SOCCSKSARGEN is a
regionIn the Philippines, regions are administrative division that serve primarily to organize the 80 provinces for administrative convenience...
of the
PhilippinesThe Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
, located in central
MindanaoMindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also one of the three island groups in the country, along with Luzon and Visayas...
, and is officially designated as
Region XII. The name is an acronym that stands for the region's four
provincesThe provinces of the Philippines are the primary administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 80 provinces, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region as well as independent cities are autonomous from any provincial government...
and one of its
citiesA city is a tier of local government in the Philippines. All Philippine cities are chartered cities, whose existence as corporate and administrative entities is governed by their own specific charters in addition to the Local Government Code of 1991, which specifies the administrative structure and...
:
South CotabatoSouth Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east...
,
Cotabato,
Sultan
Kudarat,
SaranganiSarangani is a province of the Philippines located in the
SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Alabel and borders South Cotabato to the north and Davao del Sur to the east....
and
General Santos CityThe City of General Santos is a city in the Philippines. Situated in the southern part of the country, in the province of South Cotabato...
. The regional center is
Koronadal CityThe City of Koronadal also known as Marbel is a 2nd class city in the Philippines. It is the capital of South Cotabato province and regional center of region 12. According to the 2007 census, it had a population of 157,870....
located in the province of
South CotabatoSouth Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east...
.
Cotabato CityThe City of Cotabato is one of the cities of the Philippines located in Mindanao. Cotabato City is an exclave of the SOCCSKSARGEN region found within the boundaries of Maguindanao province, but is independent of that province...
, though geographically within the boundaries of the province of
MaguindanaoMaguindanao is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south.-Geography:...
, itself is part of SOCCSKSARGEN, and is independent of that province.
SOCCSKSARGEN is a
regionIn the Philippines, regions are administrative division that serve primarily to organize the 80 provinces for administrative convenience...
of the
PhilippinesThe Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
, located in central
MindanaoMindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also one of the three island groups in the country, along with Luzon and Visayas...
, and is officially designated as
Region XII. The name is an acronym that stands for the region's four
provincesThe provinces of the Philippines are the primary administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 80 provinces, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region as well as independent cities are autonomous from any provincial government...
and one of its
citiesA city is a tier of local government in the Philippines. All Philippine cities are chartered cities, whose existence as corporate and administrative entities is governed by their own specific charters in addition to the Local Government Code of 1991, which specifies the administrative structure and...
:
South CotabatoSouth Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east...
,
Cotabato,
Sultan
Kudarat,
SaranganiSarangani is a province of the Philippines located in the
SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Alabel and borders South Cotabato to the north and Davao del Sur to the east....
and
General Santos CityThe City of General Santos is a city in the Philippines. Situated in the southern part of the country, in the province of South Cotabato...
. The regional center is
Koronadal CityThe City of Koronadal also known as Marbel is a 2nd class city in the Philippines. It is the capital of South Cotabato province and regional center of region 12. According to the 2007 census, it had a population of 157,870....
located in the province of
South CotabatoSouth Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east...
.
Cotabato CityThe City of Cotabato is one of the cities of the Philippines located in Mindanao. Cotabato City is an exclave of the SOCCSKSARGEN region found within the boundaries of Maguindanao province, but is independent of that province...
, though geographically within the boundaries of the province of
MaguindanaoMaguindanao is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south.-Geography:...
, itself is part of SOCCSKSARGEN, and is independent of that province. Maguindanao province is a part of another special
region called the
ARMMThe Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is the region of the Philippines that is composed of all the Philippines' predominantly Muslim provinces, namely: Basilan , Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the Philippines' only predominantly Muslim city, the Islamic City of Marawi. It...
which has its seat in Cotabato City. SOCCSKSARGEN and the province of Maguindanao were once part of the original Cotabato province.
Geography
The region has extensive coastlines, valleys and mountain ranges. Known for its river system, the region is the catch basin of
MindanaoMindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also one of the three island groups in the country, along with Luzon and Visayas...
. The system is a rich source of food, potable water and energy production.
CotabatoCotabato, formerly North Cotabato, is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao...
contains the
Rio Grande de MindanaoThe Mindanao River, also known as the Rio Grande de Mindanao, is the second largest river system in the Philippines, after the Cagayan River of Luzon. It is also the largest river on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao having a drainage area of 23,169 square kilometers, draining majority of...
, which is the longest
riverA river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing toward an ocean, a lake, a sea or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water...
in Mindanao and the second longest in the Philippines.
History
The region used to be named
Central Mindanao. Prior to the creation of the
Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoThe Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is the region of the Philippines that is composed of all the Philippines' predominantly Muslim provinces, namely: Basilan , Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the Philippines' only predominantly Muslim city, the Islamic City of Marawi. It...
, these provinces comprised the region:
- Lanao del Norte
Lanao del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Tubod. The province borders Lanao del Sur to the south, Zamboanga del Sur to the west, Misamis Oriental to the northeast, Bukidnon to the east, and is separated from Misamis Occidental by Iligan...
- Lanao del Sur
Lanao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Marawi City and borders Lanao del Norte to the north, Bukidnon to the east, and Maguindanao and Cotabato to the south. To the southwest lies Illana Bay, an arm of the Moro Gulf...
- Maguindanao
Maguindanao is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south.-Geography:...
- North Cotabato
- Sultan Kudarat
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...
