- Sultan Kudarat
Infobox Philippine province
name = Sultan Kudarat
sealfile = Ph_seal_sultan_kudarat.png
region =SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
capital = Isulan
largest city = Tacurong City
founded =
pop2000 = 586,505
pop2000rank = 42nd largest
popden2000 = 124
popden2000rank = 21st highest
areakm2 = 4,714.8
arearank = 23rd largest
hucities = 0
componentcities = 1
municipalities = 11
barangays = 248
districts = 1
languages = Hiligaynon, Ilokano, Cebuano
governor = Datu Pax S. Mangudadatu
vice governor = Donato A. Ligo
locatormapfile = Ph_locator_map_sultan_kudarat.pngSultan Kudarat is a province of the
Philippines located in theSOCCSKSARGEN region inMindanao . Its capital is Isulan and bordersMaguindanao and Cotabato to the north,South Cotabato andSarangani to the east. To the southwest lies theCelebes Sea .People
As of the
2000 census, Sultan Kudarat has a total population of 586,505. The province formerly had aMuslim majority, but Christian migrants now outnumber Muslims and highlanders.Maguindanaons live in the coastal towns of the province. Tribal groups with settlements in the province include the Iranons, Tirurays and Manobo.
The census showed that 84 dialects are spoken in the province. The most dominant language is
Hiligaynon (Ilonggo), though Ilocano and Cebuano are spoken in some municipalities. Maguindanao is the local language of the Muslim population.Economy
The economy of Sultan Kudarat is predominantly agricultural. With vast agricultural potential, the output consists of practically all types of crops grown in the country, including rice, corn, beef, coffee, and vegetables. The province is self-sufficient in poultry, swine, and root crops. The province is one of the few producers of
Irish potato es in the Philippines. The southern Philippines Grain Complex in Tacurong is the largest grains-processing complex in the country. There are more than 200 ricemills in the province.Fishing is a fast growing industry. Tuna caught along the coasts along the
Celebes Sea are of high quality, and are exported toJapan andEurope .Another significant economic activities include the
cottage industry , which includes crafts made ofrattan and other types of wood.Geography
Political
Sultan Kudarat is subdivided into 11 municipalities and 1 city. Three of the municipalities (Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang) are coastal towns, while the rest of the province are located inland.
Tacurong City is the smallest unit in the province in terms of land area, but it is the most urbanized, and is considered to be the province's commercial center. Other growth centers are Lebak and Isulan, the latter being the provincial capital. Bagumbayan is the largest town in terms of land area.The 11 municipalities and Tacurong City are further subdivided into 249
barangay s.City
*
Tacurong City Municipalities
*Bagumbayan
*Columbio
*Esperanza
*Isulan
*Kalamansig
*Lambayong (Mariano Marcos)
*Lebak
*Lutayan
*Palimbang
*President Quirino
*Sen. Ninoy AquinoPhysical
Sultan Kudarat is located on the southwestern part of the island of
Mindanao . It is bounded on the north by the provinces ofMaguindanao and Cotabato; on the south bySouth Cotabato ; on the east byDavao del Sur ; and on the west by theCelebes Sea . The province's total land area is 4783.1898 square kilometres.The three coastal towns on the province's western side are lined with mountain ranges that wall the central part of the province from the sea. There are also mountains on the eastern side, leaving flat land in between.
The climate is characterized by a short
dry season lasting from one to three months. Unlike most other provinces in the country, Sultan Kudarat is generally free fromtyphoon s and rainfall is more evenly distributed throughout the year.Musical Heritage
The native Maguindanaon have a fascinating culture that revolves around
kulintang music, a specific type of gong music, found among both Muslim and non-Muslim groups of the Southern Philippines.History
The territory that is now the province of Sultan Kudarat was originally part of
Cotabato province , which was one of the largest and most resource-rich provinces in the country. During the Spanish colonial era, the land was heavily forested and left largely underdeveloped.Because of the enormity of the province, there was a need to divide it into smaller units to ease the magnitude of responsibility on the local government. Additionally, conflicting political, social, and economic interests limited the province's progress. Cotabato was first split into
North Cotabato andSouth Cotabato . North Cotabato was then split into what is now Maguindanao (from which the new province ofShariff Kabunsuan was created), (North) Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat.Sultan Kudarat was named after a Sultan of Maguindanao
Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat , who reigned from 1623 to 1671. It became a separate province onNovember 22 ,1973 .Government officials
The elected provincial officials for 2007-present are:
* "'Gov. .Suharto T. Mangudadatu
* "'Vice Gov. Donato A. Ligo
**1st District w/ Tacurong City Rep. Datu Pax S. Mangudadatu (KAMPI-Lakas)
**2nd District Rep. Arnulfo F. Go (KAMPI-PTM)-------------------------------------Elected Officials 2004-2007
**Rep. Suharto Mangudadatu
**Gov. Pax Mangudadatu
**Vice Gov. Donato Ligo--------------------Elected Officials 1998-2000; 2000-2004
**Rep. Angelo Montilla
**Gov. Pax Mangudadatu
**Vice Gov. Miguel Domingo Jacalan III---------------------------Elected Officials 1995-1998
**Rep. Angelo Montilla
**Gov. Nesthur Gumana
**Vice Gov. Rose Jamison---------------------------Elected Officials 1992-1995
**Rep. Estanislao Valdez
**Gov. Nesthur Gumana
**Vice Gov. Rose JamisonExternal links
* [http://www.skprovince.gov.ph/ Official website of the provincial government of Sultan Kudarat]
* [http://www.tourism.gov.ph/explore_phil/place_details.asp?content=description&province=63 WOW Philippines - Sultan Kudarat]
* [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080126-115030/Sultan-Kudarat-town-aims-for-natl-recognition Inquirer.net, Sultan Kudarat town aims for nat’l recognition]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.