Sarangani

For the municipality in Davao del Sur, see Sarangani, Davao del Sur.

Sarangani
—  Province  —
Seal
Map of the Philippines with Sarangani highlighted
Coordinates: 5°52′N 125°17′E / 5.867°N 125.283°E / 5.867; 125.283Coordinates: 5°52′N 125°17′E / 5.867°N 125.283°E / 5.867; 125.283
Country	Philippines
Region	SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
Founded	March 16, 1992
Capital	Alabel
Government
- Type	Province of the Philippines
- Governor	Miguel Rene Dominguez (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
- Vice Governor	Steve Solon (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
Area
- Total	3,601.3 km2 (1,390.5 sq mi)
Area rank	37th out of 80
Population (2007)
- Total	475,514
- Rank	56th out of 80
- Density	132/km2 (342/sq mi)
- Density rank	54th out of 80
Divisions
- Independent cities	0
- Component cities	0
- Municipalities	7
- Barangays	140
- Districts	Lone district of Sarangani
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code
Spoken languages	English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon B'laan

Sarangani is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Alabel and borders South Cotabato to the north and Davao del Sur to the east.

Sarangani is part of the South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-Gen. Santos City (Soccsksargen) development cluster, and is linked by paved roads to the international airport and world-class fish port of Gen. Santos City. Good roads and regular flights through Gen. Santos City allow the province easy access to Manila, Cebu, Davao City, as well as the rest of the Soccsksargen areas. Gen. Santos City’s airport has one of the country’s longest runways.

The province is situated as the country’s major gateway to the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines - East Asean Growth Area. With its proximity to its regional counterparts, Sarangani is in a unique position to marshal its resources, entice tourists and investors, and compete in an international market under a borderless trade regime.

Strategically located at the southernmost tip of Mindanao, the province is protected by the resource-rich Sarangani Bay. Beyond this is the Celebes Sea, which is the province’s access to the rest of the world.

Bordered by over 230 km of unspoiled coastline, Sarangani offers more than 4,400 sq. km. of typhoon-free land and marine resources, largely untapped tourism potentials, and vast investment possibilities.

The province is divided into two parts, separated by the Sarangani Bay and General Santos City, and it used to be part of South Cotabato until it was made an independent province in 1992.^[1]

History

The early inhabitants who first inhabited Sarangani were the indigenous natives, called "MunaTo," a native term for "first people."^[2]

In 1942, the Japanese troops occupied Southern Cotabato (now. Sarangani).

Southern Cotabato Campaign
Part of World War II
Date 1945 Location Southern Cotabato (now. Sarangani) Result Filipino victory
Belligerents
Philippine Commonwealth Philippine Commonwealth Army Philippine Constabulary	Empire of Japan Imperial Japanese Army
Strength
6th Infantry Division, Philippine Commonwealth Army 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Commonwealth Army 101st Infantry Division, Philippine Commonwealth Army, USAFFE 102nd Infantry Division, Philippine Commonwealth Army 10th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Constabulary	Japanese 14th Area Army Japanese 35th Area Army
Casualties and losses
700 killed 1,300 wounded	7,000 killed 11,650 wounded 400 captured

In 1945, Filipino troops of the 6th, 10th, 101st and 102nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 10th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary entered and liberated in Southern Cotabato (now. Sarangani) and fought against the Japanese Imperial Army forces during the Battle of Cotabato at the end of World War II under the Japanese Occupation.

Before its inception in 1992, Sarangani was part of South Cotabato and held its title as the Third District of South Cotabato. The province was created by Republic Act No. 7228 on March 16, 1992, penned by the late Congressman, James L. Chiongbian. His wife, Priscilla L. Chiongbian is the first Governor of Sarangani. They are known as the Father and Mother of Sarangani Province.

Sarangani celebrates its foundation anniversary every month of November, named as "MunaTo Festival."

The famous Maitum white water tubing is also located in Sarangani, 1.6 km. of wild water tube ride in Pangi River at barangay New La Union, Maitum Sarangani Province. Pangi River was 2nd Runner Up in 2003's national search for the cleanest river in the Philippines. Here you can also enjoy day-trekking or horseback riding and commune with nature along the way.

