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PROVINCIAL PROFILE OF SARANGANI
FAST FACTS
Capital : Alabel
Area : 2,980 sq. km.
Population : 305,321
Cities : none
No. of Towns : 7
Click Here To View The
List Of Towns.
LOCATION
Sarangani is at the southern tip of the island of Mindanao.
General Santos
City cuts the province in half at the head of the Sarangani Bay.
The province
is bounded on the north by South Cotabato and Davao del Sur, on
the east
also by Davao del Sur, on the west by Sultan Kudarat, and on the
south by
the Celebes Sea. The province of Sarangani should not be confused
with
Sarangani Island, which is in the southern part of another
province, Davao del
Sur.
THE LAND
The terrain of Sarangani is characterized by flatlands, rolling
hills, and
mountains. The flatlands are found along the coastal areas.
Except for
Malungon, all of the towns of Sarangani are located along the
coast. Rolling
hills and mountains dominate the landscape Malungon and the
northern areas
of the coastal municipalities. The mountains of the western
municipalities
form part of the Alip mountain range which connects the provinces
of South
Cotabato and Davao del Sur. The towns of Maitum and Kiamba have
forests
stretching inland from the shore.
Mt. Busa, at a height of 2,083 m, is its highest peak. More than
fifty percent
of the total land area of the province is hilly and mountainous.
Rainfall in
Sarangani is evenly distributed throughout the year. Heaviest
rainfall occurs
from June to August. The driest months are March, April, and May.
November to January are the coolest months of the year.
A BRIEF HISTORY
The old province of Cotabato had earlier been divided into four
provinces,
namely, North Cotabato, (also known simply as Cotabato),
Maguindanao,
Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato. With Sarangani, a fifth
province has
risen out of that territory. The province was created by Republic
Act No.
7228, approved on March 16, 1992, out of seven towns of South
Cotabato.
THE PEOPLE
The population of Sarangani is a mixture of people from various
regions and
tribes. The languages and dialects spoken by its people are
likewise varied.
Cebuano is the most widely spoken language, particularly in the
municipalities
of Alabel, Glan, Malapatan, and Malungon. In the municipalities
of Maitum
and Kiamba, Cebuano is second only to llocano as the most spoken
dialect.
The major dialects spoken by the ethnic groups include, among
others, B'laan,
Tasgakaulo, Maguindanao, and T'boli.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
The main sources of livelihood are farming and fishing. At least
26 percent of
the total land area of Sarangani is classified as suitable for
agriculture.
Coconut is extensively cultivated in the province, followed by
corn and
cotton. Ricelands accountr for only about 5 percent of the total
cropland.
About 150 farms are engaged in the production of poultry and
livestock.
Goats outnumber all other farm animals in the province. Hog
raising is
concentrated in and around Maitum while ducks are raised mostly
in Kiamba.
The surrounding waters, particularly Sarangani Bay, are rich
fishing grounds.
As many as 2,400 species of marine animals have been found in the
bay. The
dominant catch include yellowfin tuna, shipjack, and mackerel.
The primary focus of aquaculture in the province is prawn
fishing. Prawn
ponds are located on the eastern and western shores of the
province. Tilapia
and milkfish ponds are also found in different parts of the bay.
Woodlands
account for a significant portion of the total land area of the
province. A total
of 2,645 hectares of woodland have been identified as production
areas.
Commercial firms engaged in retail trade dominate the economic
activities of
the province. In general, most of the firms in the province are
engaged in
distribution while a small number are involved with
manufacturing.
Information gathered from:
League of
Provinces
by:Roberto C. Arellano
This page last revised:February 06, 1999.
