Sarangani

For the municipality in Davao Occidental, see Sarangani, Davao Occidental. For the language, see Sarangani language. For other uses, see Sarangani (disambiguation).
Sarangani
Province

Seal

Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 05°52′N 125°17′E / 5.867°N 125.283°E / 5.867; 125.283Coordinates: 05°52′N 125°17′E / 5.867°N 125.283°E / 5.867; 125.283
Country Philippines
Region SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
Founded March 16, 1992
Capital Alabel
Government
 • Governor Steve C. Solon (UNA/PCM)
 • Vice Governor Jinkee J. Pacquiao (UNA/PCM)
Area[1]
 • Total 3,601.25 km2 (1,390.45 sq mi)
Area rank 37th out of 81
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 498,904
 • Rank 55th out of 81
 • Density 140/km2 (360/sq mi)
 • Density rank 57th out of 81
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities 0
 • Municipalities 7
 • Barangays 141
 • Districts Lone district of Sarangani
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code 9501 to 9503; 9514 to 9517
Dialing code 83
ISO 3166 code PH-SAR
Spoken languages Cebuano, Tagalog, Hiligaynon, B'laan, Sangirese, Indonesian
Website www.sarangani.gov.ph

Sarangani or Saraŋgani, is a province in the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region. Its capital is Alabel. With a 230 kilometres (140 mi) coastline along the Sarangani Bay and Celebes Sea, the province is at the southernmost tip of Mindanao island, and borders South Cotabato and Davao del Sur to the north, and Davao Occidental to the east.

Sarangani is part of the South Cotabato-Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-Gen. Santos City (SOCCSKSARGEN) development cluster, and is linked by paved roads to the international airport and harbor of Gen. Santos City.

The province is divided into two parts, separated by the Sarangani Bay and General Santos City, and it used to be part of South Cotabato until it was made an independent province in 1992.[3]

History

The island of Sarangani (now part of Davao Occidental) was named by Ruy López de Villalobos in 1543 as Antonia, in honor of Antonio de Mendoza y Pacheco who commissioned the Villalobos expedition to the Philippines. The early inhabitants who first inhabited Sarangani were the indigenous natives, called MunaTo, a native term for "first people."[4]

An old map showing the present territories of Sarangani as part of Cotabato province in 1918

In 1942, the Japanese troops occupied Southern Cotabato. In 1945, Filipino troops of the 6th, 10th, 101st and 102nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 10th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary entered in and liberated Southern Cotabato and fought against the Japanese Imperial Army forces during the Battle of Cotabato at the end of World War II under the Japanese Occupation.

Before its inception in 1992, Sarangani was part of South Cotabato as the Third District of South Cotabato. The province was created by Republic Act No. 7228 on March 16, 1992,[5] penned by Congressman James L. Chiongbian. His wife, Priscilla L. Chiongbian, was the first Governor of Sarangani. They are known as the Father and Mother of Sarangani Province.

Geography

Western coast of the province at the town of Maitum

Administrative divisions

Sarangani is subdivided into 7 municipalities grouped into two parts, separated by the Sarangani Bay. The western part consists of Kiamba, Maasim, and Maitum, while the eastern portion is composed of Alabel, Glan, Malapatan, and Malungon. A single legislative district encompasses all towns.[6]

Municipality Area
(km²)[6]		 Population
(2010)[6][7]		 Density
(per km²)		 No. of
barangays		 ZIP
code		 Income
class[6]		 Coordinates
Alabel † 510.98 75,477 147.7 13 9501 1st 6°06′10″N 125°17′31″E / 6.1027°N 125.2920°E / 6.1027; 125.2920 (Alabel)
Glan 610.3 106,518 174.5 31 9517 1st 5°49′21″N 125°12′17″E / 5.8225°N 125.2046°E / 5.8225; 125.2046 (Glan)
Kiamba 328.68 54,871 166.9 19 9514 1st 5°59′19″N 124°37′27″E / 5.9885°N 124.6241°E / 5.9885; 124.6241 (Kiamba)
Maasim 500.43 52,933 105.8 16 9502 1st 5°51′40″N 124°59′48″E / 5.8610°N 124.9967°E / 5.8610; 124.9967 (Maasim)
Maitum 290.66 41,675 143.4 19 9515 2nd 6°03′41″N 124°29′45″E / 6.0613°N 124.4957°E / 6.0613; 124.4957 (Maitum)
Malapatan 609.28 72,386 118.8 12 9516 1st 5°58′15″N 125°17′18″E / 5.9707°N 125.2882°E / 5.9707; 125.2882 (Malapatan)
Malungon 750.92 95,044 126.6 31 9503 1st 6°22′31″N 125°16′18″E / 6.3752°N 125.2717°E / 6.3752; 125.2717 (Malungon)
 †  Provincial capital

