FAST FACTS
Capital:
Area:
Population:
Avg.
Population Growth Rate:
Avg. Annual Family Income (1994):
Labor Force (1997):
Employment (1997):
Cities:
No. of Towns:
|
Alabel
4,403.29 sq km
367,006
4.99%
PhP 61,435
175,000
168,000
none
7
|
LOCATION
Sarangani is located on 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 Davao del Sur
province.
THE LAND
More
than 50 percent of the province's total land area is hilly or mountainous.
Flatlands are mostly found along the coast.
Except for
Malungon, all Sarangani's towns are located along the coast. Rolling hills
and mountains dominate the landscape of Malungon and the northern areas of
the coastal municipalities.
The mountains of the western
municipalities form part of the Alip mountain range that 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 2,083 m, is the province's highest
peak.
Rainfall in Sarangani is evenly distributed throughout the
year. The heaviest rainfall occurs between June and August while the
driest months are March, April, and May. November to January are the
coolest months, in tropical terms.
A
BRIEF HISTORY
The province of Sarangani was created in 1992
out of seven towns of South Cotabato. Earlier, the old province of
Cotabato had been subdivided into the four provinces of North Cotabato,
(now known simply as Cotabato), Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and South
Cotabato.
THE PEOPLE
Sarangani
is peopled by migrants from various Philippine regions as well as by
several indigenous tribes.
The languages and dialects spoken are
as varied as the province's inhabitants.
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 to llocano. The major dialects spoken
by the ethnic groups are 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, followed by corn and cotton.
Rice
accounts for only about five percent of the province's total agricultural
land.
About 150 commercial farms produce poultry and
livestock. Goats outnumber other farm animals. Hog raising is concentrated
in and around Maitum, while ducks are raised in Kiamba.
The
waters of Sarangani Bay are rich fishing grounds. As many as 2,400 species
of marine animals are found in the bay. The dominant catches are yellowfin
tuna, skipjack, and mackerel.
Aquaculture activities are
primarily focused on prawn farming along the eastern and western shores of
the province. However, several tilapia and milkfish (bangus) farms also
operate here.
A total of 2,645 hectares of woodland have been
identified as suitable for industrial tree farming.
Retail
trading still dominates the other economic activities of the province.
Many firms are engaged in distibution and a few in manufacturing.
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