Sarangani

Sarangani, officially the Province of Sarangani (Cebuano: Lalawigan sa Sarangani; Hiligaynon: Kapuoran sang Sarangani; Ilocano: Probinsia ti Sarangani; Maguindanaon: Dairat nu Sarangani, Jawi: دايرت نو سرڠان; Filipino: Lalawigan ng Sarangani), is a province in the Philippines located in the Soccsksargen region. Its capital is Alabel. With a 230-kilometre (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, Davao Occidental to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the south.

For other uses, see Sarangani (disambiguation).

Sarangani
Province
Province of Sarangani
Other transcription(s)
 • Jawiسرڠان
(from top: left to right) Sarangani Provincial Capitol, Tuka Beach in Kiamba, Alabel Municipal Hall and Maitum coastal.
Flag of Sarangani
Flag
Official seal of Sarangani
Seal
Anthem: Sarangani, Land of Beauty
Location in the Philippines
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Coordinates: 5°52′N 125°17′E
CountryPhilippines
RegionSoccsksargen
FoundedNovember 28, 1992
CapitalAlabel
Largest MunicipalityGlan
Government
 • TypeSangguniang Panlalawigan
 • GovernorRogelio D. Pacquiao (PCM)
 • Vice GovernorElmer T. de Peralta (PCM)
 • RepresentativeSteve Solon (PCM)
 • LegislatureSarangani Provincial Board
Area
[1]
 • Total3,601.25 km2 (1,390.45 sq mi)
 • Rank37th out of 81
Highest elevation
(Mount Busa)
2,083 m (6,834 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[2]
 • Total558,946
 • Rank55th out of 81
 • Density160/km2 (400/sq mi)
  • Rank58th out of 81
Divisions
 • Independent cities0
 • Component cities0
 • Municipalities
7
 • Barangays142
 • DistrictsLegislative district of Sarangani
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
9501–9503, 9514–9517
IDD : area code +63 (0)83
ISO 3166 codePH-SAR
Spoken languages
Income classification2nd class
Websitewww.sarangani.gov.ph

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

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

The General Santos Metropolitan Area or Metro General Santos is a metropolitan area encompassing the highly urbanized city of General Santos, The Regional Agro-Industrial Center of Alabel, the towns of Glan, Kiamba, Maasin, Maitum, Malapatan and Malungon and the neighboring provinces of South Cotabato adding Metro General Santos adding Lake Sebu, Polomolok, T'Boli and Tupi.

History

Early history

The earliest civilization in the province can be found in Maitum, Sarangani, where the Maitum Anthropomorphic Pottery or Maitum Jars were found. The jars have been dated to approximately 5 BC to 370 AD, one of the oldest in the entire Southeast Asian region and the Philippines. The discovery testified to the long history of cultural exchanges in Sarangani and its people.

The Sarangani was once part of Sultanate of Maguindanao. The establishment of the Sultanate in the area caused more Maguindanaon settlers arrival. After the fall of the Sultanate of Maguindanao as a great power in Mindanao, Datu Uto of Buayan expanded his domain towards Sarangani Bay. Sarangani would eventually be under the Sultanate of Buayan until the American era.

Spanish colonial era

Sarangani Island (now part of Davao Occidental) was named Antonia by the Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos in 1543, in honor of Antonio de Mendoza y Pacheco, the viceroy of New Spain who had appointed López de Villalobos to lead an expedition to the Western Islands (now the Philippines) because of their relation by marriage. The early inhabitants who first inhabited Sarangani were the indigenous natives, called MunaTo, a native term for "first people."[4]

Map showing the present territories of Sarangani as part of Sultanate of Maguindanao in 1800s.

Japanese occupation era

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 Constabulary 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.

Philippine independence

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,[3] penned by Congressman James L. Chiongbian. His wife, Priscilla L. Chiongbian, was the first Governor of Sarangani.

Geography

Sarangani covers a total area of 3,601.25 square kilometres (1,390.45 sq mi)[5] occupying the southern tip of the Soccsksargen in central Mindanao. The province is bordered on the central-north by South Cotabato, northeast by Davao del Sur, east by Davao Occidental, south by the Sarangani Bay and Celebes Sea, and northwest by Sultan Kudarat.

Western coast of the province at Maitum

Sarangani is divided into two (eastern and western) sections, separated by the Sarangani Bay and General Santos in the middle. The western portion comprises the towns of Maitum, Kiamba, and Maasim, and is bounded on the north by South Cotabato and on the northwest by Sultan Kudarat. The eastern section consists of Alabel, Glan, Malapatan, and Malungon.

