Santo Niño, South Cotabato

Santo Niño
Municipality

Map of South Cotabato with Santo Niño highlighted
Santo Niño

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 06°26′N 124°41′E / 6.433°N 124.683°E / 6.433; 124.683Coordinates: 06°26′N 124°41′E / 6.433°N 124.683°E / 6.433; 124.683
Country Philippines
Region Soccsksargen (Region XII)
Province South Cotabato
District 2nd district of South Cotabato
Established April 7, 1981
Barangays 10
Government[1]
  Mayor Antonio F. Damandaman
Area[2]
  Total 86.20 km2 (33.28 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
  Total 40,947
  Density 480/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 9509
IDD:area code +63(0)83
Income class 3rd municipal income class
PSGC 126318000
Electorate 22,246 voters as of 2016
Languages Hiligaynon, Tagalog, English
Website stoninoscot.gov.ph

Santo Niño (Sto. Niño), or officially Municipality of Santo Niño (Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Santo Niño), is a third class municipality in the province of South Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 40,947 people.[3]

Geography

Situated in the fertile Allah Valley, it is the smallest municipality by land area in the province.

It is bounded by the Municipality of Norala (its mother-town) in the north, the Municipality of Surallah in the east, Allah River and the Municipality of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat in the south, and the Municipality of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat in the west.

Climate

Average temperature in the municipality ranges from a low of 23 °C (73 °F) to a high of 32 °C (90 °F) throughout the year.

Precipitation can be low during the dry season (March to April) at about 40 millimetres (1.6 in) while it can be high especially during the wetter months (May to July) at 100 millimetres (3.9 in).

Barangays

Sto. Niño is politically subdivided into 10 barangays.

History

The municipality's name was derived from its patron saint, the “Sto. Niño”, or the Holy Child. It was formerly called Barrio Trece (13) (although many still called the town proper this name) of the Norala Settlement District of then National Land Settlement Administration.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) of South Cotabato passed a resolution in 1980 requesting then Assemblyman Jose T. Sison to file a bill at the Philippine Parliament to create Sto. Niño a municipality. Parliament Bill No. 1220 was finally passed and approved on December 23, 1980, when Ferdinand Marcos signed it into law as Batas Pambansa Bilang 90.[4] In a plebiscite held on April 7, 1981, the law was ratified.

Municipal mayors:

Demographics

Population census of Santo Niño
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 30,076    
1995 32,103+1.23%
2000 36,228+2.63%
2007 38,400+0.81%
2010 39,738+1.25%
2015 40,947+0.57%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][5][6][7]

The population is highly literate.

While the most spoken language is Hiligaynon, everyone can speak Tagalog, some Cebuano, and basic conversational English.

Barangay Ambalgan is predominantly Maguindanaoan Muslims and are considered the ethnic inhabitants of the municipality. The rest of the barangays are predominantly Christian settlers who first arrived in the area in the 1940s.

The municipality is generally peaceful with relatively low crime incident.

Economy

Rice production is the primary industry. The well-irrigated rice-lands of the municipality are possible due to the presence of a river irrigation system which is provided by a dam at Allah River at Barangay M. Roxas.

Corn (maize) is the secondary product. Copra is also produced.

Small businesses which provide basic necessities thrive.

Places of interest

Transportation

The Sto. Nino Public Terminal is a hub for public utility buses and vans that travel to Koronadal City via Surallah and Banga. Travel time from Sto. Nino to Koronadal City is around 30 minutes.

General Santos City, where the General Santos International Airport is located, is accessible by public buses and vans from Koronadal City. Travel time from Koronadal City to General Santos City is about one hour.

Travel within the municipality is through public utility tricycles and motorcycles.

Health services

The Municipal Health Office at the Municipal Hall Compound provides services for consultations.

Private clinics include:

There are a number of small pharmacies at the municipality.

Education

The municipality has a number of public and private schools. These are:

High Schools

Elementary Schools

References

  1. "Official City/Municipal 2013 Election Results". Intramuros, Manila, Philippines: Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 1 July 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  2. "Province: South Cotabato". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Census of Population (2015). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. http://laws.chanrobles.com/bataspambansa/2_bataspambansa.php?id=90
  5. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  6. Census of Population (1995, 2000 and 2007). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City and Municipality. NSO. Archived from the original on 24 June 2011.
  7. "Province of South Cotabato". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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