With the creation of
ARMMThe Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is the region of the Philippines that is composed of all the Philippines' predominantly Muslim provinces, namely: Basilan , Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the Philippines' only predominantly Muslim city, the Islamic City of Marawi. It...
, Lanao del Sur (excluding Marawi City) and Maguindanao (excluding
Cotabato CityThe City of Cotabato is one of the cities of the Philippines located in Mindanao. Cotabato City is an exclave of the SOCCSKSARGEN region found within the boundaries of Maguindanao province, but is independent of that province...
) were removed from the region, leaving Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, and Marawi City and Cotabato City as constituent provinces and cities.
With the addition of
South CotabatoSouth Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east...
and
SaranganiSarangani is a province of the Philippines located in the
SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Alabel and borders South Cotabato to the north and Davao del Sur to the east....
, transferred from Southern Mindanao, the region was renamed as
SOCCSKSARGEN. The "Central Mindanao" name lives on as a description to the provinces populated by
Muslim FilipinoMoro people refers to a population of Muslims in the Philippines, forming the largest non-Christian group in the country, comprising about 5% to 10% of the total Philippine population....
s.
Political Divisions
| Province The provinces of the Philippines are the primary administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 80 provinces, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region as well as independent cities are autonomous from any provincial government...
/CityA city is a tier of local government in the Philippines. All Philippine cities are chartered cities, whose existence as corporate and administrative entities is governed by their own specific charters in addition to the Local Government Code of 1991, which specifies the administrative structure and...
| Capital | Population
(2000) | Area
(km²Square kilometre , symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of surface area, the square metre, one of the SI derived units.1 km2 is equal to:* 1,000,000 m2...
) | Pop. density
(per km²) |
|---|
| Cotabato Cotabato, formerly North Cotabato, is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao...
|
Kidapawan City Kidapawan City is a 1st class city in the province of Cotabato, Philippines per Department of Finance Order No. 20-2005. It is the capital city of North Cotabato. It is a favorite tourist destination in the late October to December and in the summer, where thousands of tourist climb the majestic...
|
958,643 |
6,565.9 |
146.0 |
SaranganiSarangani is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Alabel and borders South Cotabato to the north and Davao del Sur to the east....
|
Alabel Alabel is a 1st class municipality in the province of Sarangani, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Sarangani. According to the latest census, it has a population of 71,872 people in 12,312 households....
|
410,622 |
2,980.0 |
137.8 |
| South Cotabato South Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east...
|
Koronadal City The City of Koronadal also known as Marbel is a 2nd class city in the Philippines. It is the capital of South Cotabato province and regional center of region 12. According to the 2007 census, it had a population of 157,870....
|
690,728 |
3,996.1 |
172.9 |
| Sultan Kudarat |
IsulanIsulan is a 1st class municipality in the province of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines. It is the provincial capital of the Province of Sultan Kudarat...
|
586,505 |
4,714.8 |
124.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Cotabato City The City of Cotabato is one of the cities of the Philippines located in Mindanao. Cotabato City is an exclave of the SOCCSKSARGEN region found within the boundaries of Maguindanao province, but is independent of that province...
|
— |
163,849 |
175.99 |
931.0 |
General Santos CityThe City of General Santos is a city in the Philippines. Situated in the southern part of the country, in the province of South Cotabato...
|
— |
411,822 |
492.86 |
835.6 |
- Cotabato City
The City of Cotabato is one of the cities of the Philippines located in Mindanao. Cotabato City is an exclave of the SOCCSKSARGEN region found within the boundaries of Maguindanao province, but is independent of that province...
is independent of MaguindanaoMaguindanao is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south.-Geography:...
province, which is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoThe Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is the region of the Philippines that is composed of all the Philippines' predominantly Muslim provinces, namely: Basilan , Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the Philippines' only predominantly Muslim city, the Islamic City of Marawi. It...
. The seat of the ARMMThe Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is the region of the Philippines that is composed of all the Philippines' predominantly Muslim provinces, namely: Basilan , Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the Philippines' only predominantly Muslim city, the Islamic City of Marawi. It...
regional government is also in Cotabato CityThe City of Cotabato is one of the cities of the Philippines located in Mindanao. Cotabato City is an exclave of the SOCCSKSARGEN region found within the boundaries of Maguindanao province, but is independent of that province...
.
- General Santos City
The City of General Santos is a city in the Philippines. Situated in the southern part of the country, in the province of South Cotabato...
is a highly urbanized city; figures are excluded from South CotabatoSouth Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east...
.
Component Cities
- Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat
The City of Tacurong is a 4th class city in the province of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 82,546...
- Kidapawan City
Kidapawan City is a 1st class city in the province of Cotabato, Philippines per Department of Finance Order No. 20-2005. It is the capital city of North Cotabato. It is a favorite tourist destination in the late October to December and in the summer, where thousands of tourist climb the majestic...
, CotabatoCotabato, formerly North Cotabato, is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao...
- Koronadal City
The City of Koronadal also known as Marbel is a 2nd class city in the Philippines. It is the capital of South Cotabato province and regional center of region 12. According to the 2007 census, it had a population of 157,870....
, South CotabatoSouth Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east...
Musical Heritage
The native Maguindanaon and other native Muslim/non-Muslim groups have a fascinating culture that revolves around
kulintangKulintang is a modern term for an ancient instrumental form of music composed on a row of small, horizontally-laid gongs that function melodically, accompanied by larger, suspended gongs and drums...
music, a specific type of gong music, found in the SoCCSKSarGen.