1:Electricity
Demographics2 Title2:Water
Demographics2 Title3:Telecommunications
Demographics2 Title4:Cable TV
Blank1 Name Sec1:Native languages
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Blank3 Name Sec2:Catholic diocese
Blank4 Name Sec2:Patron saint

Santo Niño, officially the Municipality of Santo Niño (Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Santo Niño; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Santo Niño; Tagalog: Bayan ng Santo Niño; Inged nu Santu Ninyu, Jawi: ايڠد نو سنتو نيڽو), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of South Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 39,796 people, making it the least populated municipality in the province.

History

The municipality's name was derived from its patron saint, the “Santo Niño”, or the Holy Child. It was formerly called Barrio Trece (13) (although many still called the town proper this name) of the Norala Settlement District of then National Land Settlement Administration.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) of South Cotabato passed a resolution in 1980 requesting then Assemblyman Jose T. Sison to file a bill at the Philippine Parliament to create Santo Niño a municipality. Parliament Bill No. 1220 was finally passed and approved on December 23, 1980, when Ferdinand Marcos signed it into law as Batas Pambansa Bilang 90.[1] In a plebiscite held on April 7, 1981, the law was ratified.

Municipal mayors:

Geography

Situated in the fertile Allah Valley, it is the smallest municipality by land area in the province.

It is bounded by the Municipality of Norala (its mother-town) in the north, the Municipality of Surallah in the east, Allah River and the Municipality of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat in the south, and the Municipality of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat in the west.

Barangays

Santo Niño is politically subdivided into 10 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Climate

Average temperature in the municipality ranges from a low of to a high of throughout the year.

Precipitation can be low during the dry season (March to April) at about while it can be high especially during the wetter months (May to July) at .

Demographics

The population is highly literate.

While the most spoken language is Hiligaynon, everyone can speak Tagalog, some Cebuano, and basic conversational English.

Barangay Ambalgan is predominantly Maguindanaon who speak the Maguindanaon language and are considered the ethnic inhabitants of the municipality. The rest of the barangays are predominantly Christian settlers who first arrived in the area in the 1940s but majority arrived in 1970s during the reign of Marcos Sr..

The municipality is generally peaceful with relatively low crime incident.

Economy

Rice production is the primary industry. The well-irrigated rice-lands of the municipality are possible due to the presence of a river irrigation system which is provided by a dam at Allah River at Barangay M. Roxas.

Corn (maize) is the secondary product. Copra is also produced.

Small businesses which provide basic necessities thrive.

Tourism

Transportation

The Santo Nino Public Terminal is a hub for public utility buses and vans that travel to Koronadal City via Surallah and Banga. Travel time from Santo Nino to Koronadal City is around 30 minutes.

General Santos, where the General Santos International Airport is located, is accessible by public buses and vans from Koronadal City. Travel time from Koronadal City to General Santos is about one hour.

Travel within the municipality is through public utility tricycles and motorcycles.

Healthcare

The Municipal Health Office at the Municipal Hall Compound provides services for consultations.

Private clinics include:

There are a number of small pharmacies at the municipality.

Education

The municipality has a number of public and private schools. These are:

High Schools

Elementary Schools

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Batas Pambansa Bilang 90 : BATAS PAMBANSA - PHILIPPINE LAWS STATUTES and CODES.