Alabel

Alabel, officially the Municipality of Alabel (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Alabel; Maguindanaon: Inged nu Alabil, Jawi: ايڠد نو ءلبيل; Filipino: Bayan ng Alabel), is a 1st class municipality and capital of the province of Sarangani, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 88,294 people.[3]

Alabel
Municipality of Alabel
Other transcription(s)
  Jawiءلبيل
Municipal Hall
Municipal Hall
Flag of Alabel
Official seal of Alabel
Motto: 
Smile Alabel
Map of Sarangani with Alabel highlighted
Map of Sarangani with Alabel highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Alabel is located in Philippines
Alabel
Alabel
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°06′08″N 125°17′13″E
CountryPhilippines
RegionSoccsksargen
ProvinceSarangani
District Lone district
Named forSantiago Alaba & Tomas Beldad, Sr.
Barangays13 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
  TypeSangguniang Bayan
  MayorVic Paul M. Salarda
  Vice MayorLente L. Salway Jr.
  RepresentativeSteve Solon
  Municipal Council
Members
  Electorate54,436 voters (2022)
Area
  Total510.98 km2 (197.29 sq mi)
Elevation
74 m (243 ft)
Highest elevation
358 m (1,175 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
  Total88,294
  Density170/km2 (450/sq mi)
  Households
20,956
Economy
  Income class1st municipal income class
  Poverty incidence
29.20
% (2018)[4]
  Revenue320.7 million (2020)
  Assets353.9 million (2020)
  Expenditure359.3 million (2020)
  Liabilities116.9 million (2020)
Service provider
  ElectricitySouth Cotabato 2 Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO 2)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
9501
PSGC
IDD:area code+63(0)83
Native languagesCebuano
Tboli
Maguindanao
Blaan
Tagalog
FestivalKasadyaan Festival
Websitewww.alabel-sarangani.gov.ph

History

In 1947, the families of Santiago Alaba and Tomas Beldad Sr. settled in Buayan. The place became a barrio of the municipality of Dadiangas (now General Santos) on September 17, 1956, through Hadji Abdawa Mohamad and Marcos Malinao and named Alabel in honor of two families.[5]

Alabel became a municipality under Republic Act 6393 (formerly House Bill No. 3222 sponsored by Rep. James L. Chongbian) dated September 10, 1971, comprising eight barrios separated from the city: Alabel (now Poblacion), Alegria, Maribulan, Pag-asa, Kawas, Domolok, Bagacay and Tokawal.[6][7] Barangays Spring, Baluntay, Datal Anggas, and Paraiso were created between 1986 and 1989, bringing the number to twelve.

Alaba Administration (1971-1986)

The first set of elected officials were; Lucio J. Alaba as Mayor, Jose Orlino, Jr. as Vice Mayor, and Councilors; Dionisio Lim, Gregorio Lumanta, Hermogenes Pecolados, Ignacio Solis, Alfredo Radaza, Honorio Navarro, Teodolito Jabilles, and Exequil Tecson.

Martial Law

The so-called battle of Ilaga (Ilonggo Land Grabbers Association, its acronym is spelled out of ilaga, meaning "rat" in Visayan languages) Muslim and Lumads happened in Alabel during Marcos administration in 1974. Many Lumads and Muslim were killed by Ilaga.

Civilian fled and evacuated in Dadiangas (now General Santos) in order to survive from brutalities in Alabel while some transfer and went home to their place of origin in Visayan Islands.

Sibugan Administration (1986-1998)

In 1986 EDSA Revolution, Mayor Alaba was replaced by Hernando L. Sibugan, the appointed mayor of the Ministry of Local Government and was elected to the same office in 1988 and 1992. Finally, Alabel was chosen the capital town of the newly created Sarangani Province by virtue of Republic Act No. 7228 on March 16, 1992, through the representation of James L. Chiongbian.

President Corazon Aquino held in Barangay Spring in 1988 during her visit in South Cotabato. The President together with her team visited Mindanao to watch the solar eclipse. Astronomers and other tourists watched the said celestial phenomena.

