Sarangani

For the municipality in Davao Occidental, see Sarangani, Davao Occidental. For the language, see Sarangani language. For other uses, see Sarangani (disambiguation).

Sarangani
Province
{{#property:P158}} Seal
{{#property:P242}} Location in the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country	[[{{#property:P17}}]]
Region	SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
Founded	March 16, 1992
Capital	Alabel
Government
• Governor	Steve C. Solon (UNA/PCM)
• Vice Governor	Jinkee J. Pacquiao (UNA/PCM)
Area
• Total	3,601.25 km2 (1,390.45 sq mi)
Area rank	37th out of 81
Population (2010)
• Total	498,904
• Rank	55th out of 81
• Density	140/km2 (360/sq mi)
• Density rank	57th out of 81
Divisions
• Independent cities	0
• Component cities	0
• Municipalities	7
• Barangays	141
• Districts	Lone district of Sarangani
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code	9501 to 9503; 9514 to 9517
Dialing code	{{#property:P473}}
ISO 3166 code	{{#property:P300}}
Spoken languages	Cebuano, Tagalog, Hiligaynon, B'laan, Sangirese, Indonesian
Website	{{#property:P856}}

Sarangani or Saraŋgani, is a province in the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region. Its capital is Alabel. With a 230 kilometres (140 mi) coastline along the Sarangani Bay and Celebes Sea, the province is at the southernmost tip of Mindanao island, and borders South Cotabato and Davao del Sur to the north, and Davao Occidental to the east.

Sarangani is part of the South Cotabato-Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-Gen. Santos City (SOCCSKSARGEN) development cluster, and is linked by paved roads to the international airport and harbor of Gen. Santos City.

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.

History

The island of Sarangani (now part of Davao Occidental) was named by Ruy López de Villalobos in 1543 as Antonia, in honor of Antonio de Mendoza y Pacheco who commissioned Villalobos expedition to the Philippines. The early inhabitants who first inhabited Sarangani were the indigenous natives, called "MunaTo," a native term for "first people."

In 1942, the Japanese troops occupied Southern Cotabato. 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 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 as the Third District of South Cotabato. The province was created by Republic Act No. 7228 on March 16, 1992, penned by Congressman James L. Chiongbian. His wife, Priscilla L. Chiongbian, was the first Governor of Sarangani. They are known as the Father and Mother of Sarangani Province.

Administrative divisions

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 portion is composed of Alabel, Glan, Malapatan, and Malungon. A single legislative district encompasses all towns.

Municipality Area (km²) Population (2010) Density (per km²) No. of barangays ZIP code Income class Coordinates Alabel † 510.98 75,477 147.7 13 9501 1st Glan 610.3 106,518 174.5 31 9517 1st Kiamba 328.68 54,871 166.9 19 9514 1st Maasim 500.43 52,933 105.8 16 9502 1st Maitum 290.66 41,675 143.4 19 9515 2nd Malapatan 609.28 72,386 118.8 12 9516 1st Malungon 750.92 95,044 126.6 31 9503 1st  †  Provincial capital Coordinates mark the town center vicinity, and are sorted according to latitude.

Demographics

Population census of Sarangani
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	283,141	—
1995	367,006	+4.98%
2000	410,622	+2.44%
2007	475,514	+2.04%
2010	498,904	+1.76%
Source: National Statistics Office

Religion

Christianity in the form of Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in the province comprising 63% of the population. Other religious affiliations belong to the following denominations: Islam (9%), United Church of Christ in the Philippines (6%), other Protestant Churches (6%), Alliance of Bible Church Community (3%) and Iglesia Ni Cristo (2%) (Saranggani & GSC Census, 1990). The remainder is usually divided among other Christian Churches.

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.

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.

Government

Provincial Capitol, Sarangani Province

Elected Officials 2013-2016:

• Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao
• Gov. Steve C. Solon
• Vice Gov. Jinkee J. Pacquiao

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

Tourist attractions

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.

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

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 site). Amid Mindanao's armed conflicts, artifacts found thereat prove settlements of pre-historic civilization in Maitum.

External links

• Geographic data related to Sarangani at OpenStreetMap
• Official Website of the Provincial Government of Sarangani
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Local Governance Performance Management System

1. REDIRECT Template:Administrative divisions of the Philippines