Matalam, Cotabato

Matalam, Cotabato
Map of Cotabato with Matalam highlighted
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 07°05′N 124°54′E / 7.083°N 124.900°E / 7.083; 124.900Coordinates: 07°05′N 124°54′E / 7.083°N 124.900°E / 7.083; 124.900
Country	Philippines
Region	SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
Province	Cotabato
Congr. district	3rd District of Cotabato
Incorporated	December 29, 1961
Barangays	34
Government[1]
• Type	Mayor-Council
• District Representative	Nancy A. Catamco
• Mayor	Oscar M. Valdevieso
• Vice Mayor	Cheryl V. Catamco
Area[2]
• Total	476.00 km2 (183.78 sq mi)
Elevation	80 m (260 ft)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	74,034
• Density	160/km2 (400/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	9406
Dialing code	64
Language(s)	Manobo (official)
Income class	1st class[2]

Matalam is a first class municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 74,034 people.^[3]

Geography

Matalam is a palm shape municipality. It is centrally located right at the heart of the province of Cotabato. It is bounded on the east by the municipality of Kidapawan; on the west by Kabacan; on the south by M’lang and on the north by the Municipalities of President Roxas and Carmen. It lies along the Cotabato-Davao National Highway occupying the large portion of the Arakan Valley.

Barangays

Matalam is politically subdivided into 34 barangays.^[2]

Climate

Matalam belongs to the 4th type of climate, which is characterized by a more or less even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. The municipality has an average rainfall of 13.63 inches (346 mm). The heaviest rainfall months of the year are May, June and July. The prevailing wind direction is from west to east. Matalam is geographically located outside typhoon belt. Normal condition temperature ranges from 28 to 38 °C (82 to 100 °F), the month of April being the hottest month, while the coldest month of the year is December.

History

The municipality of Matalam before its creation into a regular municipality was just a mere sitio of Kilada called "Crossing M'lang" within the jurisdiction of the municipality of Kabacan. Because of its strategic location coupled with the strong desire of the people, petitioned the provincial and national government for its creation into a regular municipality. It was formally separated from Kabacan and was created into a municipality in 1958.^[4]

Demographics

Economy

Matalam's market and other commercial establishments are the hub of activity in the area. Commercial establishments in the town include the following: bakeries, gasoline dealers, copra dealers, sari-sari stores, beta houses, carenderias, hardwares, grains retailers, fish dealers, and many more.

Rice, corn and copra are commodities which are very much in demand in the local trade. Due to lack of supply, rice and corn grits are sometimes brought in from the mainland. These are retailed in the market for local consumption.

Mineral resources is found on the mountainous portion with properties such as shale sandstone, conglomerate, limestone, igneous rock and other volcanic materials.

References

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information

	Carmen		Antipas
	Kabacan		President Roxas
	Matalam
		M'lang	Kidapawan

Province of Cotabato Municipalities Alamada Aleosan Antipas Arakan Banisilan Carmen Kabacan Libungan M'lang Magpet Makilala Matalam Midsayap Pigcawayan Pikit President Roxas Tulunan Component city Kidapawan Independent component city Cotabato City (Administratively independent from the province, but grouped under Cotabato by the National Statistics Office)