President Corazon Aquino and Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos were among the estimated 20,000 sight-seers and scientists who jammed the cities of Davao and General Santos for the event, seen as a total eclipse only in the nation's extreme southern tip and parts of Indonesia. It was the first total eclipse seen in the Philippines since 1955. Another is not expected until the year 2042.[8]

The Grafilos

Two Grafilos became local chief executives of Alabel for a span of 18 year from 1998 to 2016.

Narsico Ra. Grafilo Jr., served as mayor of Alabel from 1998 to 2007. His priority projects are road opening to far-flung barangays and the construction of phase 1 of Alabel MEGA PUBLIC MARKET. In his term, Kasadyaan Festival was inaugurated in 2001.

Corazon Sunga Grafilo succeeded Mayor Jun as mayor in 2007. In her term, her flagship program was the Garantisadong Serbisyo (GS) wherein the LGU bring all the local offices and the National Agancies closer to the people. Alabel became a sister city of Makati. She also completed the construction of the Alabel MEGA PUBLIC MARKET. Abante Alabel as a town's tagline was popularized in her term.

Creation of Ladol

Provincial Ordinance Nos. 2003-025 (dated December 1, 2003) and 2011-7-048 (July 26, 2011) of the Sarangani Provincial Board provided for the constitution of Sitio Ladol in Brgy. Poblacion into a regular barangay.[9] This was ratified in a plebiscite held on August 18, 2012.[10][11]

The separation was further formalized when Pres. Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11599 on December 10, 2021.[12][13]

Salarda Administration (2016-present)

The administration of Vic Paul Salarda started in 2016. Infrastructure projects and community services were his administration's priority. Serbisyong Smile sa Barangay (SSB) was his flagship program where government agencies joined to bring services to various barangay in the municipality. Smile Alabel is the popular tagline of Mayor Nonoy.

Cityhood

House Bill No. 3494 was filed last August 6, 2019, for the conversion of the municipality of Alabel into a component city in the province of Sarangani.[14] The bill is currently pending with the committee on local government since August 13, 2019.

In the 19th Congress of the Philippines, house bills were filed by various representatives which seeks Alabel including other capital towns of provinces with no current component cities, independent component cities or highly urbanized cities to automatically convert into cities.[15][16][17]

Creation of New Canaan

Plebiscite for the creation of Barangay New Canaan
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 1,286 98.77
No 16 1.23
Total votes 1,302 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 4,960 26.25%
Source: Posts from Alabel Information Office Facebook page and Boses ng Sambayanan Twitter Page

On August 20, 2022, majority of selected residents of Alabel ratified in a plebiscite Provincial Ordinance No. 2009-6-044, dated June 29, 2009, separating a part of Barangay Pag-asa to create a new one to be called New Canaan.[18][19][20][21][22]

Geography

Alabel is located at the head of Sarangani Bay in the southern part of Mindanao Island.

Barangays

Alabel is politically subdivided into 14 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

  • Alegria
  • Bagacay
  • Baluntay
  • Datal Anggas
  • Domolok
  • Kawas
  • Ladol
  • Maribulan
  • New Canaan
  • Pag-Asa
  • Paraiso
  • Poblacion
  • Spring
  • Tokawal

Climate

Climate data for Alabel, Sarangani
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 31
(88)
31
(88)
31
(88)
31
(88)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 129
(5.1)
106
(4.2)
148
(5.8)
180
(7.1)
261
(10.3)
316
(12.4)
295
(11.6)
274
(10.8)
220
(8.7)
238
(9.4)
243
(9.6)
181
(7.1)
2,591
(102.1)
Average rainy days 17.4 16.2 19.5 22.8 27.6 27.9 26.5 25.7 24.0 26.6 27.2 23.5 284.9
Source: Meteoblue[23]

Demographics

Parish Church in Alabel, Sarangani Province
Population census of Alabel
YearPop.±% p.a.
1975 18,186    
1980 25,620+7.09%
1990 40,730+4.75%
1995 46,527+2.52%
2000 60,779+5.90%
2007 71,872+2.34%
2010 75,477+1.80%
2015 80,359+1.20%
2020 88,294+1.87%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[24][25][26][27]

Economy

Alabel is largely based on agriculture with a high level production of dried coconut meat. Animal husbandry is the second biggest income earner, notably cattle farming. Other agricultural products are coconuts, maize, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, cotton, mangoes; goat farming, pork, eggs, beef; fish; charcoal; coconut weaving. It is adjacent to the highly urbanized sea port city of General Santos.

