SOCCSKSARGEN Regional center: Koronadal City, South Cotabato Languages: Tboli, Blaan, Cotabato Manobo, Tagabanwa Population: 3,222,169

Divisions Provinces: 4 Cities: 5 Municipalities: 45 Barangays: 1,194 Cong. Districts: 6 Density: 170.3 per km Area: 18,925.7 km

Political Division
PROVINCE North Cotabato CAPITAL Kidapawan POPULATION (2010) 1,226,508 AREA 9008.90 POP.DENSITY 136.14

Sarangani

Alabel

498,904

3601.25

138.54

South Cotabato

Koronadal

827,200

3,935.95

210.17

Sultan Kudarat

Isulan

747,087

5251.34

142.27

Cotabato City

271.786

176.0

15544.24

General Santos City

538,086

492.86

1.091.76

CITIES
SOCCSKSARGEN has 3 components cities, 1 independent city and 1 highly urbanized city, these cities are vital in the regions existence. COTABATO CITY is the regional center of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao but the city is actually part of the SOCCSKSARGEN region and does not belong to the ARRM

GENERAL SANTOS CITY dubbed as the Tuna Capital of the Philippines because of the bountiful existence of Yellow fin tuna in Sarangani Bay, and as the Highly Urbanized City it serves as the center of the Metropolitan and Regional center of trade and industry of SOCCSKSARGEN. KIDAPAWAN CITY the city hailed as A Spring in the Highland comes from the words TIDA which means spring and PAWAN meaning highland. KORONADAL CITY A.K.A Marbel is dubbed as the Sport Mecca of the South because of hosting 2 Palarong Pambansa, National School Press Conference and the Mindanao Business Conference. It is the Political Regional Center of SOCCSKSARGEN. TACURONG CITY is the only city of Sultan kudarat and it is famous for its Bird Sanctuary.

MAJOR EXPORTS
Fresh / Canned/ Frozen tuna Other fish product Fresh/ Canned pineapples Frozen octopus/ shrimps Fresh bananas Coconut/ crude/ cochin type coconut oil Copra pellets Cupflowers, asparagus, and okra Abaca pulp Garments Aquaculture products Gifts and houseware products

SOUTH COTABATO
Historical Background: The province came into existence through Republic Act No. 4840, approved on June 18, 1966, which divided the old Cotabatoprovince into two, North Cotabato and South Cotabato. The early natives settled where the Buayan River flows into Sarangani Bay. When ShariffKabungawan introduced Islam to the settlers in the 15 th century, the T'bolitribesmen were driven into the interior. The Muslim village was called "Buayan" because the river nearby was infested with crocodiles. In 1939, the central government encouraged migration to the area.. GeneralPaulino Santos led the new settlers, who arrived at Alunan Beach in Glan on February 27th of the same year. They called their community "Dadiangas" after the thorny shruk which abounds in the area. Later, newcomers moved inland. When Gen. Santos died, Republic ActNo.1107, approved on June 15, 1954, changed the name of the town in his honor. Republic A,ct No.5412, dated June 15, 1968, made the town a chartered city.

The present capital, Koronadal, used to be known as Marbel and many people still call it that. Seven of the province's southern towns were separated from the provinces in 1992 to form the new province of Sarangani.

Tourist Spots LAKE SEBU THE HIDDEN SOUTH COTABATO GOLF COURSE BLUE HAVEN RESORT COTABATO
GEOGRAPHY South Cotabato is located in the southern of the island of Mindanao. It is bounded by the province of Sultan Kudarat in the north and west, in the east and south by the city of General Santos and province of Sarangani. It lies at a latitude of about 6 degrees and 15' north and about 125 degrees longitude. Its main access to the sea is through the Sarangani Bay where the modern port of General Santos City is located.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISION South Cotabato has 10 municipalities and one city, 198 barangays and two congressional districts. LANGUAGE/DIALECT For the year 2000, the majority of the population spoke Hiligaynon, Cebuano, T'boli, Ilocano, Bilaan, Maguindanao, and Tagalog.

CLIMATE South Cotabato is a typhoon-free province where rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year while air humidity generally follows the rainfall pattern. The months from March to June are considered the hottest while December and January are the coolest.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES South Cotabato is an agribusiness destination. It had been so since 37 years ago when the first truck carrying pineapple planting materials rumbled through the dirt road of Polomolok. Long after the dust has settled, South Cotabato has emerged to be the leading producer of pineapple, asparagus, corn, rice, and cattle fattening. Today it claims to be the bread basket of the South.

TOURIST DESTINATION LA TERRE PROMISE RIO GRANDE OUR LADY OF LOURDES GROTTO

Masjid Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Cotabato City SULTAN KUDARAT

HISTORY Sultan Kudarat was made an independent province on November 22, 1973 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 341.