Demographics

Population census of
Sarangani
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 283,141—    
1995 367,006+4.98%
2000 410,622+2.44%
2007 475,514+2.04%
2010 498,904+1.76%
Source: National Statistics Office[2]

Religion

Christianity in the form of Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in the province comprising 63% of the population. Other religious affiliations belong to the following denominations: Islam (9%), United Church of Christ in the Philippines (6%), other Protestant Churches (6%), Alliance of Bible Church Community (3%) and Iglesia Ni Cristo (2%) (Saranggani & GSC Census, 1990). The remainder is usually divided among other Christian Churches.

Economy

Coconut, corn, rice, banana, mango, durian, rubber, and sugarcane are just some of the major crops now being planted by the Sarangans. Other possibilities lie in a wide range of commercial choices: industrial plantations (mango, abaca, coffee, rubber, and rattan), agro-forestry (high-value crops), light manufacturing and processing facilities, real estate and housing, tourism, beach resorts, hotels and restaurants, recreational facilities, port zone development, milling plants, fruit production, processing of canned fruits and vegetables, production of ornamental plants, furniture, trading, telecommunications, mining, and aquaculture.

Sarangani’s favorable investment climate is manifested by the large plantations (mango, banana, pineapple, asparagus), cattle ranches, and commercial fishponds that have been operating in the area, some of which having existed as far back as 40 years.

Electricity comes from the National Power Corporation, and augmented by a 50 MW power plant in Alabel, the province’s capital. Water is provided for by sustainable spring development projects.

Government

Provincial Capitol, Sarangani Province

Elected Officials 2013-2016:

Elected Officials 2010-2013:

Elected Officials from 2007-2010:

Elected Officials 2004-2007:

Tourism

Sarangani celebrates its foundation anniversary every month of November, named as "MunaTo Festival."

The Maitum white water tubing is also located in Sarangani, 1.6 km. of wild water tube ride in Pangi River at barangay New La Union, Maitum, Sarangani Province. Pangi River was 2nd Runner Up in 2003's national search for the cleanest river in the Philippines.

Its landmark "Isla Parilla" resort is now an "AA" world-class resort, built within a man-made island.[8][9]

Sarangani also has, as treasure, its ancient burial jars, discovered by archaeologists from the National Museum in Ayub Cave, Maitum, in 1991 and in 2008, at Sagel Cave, Maitum (now declared by National Historical Institute as a national historical site). Amid Mindanao's armed conflicts, artifacts found thereat prove settlements of pre-historic civilization in Maitum.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  3. ↑ gmanews.tv, Born to be Wild: Sarangani, 06/12/2008.
  4. ↑ balita.ph/2008, Man-made island resort now a Sarangani landmark
  5. ↑ "An Act Creating the Province of Sarangani" (PDF). House of Representatives of the Philippines. 16 March 1992. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Province: Sarangani". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority - National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010 (SOCCSKSARGEN)" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  8. 1 2 pia.gov.ph, Island resort now Sarangani landmark
  9. 1 2 balita.ph/2008/11, Sarangani gears for foundation anniversary festival

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sarangani.
Western part
South Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat Sarangani Bay
   Sarangani  
Celebes Sea
Eastern part
Davao del Sur
South Cotabato
Sarangani Bay		 Davao Occidental
   Sarangani  
Celebes Sea
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