The economy has accelerated in the past decade driven by advances in global communication technology and the finishing of a modern highway that tremendously improved trade and transport.

Tourism

Lake Beto in Alabel, Sarangani Province
Barangay Ladol Beach

Alabel is known for its beaches and agricultural lands.

  • Ladol Beach
  • Half Moon (known as Kawas) Beach

Culture

The Municipality of Alabel celebrates it Foundation anniversary every 10th day of September. It is an annual celebration to commemorate the founding of the town. Together the people of Alabel also celebrates the Kasadyaan Festival. Kasadyaan means bliss, to give an ideal representation of what is Alabel.

The annual Patronal Fiesta in Alabel is celebrated every May 15. It is feast day of San Isidro Labrador, the town's patron saint and the patron saint of farmers.

BarangayAnniversary
Datal AnggasApril 9
PoblacionSeptember 15
BagacayJune 8
SpringJune 9
LadolAugust 22
MaribulanAugust 12
Pag-asaAugust 10
BaluntaySeptember 25
KawasOctober 16
ParaisoOctober 11
AlegriaNovember 25
DomolokNovember 29
TokawalDecember 15
New Canaan, Pag-asaAugust 20

Mutya ng Alabel is the annual beauty and brains pageant held in Alabel.

Infrastructure

The construction of new municipal hall building was initialized in 2016. Municipal Civic Gymnasium facade was also renovated.

Transportation

It takes 30 minutes land travel by a PUV or tricycle from General Santos to Alabel. ALTRAMSCO is the accredited transport union in Alabel.

Various roads and bridges in different sites in the municipality helps to render efficient services to people especially in far flung locations. Farm to Market roads were essential in bring goods and crops to the town's center.

Health

Soccsksargen Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center

Alabel Municipal Health Office was headed by Dr. Honorato Fabio. The Alabel Birthing Home was built to supplement the need of maternal health services.

The Rehabilitation Center in Kawas, Alabel, is a China-funded P350 million regional drug treatment and rehabilitation center. This facility will serve as rehabilitation center for drug dependents and users.[35]

In 2016, Alabel received the DOH's prestigious award known as Red Orchid Award. The LGU-Alabel strict implementation of its No Smoking Policy bagged it Hall of Famer DOH's Red Orchid Award in 2018 DOH 12 Regional Awards.[36]

Security

Peace and order in Alabel was maintain by Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Education

The Division office of the Department of Education (DEPED) Sarangani Province is located in the Provincial Compound in Alabel.

Elementary

  • Alabel Central Integrated SPED Center - located in Poblacion, Alabel

Secondary

Alabel National High School is considered the seat of excellence in secondary education in the entire Sarangani Province. Producing highly competitive and world-class citizenry. ANHS was one of the many Tech-Voc School in the Province. It was established in 1960's as community high school.[37]

The current vice mayor of Alabel, Ronnel Saldua Espaňol, MPA is one of the alumni of ANHS in the year 1992.

Alabel National Science High School, the only regional science high school in Soccsksargen is located in Alabel. It was created through the initiative of the then Congressman James L. Chiongbian. It is the best performing school in Sarangani Province in the discipline of Math and Science. In fact, its students have already represented Alabel in the many international research competition abroad. .[38]

Tertiary

  • Primasia Foundation College Inc.

