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NORTH COTABATO
The province of Cotabato, which used to be the largest
province in the country, was divided into two in 1967 –
north and south. Northern Cotabato was further divided
into three provinces on November 22, 1973 by virtue of
Presidential Decree 341. The three new provinces formed
were North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat.
The Cotabato provinces have an area as big as the whole
Central Luzon, but the wide plains of Cotabato are
definitely richer. Two reasons account for Cotabato’s
rich soils. One is the presence of Rio Grande de
Mindanao, the longest river in Mindanao. The river
overflows regularly and deposits its sediments, making
the land fertile. The other reason is Cotabato’s cool
and humid climate. There are no typhoons, but rainfall
is frequent. And the plains of Cotabato lie between long
mountain ranges which are sources of cool breezes.
Former Names: Mindanao and Maguindanao
Land Area: 6,565 square kilometers
Capital: Kidapawan
Population: 564,599 (1980)
Principal Dialects: Hiligaynon, Cebuano,
Maguindanao and Tiruray
Income Classification: Second Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 17 (Alamada, Aleosan,
Antipas, Banisilan, Carmen, Kabacan, Kidapawan, Libungan,
Magpet, Makilala, Matalam, Midsayap, M’lang, Pigkawayan,
Pikit, President Roxas, and Tulunan)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: At the center of the area (North
Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat) is a large
river valley traversed by the tributaries of Mindanao
River. A series of volcanic mountains can be found on
the northern portion of the area, while hills are
scattered on the western part.
No. of Principal Rivers: 3 (Rio Grande de
Mindanao, Libungan and Malasila)
No. of Mountains: 21 (with South Cotabato,
Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat)
Climate: Characterized by a more or less even
distribution of rainfall throughout the year.
Average Annual Rainfall: 34.45 inches
Principal products/crops: Coconut, rice, sugar,
abaca, pineapple, cotton, coffee, tobacco and ramie
Industries: Livestock, hog and poultry raising, fishing
and logging
Mineral Resources: Copper
Forest Resources: Timber and grazing
Tourist Attractions: Rio Grande de Mindanao and
the Lanzones Forest.
Governor: Rosario P. Diaz
Congressmen: Rodrigo B. Gutang, Gregorio A.
Andolana
LANAO DEL NORTE
Under Republic Act No. 2228, approved on May 22, 1959,
the Lanao province was divided into Lanao del Norte and
Lanao del Sur. The Spanish subjugation of Lanao was
started in 1637 by Governor Hurtado Corcuera.
Under Gov. Gen. Valeriano Weyler, a series of campaigns
was waged to bring the Lanao region under government
control. In 1891, the Spanish forces occupied Malabang
and other towns along the south coast of Lanao.
Gov. Gen. Eulogio Despujol continued the campaigns with
less than positive results.
It was Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco who founded Spanish rule
in the region. On October 8, 1895, he decreed the
organization of Lanao into a district of Mindanao and
Sulu.
In 1903, the Americans created the Moro Province with
Lanao as one of its districts. In 1914, a civil
government was founded in the province under the
Department of Mindanao and Sulu.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 3,092 square kilometers
Capital: Iligan City
Population: 461,049 (1980)
Principal Dialects: Cebuano and Maranaw
Income Classification: Fourth Class Province
No. of Cities: 1 (Iligan)
No. of Municipalities: 22 (Bacolod, Baloi, Baroy,
Kapatagan, Karomatan, Kauswagan, Kolambugan, Lala,
Magsaysay, Maigo, Matungao, Munai, Nunungan, Poona-Piagapo,
Pantao-Ragaet, Pantag, Salvador, Sapad, Tagoloan, Tomas
L. Cabili, Tangcal, and Tubod)
No. of Municipal Districts: 2 (Munai and Tangcal)
Topography: On the Banguil Bay coast are common lowlands
with inland lakes, some within the interior portion of
the province. There are several rivers, such as the Agus
River that supplies the Maria Cristina Falls which is
the source of electricity of nearby provinces.
No. of Principal Rivers: 5 (Agus is the largest)
No. of Mountains: 17
Climate: Dry season from January to April and
rainy season from May to December.
Average Annual Rainfall: 84 inches
Principal products/crops: Corn, rice and coconut
Industries: Steel, cement, paper and chemical
manufacturing
Mineral Resources: Gold, copper, chromite,
manganese and coal
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: Maria Cristina Falls, Costa
Brava Beach Resort, Kiwalan Beach, Kanaway Beach, Twin
Falls, and Cathedral Falls.
Governor: Francisco Abalos
Congressmen: Mariano Ll. Badelles, Abdullah
Dimakuta Dimaporo.
LANAO DEL SUR
Lanao del Sur is traditionally the land of the Muslim
Maranaws. According to history, the Maranaws were the
last to surrender to the Americans, and even to the
Japanese. Among the Muslims, they are the most
religious. Although most are farmers, some of them are
engaged in commerce and trade, and are experts in mat
and loom-weaving, wood-carving, and others.