Administrative divisions

Sarangani comprises seven municipalities. A single legislative district encompasses all towns.[5]

Political map of Sarangani
Municipality [lower-roman 1] Population ±% p.a. Area[5] Density (2020) Barangay
(2020)[2] (2015)[6] km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Alabel † 15.8%88,294 80,359 +1.81% 510.98 197.29 170 440 13
Glan 19.6%109,547 118,263 −1.45% 610.30 235.64 180 470 31
Kiamba 11.8%65,774 61,058 +1.43% 328.68 126.90 200 520 19
Maasim 11.6%64,940 59,468 +1.69% 500.43 193.22 130 340 16
Maitum 7.9%44,185 44,595 −0.18% 290.66 112.22 150 390 19
Malapatan 14.4%80,741 76,914 +0.93% 609.28 235.24 130 340 12
Malungon 18.9%105,465 103,604 +0.34% 750.92 289.93 140 360 31
Total 558,946 544,261 +0.51% 3,601.25 1,390.45 160 410 141
 †  Provincial capital   Municipality
  1. The globe  icon marks the town center.

Demographics
Population census of Sarangani
YearPop.±% p.a.
1918 19,043—    
1939 24,051+1.12%
1948 36,166+4.64%
1960 73,162+6.05%
1970 127,637+5.72%
1975 166,179+5.43%
1980 219,372+5.71%
1990 283,141+2.59%
1995 367,006+4.98%
2000 410,622+2.44%
2007 475,514+2.04%
2010 498,904+1.76%
2015 544,261+1.67%
2020 558,946+0.52%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[6][7][8]

The population of Sarangani in the 2020 census was 558,946 people,[2] with a density of 160 inhabitants per square kilometre or 410 inhabitants per square mile.

Religion
Religion in Sarangani[9][10][11][12]
Religion percentage
Roman Catholic
 
 48%
Protestant
 
 31%
Islam
 
 9%
Iglesia ni Cristo
 
 2%
Others
 
 10%

Christianity is the majority religion in the province with a total of 79% (48% Roman Catholicism[9] and 31% evangelicals).[10] Other religious minorities are Islam (9%)[11] and Iglesia ni Cristo (2%).[12] The remainder is usually divided among other Christian churches.

Economy
Poverty Incidence of Sarangani
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14]
[15][16][17][18][19]

Coconut, corn, rice, banana, mango, durian, rubber, and sugarcane are major crops now being planted by the inhabitants. The province has 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
Sarangani Provincial Capitol

Tourism

Sarangani celebrates its foundation anniversary every November, named as MunaTo Festival.[20]

Sarangani has ancient burial jars, discovered by archaeologists from the National Museum in Ayub Cave in Maitum, in 1991 and in 2008, and at Sagel Cave in 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.[20][21]

See also

References
  1. "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  2. Census of Population (2020). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  3. "An Act Creating the Province of Sarangani" (PDF). House of Representatives of the Philippines. March 16, 1992. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  4. balita.ph/2008, Man-made island resort now a Sarangani landmark
  5. "Province: Sarangani". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  6. Census of Population (2015). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  7. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  8. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  9. "MAP: Catholicism in the Philippines". January 18, 2015.
  10. "Philippine Church National Summary". Archived from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  11. "MAP: Islam in the Philippines". July 17, 2015.
  12. "MAP: Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines". July 26, 2014.
  13. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  14. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  15. "2009 Official Poverty Statistics of the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. February 8, 2011.
  16. "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. August 27, 2016.
  17. "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. August 27, 2016.
  18. "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. August 27, 2016.
  19. "Updated Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population with Measures of Precision, by Region and Province: 2015 and 2018". Philippine Statistics Authority. June 4, 2020.
  20. "'MunaTo' festival". Manila Bulletin. November 29, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2016. The provincial government started their celebration of its 21st foundation anniversary on Thursday and officially opened its 11th "MunaTo Festival" starting November 27 and will run up to December 6, this year.
  21. Pelima, Russtum G. (November 10, 2008). "Island resort now Sarangani landmark". Philippine Information Agency. PIO Sarangani/ICC GenSan. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2016. Despite armed conflicts occurring in Mindanao, artifacts found by archaeologists from the National Museum in Ayub Cave in 1991 and Sagel Cave this year prove settlements of pre-historic civilization in Maitum.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.