Government

List of Alabel Mayors

Incumbent Mayor Vic Paul Molina-Salarda
  1. Lucio Alaba (1971-1986)
  2. Hernando Sibugan (1986-1998)
  3. Narciso Ra. Grafilo Jr. (1998-2007)
  4. Corazon Sunga Grafilo (2007-2016)
  5. Vic Paul Molina Salarda, MPA (2016–present)

List of Alabel Vice Mayors

  1. Jose A. Orlino Jr. (1978-1986)
  2. Honorio Cayetuna Navarro (1986-1993)
  3. Narciso Ra. Grafilo Jr.(1993-1998)
  4. Armando Chavez Rabia (1998-2001)
  5. Virgilio Clark Tobias (Ret.) (2001-2004)
  6. Ptr. Hermie Galzote (2004-2007)
  7. Vic Paul Molina Salarda, MPA (2007-2016)
  8. Ronnel Saldua Español, MPA (2016–2022)
  9. Lente Lee Salway Jr. (2022–Present)

Sister cities

References

  1. Municipality of Alabel | (DILG)
  2. "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. Census of Population (2020). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  4. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  5. "Alabel, Sarangani Province". cctdi.blogspot.com. Darwin's Blog. June 18, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  6. "Republic Act No. 6393". The Corpus Juris. September 10, 1971. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  7. "Alabel, Executive Summary (2020)" (PDF). Commission on Audit. Government of the Philippines. 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  8. "Dogs howl, cocks crow at eclipse darkened daytime sky". upi.com. United Press International, Inc. March 18, 1988. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  9. "Memorandum Order No. 46, s. 2012". Official Gazette. Government of the Philippines. July 20, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  10. Plebiscite to ratify the cration of Barangay Ladol out of Barangay Poblacion, Alabel, Sarangani: Resolution No. 9477 Commission on Elections. Jun 22, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  11. "Barangay Ladol". Municipality of Alabel. Government of the Philippines. 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  12. "House Bill No. 5306" (PDF). House of Representatives of the Philippines. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  13. "Republic Act No. 11599" (Link for PDF file) The LawPhil Project. October 12, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  14. Pacquiao, Rogelio. "AN ACT CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF ALABEL IN THE PROVINCE OF SARANGANI INTO A COMPONENT CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF ALABEL" (PDF). House of Representatives. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  15. Yap, Eric (June 30, 2022). "AN ACT AUTOMATICALLY CONVERTING THE CAPITAL TOWN OF PROVINCES WITH NO COMPONENT CITIES, INDEPENDENT COMPONENT CITIES OR HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES WITHIN ITS TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION, INTO A COMPONENT CITY" (PDF). House of Representatives of the Philippines. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  16. Palma, Wilter (August 9, 2022). "AN ACT AUTOMATICALLY CONVERTING THE CAPITAL TOWN OF PROVINCES WITH NO COMPONENT CITIES, INDEPENDENT COMPONENT CITIES, OR HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES WITHIN ITS TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION, INTO A COMPONENT CITY" (PDF). House of Representatives of the Philippines. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  17. Daza, Paul (August 11, 2022). "AN ACT CONVERING INTO COMPONENT CITIES THE CAPITAL TOWNS OF PROVINCES WITHOUT A CITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 450 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7610, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9009, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" (PDF). House of Representatives of the Philippines. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  18. "Comelec starts printing of ballots for 4 plebiscites". GMA News. August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  19. "Plebisito sa Barangay New Canaan, Saranggani naging matagumpay —COMELEC". DWIZ (in Filipino). August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  20. "Comelec: Plebisito sa Brgy. New Canaan, Saranggani matagumpay". Remate On-line (in Filipino). August 22, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  21. "COMELEC Commissioner Garcia nakatutok sa gagawing plebisito ngayong araw para sa bagong barangay sa Sarangani Province". Bombo Radyo General Santos (in Filipino). August 20, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  22. Plebiscite to Ratify the Creation of Barangay New Canaan into a Regular and Distinct Barangay in the Municipality of Alabel, Province of Sarangani Pursuant to Provincial Ordinance No. 2009-6-044 dated June 29, 2009 Commission on Elections.
  23. "Alabel: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  24. Census of Population (2015). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
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  28. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  29. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  30. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
  31. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
  32. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
  33. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
  34. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  35. Allen Estabillo (January 12, 2018). "Construction of P350-M drug rehab center in Sarangani starts". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  36. Jenelyn Ellie P. Ventura. "DOH 12 Regional Red Orchid Awards 2016". doh.gov.ph. Department of Health. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  37. "Alabel National High School". alabelnhs304518.weebly.com. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  38. "Alabel National Science High School". rshsxii.edu.ph. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
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