Its landmark "Isla Parilla" resort is now an "AA" world-class resort, built within a man-made island.^[3][4]

Sarangani also has, as treasure, its ancient burial jars, discovered by archaeologists from the National Museum in Ayub Cave, Maitum, in 1991 and in 2008, at Sagel Cave, Maitum (now declared by National Historical Institute as a national historical sites). Amid Mindanao's armed conflicts, artifacts found thereat prove settlements of pre-historic civilization in Maitum.^[3][4]

Administration

Sarangani is subdivided into 7 municipalities grouped into two parts, separated by the Sarangani Bay. The western part consists of Kiamba, Maasim, and Maitum, while the eastern part is composed of Alabel, Glan, Malapatan, and Malungon.

Municipalities

East Coast Alabel Glan Malapatan Malungon

West Coast Maitum Kiamba Maasim

Political

Sarangani is subdivided into 7 municipalities.

Municipality		No. of Barangays	Area (km²)	Population (2010)	Pop. density (per km²)	District	Class Income
	Alabel	12	495.70	71,872	145	Lone	1st (Town)
	Glan	31	697.6	102,676	147.18	Lone	1st (Town)
	Kiamba	19	418.28	56,916	136.07	Lone	3rd (Town)
	Maasim	16	500.43	52,983	105.9	Lone	3rd (Town)
	Maitum	19	324.35	37,736	116.3	Lone	2nd (Town)
	Malapatan	12	624.56	65,605	105.04	Lone	3rd (Town)
	Malungon	31	896.63	95,993	107.05	Lone	1st (Town)

Government

Elected Officials 2010-2013

• Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao
• Gov. Miguel Rene A. Dominguez
• Vice Gov. Steve C. Solon

Elected Officials from 2007-2010:

• Rep. Erwin Chiongbian
• Gov. Miguel Dominguez
• Vice Gov. Steve Solon

Elected Officials 2004-2007

• Rep. Erwin Chiongbian
• Gov. Miguel Dominguez
• Vice Gov. Bridget Chiongbian-Huang

Economy

Coconut, corn, rice, banana, mango, durian, rubber, and sugarcane are just some of the major crops now being planted by the Sarangans. Other possibilities lie in a wide range of commercial choices: industrial plantations (mango, abaca, coffee, rubber, and rattan), agro-forestry (high-value crops), light manufacturing and processing facilities, real estate and housing, tourism, beach resorts, hotels and restaurants, recreational facilities, port zone development, milling plants, fruit production, processing of canned fruits and vegetables, production of ornamental plants, furniture, trading, telecommunications, mining, and aquaculture.

Sarangani’s favorable investment climate is manifested by the large plantations (mango, banana, pineapple, asparagus), cattle ranches, and commercial fishponds that have been operating in the area, some of which having existed as far back as 40 years.

Businesses locating in the province are assured of stable power and water supply. Electricity comes from the National Power Corporation, and augmented by a 50 mw power plant in Alabel, the province’s capital. Water is provided for by sustainable spring development projects.

External links

• Official Website of the Provincial Government of Sarangani
• Sarangani Province Photo News
• gmanews.tv, Born to be Wild: Sarangani, 06/12/2008

References

1. ^ gmanews.tv, Born to be Wild: Sarangani, 06/12/2008.
2. ^ balita.ph/2008, Man-made island resort now a Sarangani landmark
3. ^ ^{a b} pia.gov.ph, Island resort now Sarangani landmark
4. ^ ^{a b} balita.ph/2008/11, Sarangani gears for foundation anniversary festival

• Maitum Information Office

1. ^ gmanews.tv, Born to be Wild: Sarangani, 06/12/2008.
2. ^ balita.ph/2008, Man-made island resort now a Sarangani landmark
3. ^ ^{a b} pia.gov.ph, Island resort now Sarangani landmark
4. ^ ^{a b} balita.ph/2008/11, Sarangani gears for foundation anniversary festival