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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 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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