Its capital, Marawi City, was created as a city on
August 19, 1940 by virtue of Republic Act No. 592. The
Mindanao State University, an institution that opened in
1962, has a vast and scenic campus that draws and
attracts visitors.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 3,872.9 square kilometers
Capital: Marawi City
Population: 404,971 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Maranaw
Income Classification: Fourth Class Province
No. of Cities: 1 (Marawi)
No. of Municipalities: 37 (Bacolod Grande,
Balabagan, Balindong, Bayang, Binidayan,
Buadiposo-Buntong, Bubong, Bumbaran, Butig, Calanogas,
Ganassi, Kapai, Kapatagan, Lumba-A Bayabao,
Lumbatan, Lumbayanaque, Madalum, Madamba, Maguing,
Malabang, Marantao, Marogong, Masiu, Molundo, Pagayawan,
Piagapo, Poon-A Bayabao, Pualas, Ramain, Saguiaran,
Sultan Gumander, Tagoloan, Tamparan, Tubaran, Tugaya,
and Wao)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: The province is in the volcanic
portion of the mountains of Mindanao. Lanao Lake is the
biggest lake in Mindanao. Its highest mountain is Mt.
Piapayungan which towers 2,815 meters high.
No. of Principal Rivers: 1 (Agus)
No. of Mountains: 13
Climate: Continuous rainfall throughout the year, with
no pRonounced dry season. Heaviest rainfall is from May
to December.
Average Annual Rainfall: 120 inches
Principal products/crops: Rice, corn and cassava
Industries: Farming; logging and cottage
industries
Mineral Resources: Andesites, chromite, gold,
manganese, copper and pyrite ore
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: Aga Khan Museum, Lanao Lake,
Signal Hill (Camp Keithley), Moncado Colong, Lake Dapao
at Purong, Mabel Beach in Malabang, and royalty houses (Maranao
torogen)
Governor: Saidmen Pangarugan
MAGUINDANAO
The province of Cotabato, which used to be the largest
province in the Philippines, was divided into three
provinces on November 22, 1973 by Presidential Decree
341. One of these new provinces was Maguindanao.
The province of Maguindanao is supposed to be the home
for the Muslim Maguindanaos also called the “People of
the foot plains”, because of the rich fertile river
valleys where they have settled. The Maguindanaos, who
survive on agriculture, fishing and weaving, are known
to be the largest group of Muslims in the south. Other
major tribes which have settled in the area are the
Muslim Iranons and the animistic Tirurays.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 5,474.1 square kilometers
Capital: Maganoy
Population: 536,546 (1980)
Principal Dialects: Maguindanao, Hiligaynon,
Cebuano and Tiruray
Income Classification: Fourth Class Province
No. of Cities: 1 (Cotabato)
No. of Municipalities: 17 (Ampatuan, Barira,
Buldon, Buluan, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Dinaig,
Kabuntalan, Maganoy, Matanog, Pagalungan, Parang, South
Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, and
Upi)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: At the center area of the old
Cotabato Province is a large river valley traversed by
the tributaries of Mindanao River. Maguindanao is a
large lowland of Mindanao.
No. of Principal Rivers: 1 (Mindanao)
No. of Mountains: 2
Climate: Characterized by a more or less even
distribution of rainfall throughout the year, the
coldest months in the province are December and January.
The warm season is from March to June.
Average Annual Rainfall: 34.35 inches
Principal products/crops: Rice, corn, peanuts,
vegetables and fruits
Industries: Hog and poultry raising, fishing and
logging
Mineral Resources: Copper
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: Cotabato City
Governor: Zacaria Candao
Congressmen: Michael O. Mastura, Guimid Matalam
SULTAN KUDARAT
Sultan Kudarat may be considered a “salad bowl” due to
its many vegetables and fruits. It has already made a
name for itself as a big food producer and leader in
rural development. It produces more than five million
cavans of palay and roughly 1.5 million cavans of corn
annually. The surplus is sold for funds needed to
finance the construction of road and infrastructure
essential to the development of the land. As large as
Iloilo or Pangasinan, Sultan Kudarat has less than half
of its 4,288 sq. kilometers develop.
This fourth class province whose inhabitants are mostly
Christians, had a population close to 304,000, the
smallest in the Central Mindanao Region in 1980.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 4,888.2 square kilometers
Capital: Isulan
Population: 303,784 (1980)
Principal Dialects: Hiligaynon, Cebuano,
Maguindanao, and Tiruray
Income Classification: Fourth Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 11 (Bagumbayan, Columbio,
Esperanza, Isulan, Kalamansig, Labak, Lutayan, Mariano
Marcos, Palimbang, President Quirino, and Tacurong)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: The Area occupied by Sultan Kudarat
is one of the two large lowlands of Mindanao. At its
center is a large river valley traversed by the
tributaries of Mindanao River. A series of volcanic
mountains can be found on the northern and southern
portions of the area, while hills are scattered on the
western part.
No. of Principal Rivers: 16 (Mindanao River is
the largest)
No. of Mountains: 2
Climate: Rainfall is evenly distributed
throughout the year. The coldest months are December and
January while the warmest are from March to June. The
province is out of the path of strong typhoons and
destructive floods.
Average Annual Rainfall: 34.45 inches
Principal products/crops: Rice, coconut,
sugarcane, abaca, coffee, potato, tobacco and ramie
Industries: Rubber manufacturing, commercial
fishing, and poultry and hog raising
Mineral Resources: None
Forest Resources: Rubber
Tourist Attraction: The big Buluan Lake
Governor: Nasthur R. Gumawa
Congressmen: Estanislao V. Valdez
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