Prior to this proclamation, Sultan Kudarat was part of the former Empire Province of Cotabato presently covered by three provinces namely: Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and Cotabato. Being one of the largest and the richest provinces in the country, there was a necessity to divide the former province of Cotabato into smaller units. Its potentials have not been fully developed due to the magnitude of the task of the provincial government. Besides, the trouble that has long plagued the area need to be resolved and many conflicting political, social and economic interest limited the progress of the province. There was an immediate need to promote stability and accelerate the development in the area. As a result of the division, Sultan Kudarat province came into existence. The name of the province was derived from a Muslim ruler, the late Sultan Mohammad Dipatuan Kudarat of the Sultanate of Maguindanao, who reigned from 1625 to 1671. He was a virtual leader who embodied the idea of basic unity, oneness and freedom among the diverse people scattered throughout his Sultanate. He was considered as one of the national heroes of the Republic of the Philippines not only because of his virtues of leadership but also because of his patriotic exploit in repelling Spanish domination. For his honor, Sultan Kudarat province was named after him.

Geography/Area and Location Sultan Kudarat province is located on the south-western part of the island of Mindanao bounded on the North by the provinces of Maguindanao and Cotabato; on the South by South Cotabato; on the East by Davao del Sur and on the West by the Celebes Sea.

Climate Sultan Kudarat fall s under the Type B of climate characterized by a short dry season of one (1) to three (3) months and with an average of 92.78 millimeters of rainfall every month. this provides sufficient soil moisture for its agricultural endeavors. The province has an advantage over other provinces since it is free from typhoons and the rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.

SARANGANI
ETYMOLOGY Hispanicized corruption of the Malay expression sarang(an) ini, meaning "this is our home," or literally, "this is our nest," referring to Sarangani Island.

HISTORY Sarangani is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Alabel and borders South Cotabato to the north and Davao del Sur to the east. To the south lies the Celebes Sea, while it sandwiches at the center the highly urbanized city of General Santos. The province is divided into two parts, separated by the Sarangani Bay, and it used to be part of South Cotabato until it was made an independent province in 1992.Sarangani is surrounded by the Celebes Sea, Sarangani Bay, and the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur. The province is also the coastal zone of SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City), one of the countrys fast growing development clusters.

It has seven municipalities (Alabel, Malapatan, Glan, Malungon, Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum) with 140 barangays. Alabel, the provincial capital, is only 16 kilometers from General Santos City. Sarangani has a total land area of 4,100.42 square kilometers. Among the municipalities comprising the province, Malungon is the biggest with 896.63 sq. km. followed by Glan. Maitum is the smallest with only 324.35 sq. km. With the provinces strategic geographical location, it has great potential of becoming an industrial zone in Region 12.

AGRICULTURE Major Industries Agriculture: coconut, fruit and vegetable contract growing, rice and corn Aquaculture: Milkfish(Bangus), Tilapia, and Prawns Major Products Agriculture: Copra, rice corn, fruits and vegetables, and sugarcane Aquaculture: Prawns, Milkfish(Bangus), Tilapia, catfish(hito) Beautiful Spots Ayub Cave La Isla Parilla Festivals Sarangani Bay Fest Munato Festival

GENERAL SANTOS Tuna Capital of the Philippines

HISTORY The City of General Santos (known as Dadiangs, and abbreviated G.S.C. or GenSan.; Cebuano:Dakbayan sa General Santos) is the southernmost port city of the Philippines. Being a highly urbanized first class city, GenSan is one of the most populous urban centers in the country with a population of 538,086 as per census data of 2010. [ The city is bounded by municipalities of Sarangani Province namely Alabel in the East of the city, and Maasim in the South. The city is likewise bounded by South Cotabato municipality of Polomolok and Sarangani Provincemunicipality of Malungon in the north, and the municipality of T'boli in the west of the city. General Santos City is the center of commerce, trade, and logistics of Region XII and the South Cotabato, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani Province and General Santos City (SOCCSKSARGEN) growth area.

AGRICULTURE/PRODUCTS Agriculture: Pineapples, Rice, Asparagus, Corn, Coconuts, Exotic fruits, Vegetables, and Fruits. Aquaculture: TUNA FISH Beautiful Spots

 Nopol Hills Kalaja Cave Festivals Kalilangan Festival Tuna Festival

PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS MEDIA ABS CBN: Channel 3 (General Santos), Channel 4(Kidapawan), Channel 24 (Koronadal) Studio 23: Channel 8 GMA News Tv; Channel 26, TV5: Channel 38 ETC: Channel 7 North Cotabato Gov. - Emmylou Lala J. Talino Mendoza Souht Cotabato Gov. Arthur y. Pingoy Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Suharto teng T. Mangundadatu Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Domiguez