Pigcawayan

Pigcawayan
Municipality
Map of Cotabato with Pigcawayan highlighted
Pigcawayan Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 07°17′N 124°26′E / 7.283°N 124.433°E / 7.283; 124.433Coordinates: 07°17′N 124°26′E / 7.283°N 124.433°E / 7.283; 124.433
Country	Philippines
Region	SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
Province	Cotabato
Congr. district	1st District of Cotabato
Incorporated	September 30, 1953
Barangays	40
Government[1]
• Type	Mayor-Council
• District Representative	Jesus N. Sacdalan
• Mayor	Herminio S. Roquero
• Vice Mayor	Kim Ree Pe Gonzaga
Area[2]
• Total	340.11 km2 (131.32 sq mi)
Elevation	30 m (100 ft)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	59,975
• Density	180/km2 (460/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	9412
Dialing code	64
Language(s)	Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Ilocano
Income class	1st class[2]
Website	www.pigcawayan.gov.ph

Pigcawayan (sometimes spelled Pigkawayan) is a first class municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 59,975 people.^[3]

Geography

Pigcawayan is the last municipality of Cotabato Province coming from Davao City to Cotabato City.^[4] It is 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Cotabato City, 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Awang Airport and 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the nearest seaport which is the Polloc Port of Parang, Maguindanao.

Barangays

Pigcawayan is politically subdivided into 40 barangays.^[2]

History

Before its creation as a separate and independent Political Unit, Pigcawayan together with Alamada and Libungan were component barangays of Midsayap. Pigcawayan, however at that time was more progressive than the two mentioned.

How Pigcawayan got its name remains undocumented, however two version had been given by the early settlers which was passed on from one generation to another. The first version was that, the place now known as Pigcawayan was considered as a battle ground for the Iranons and the Maguindanaoans. Due to this fighting the inhabitants would abandon the place to be occupied by the victors. From this evolved the Muslim word "Pighawaan" which meant an abandoned place.

The second version, refers to an incident when an American School Superintendent visited the place. By coincidence it was also the time when folks were roasting a pig with the use of bamboo pole rotated over live charcoal. The word pig bamboo as said by the superintendent was translated into the local dialect Pigcawayan the present name of the municipality.

Demographics

Economy

The Municipality of Pigcawayan is purely an agricultural area. Common Industrial activities are rice and corn mills. There are (11) Ricemills (electric operated) found in Poblacion (2), Tubon (4), North and South Manuangan (2), Upper Baguer (10), Balogo (1), and Capayuran (1). Aside from these, there are also Twenty (20) Baby Cono/Kiskisan that can be found in (13) barangays.

Processed milled rice by Rice Mills are usually brought/sold to Cotabato City, Davao City and in some parts of South Cotabato. Milled rice produced by "Kiskisan/Baby Cono" were usually for households consumption by residents of barangays.

There are three (3) cottage industries such as furniture shops using wood, bamboo and rattan. Other industries are Rice grinder, mini sawmill and machine shops.

Tourist attractions

• Spanish Tower located at Libungan-Torreta, Pigcawayan. It is a historical place.
• Saljay Integrated Farm located at Presbitero, Pigcawayan. Farming and it is good for agricultural trips.
• The Shrine of Virgin Mary, located at Rogona, New Panay, Pigcawayan. The grotto was placed near the spring with cold and crystal water. Even summer time you can feel the freshness and coldness of air due to the presence of trees and green watersheds and a sanctuary of wild animals.
• Payong-Payong Cave, located at Payong-Payong, Pigcawayan. Nice place for caving.
• Bual Spring, located at Kimarayag, Pigcawayan. Swimming.
• Payong-Payong Falls located at Auxiliary, Payong-Payong, Pigcawayan. The waterfalls drops on a 8–12 meters high with its source coming from a wide river.
• Agustin Swimming Pool Resort located at Tigbawan, Pigcawayan. Nice place for camping, swimming and picnic.
• Kagiringan Falls located at Kimarayag, Pigcawayan. Camping and trekking.
• Rapu-Rapu Falls located at Anick, Pigcawayan. The falls drops into a natural round pool called "kawa-kawa" with an estimated 3 meters in diameter.
• Malagakit Lake Resort Malagakit, Pigcawayan. The lake was judged as the cleanest and greenest inland body of water in the Philippines in 1995.
• Lampaki Cave located at Kimarayag, Pigcawayan. The entrance is 3 meters in height with beautiful formations of stalactites and stalagmites inside and scattered thick guano can be found. There is a small hole on the top wherein the rays of the sun passes.
• Kimarayag Cave located at Campo 1, Kimarayag, Pigcawayan. The cave has stalactites and stalagmites formed like a teeth of a whale.

References

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information

		Buldon, Maguindanao
	Parang, Maguindanao Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao		Libungan
		Pigcawayan
		Kabuntalan, Maguindanao	Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao

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)