| Sultan Kudarat | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — Province — | |||
|
|||
| Map of the Philippines with Sultan Kudarat highlighted | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Philippines | ||
| Region | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | ||
| Founded | November 22, 1973 | ||
| Capital | Isulan | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Province of the Philippines | ||
| • Governor | Suharto T. Mangudadatu (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) | ||
| • Vice Governor | Ernesto Matias (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 5,251.3 km2 (2,027.5 sq mi) | ||
| Area rank | 20th out of 80 | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| • Total | 675,644 | ||
| • Rank | 39th out of 80 | ||
| • Density | 128.7/km2 (333.2/sq mi) | ||
| • Density rank | 56th out of 80 | ||
| Divisions | |||
| • Independent cities | 0 | ||
| • Component cities | 1 | ||
| • Municipalities | 11 | ||
| • Barangays | 249 | ||
| • Districts | 1st and 2nd districts of Sultan Kudarat | ||
| Time zone | PHT (UTC+8) | ||
| ZIP Code | |||
| Spoken languages | Hiligaynon, Ilokano, Cebuano, Maguindanao | ||
| Website | [1] | ||
Sultan Kudarat is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Isulan and borders Maguindanao and Cotabato to the north, South Cotabato and Sarangani to the south, and Davao del Sur to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the west.
Contents |
Sultan Kudarat was once a part of the former empire province of Cotabato. It was created as a separate province along with Maguindanao and North Cotabato on November 22, l973 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 341 signed by former Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos.
The purpose of dividing Cotabato into three (3) smaller provinces is clearly stated in Presidential Decree No. 341, which pertinently provided, to wit: “Whereas, the province of Cotabato is one of the largest and richest provinces of the Philippines;
Whereas, the potentials of the province have not been fully developed due to the magnitude of the task of provincial development and troubles that have long plagued the area;
Whereas, the many conflicting political, social and economic interests that have limited the progress of the province must be resolved in order to promote the stability and accelerate the development of Cotabato; and
Whereas, there is a need for dividing the present province into smaller units which can be more effectively administered and developed”.
The name Sultan Kudarat given to the province was derived from a Muslim ruler, the late Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat who begun to assert his leadership in the year 1619 and reigned the Sultanate of Maguindanao from January 1625 to 1671 A.D.
He was a virtuous leader who embodied the idea of basic unity, oneness and freedom among the diverse people scattered throughout its Sultanate. For this reason, he was considered as one of the National heroes of our country and for his honour this province was named after him.
As of the 2000 census, Sultan Kudarat has a total population of 586,505. The province formerly had a Muslim majority, but Christian migrants now outnumber Muslims and highlanders.
Maguindanaons live in the coastal towns of the province. Tribal groups with settlements in the province include the Blaan, Iranons, Tirurays and Manobo.
The most dominant language is Hiligaynon (Ilonggo), but Ilocano and Cebuano are spoken in some municipalities. Maguindanao is the local language of the Muslim population.
The economy of Sultan Kudarat is predominantly agricultural. With vast agricultural potential, the output consists of practically all types of crops grown in the country, including rice, corn, beef, coffee, and vegetables. The province is self-sufficient in poultry, swine, and root crops. The province is one of the few producers of Irish potatoes in the Philippines. The southern Philippines Grain Complex in Tacurong is the largest grains-processing complex in the country. There are more than 200 ricemills in the province.
Fishing is a fast growing industry. Tuna caught along the coasts along the Celebes Sea are of high quality, and are exported to Japan and Europe.
Another significant economic activities include the cottage industry, which includes crafts made of rattan and other types of wood.
Sultan Kudarat is subdivided into 11 municipalities and 1 city. Three of the municipalities (Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang) are coastal towns, while the rest of the province are located inland.
Tacurong City is the smallest unit in the province in terms of land area, but it is the most urbanized, and is considered to be the province's commercial center. Other growth centers are Lebak and Isulan, the latter being the provincial capital. Bagumbayan is the largest town in terms of land area.
The 11 municipalities and Tacurong City are further subdivided into 249 barangays.
|
Sultan Kudarat is located on the southwestern part of the island of Mindanao. It is 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. The province's total land area is 4783.1898 square kilometres.
The three coastal towns on the province's western side are lined with mountain ranges that wall the central part of the province from the sea. There are also mountains on the eastern side, leaving flat land in between.
The climate is characterized by a short dry season lasting from one to three months. Unlike most other provinces in the country, Sultan Kudarat is generally free from typhoons and rainfall is more evenly distributed throughout the year.
The native Maguindanaon have a fascinating culture that revolves around kulintang music, a specific type of gong music, found among both Muslim and non-Muslim groups of the Southern Philippines.
The elected provincial officials for 2010-2013 are:
Elected Officials 2007-2010
Elected Officials 2004-2007
Elected Officials 1998-2000; 2000-2004
Elected Officials 1995-1998
Elected Officials 1992-1995
|
||||||||