Location: Southern part of the Island of Mindanao

Boundaries: Bounded by the province of Sultan Kudarat in the north and West, province of Sarangani in the east and south.

Topography : The place is generally flat dotted with some hills and mountains.

Climate: South Cotabato belongs to the fourth type of climate, that is rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. The average number of rainy days for the year 2004 is recorded between 122 to 180 days with the months of May, June, July, August and October having the most occurrence.

Air humidity generally follows closely the rainfall pattern. Humidity is highest during the period of June to October with 88% being recorded at the Tupi seed farm. The months of February and April have the lowest air humidity recorded at about 72%.

Maximum daytime temperature throughout the province is in the range of 36-38 degrees celcius, falling to 23-32 degrees celsius during the night depending on the elevation. The hottest period is January to April while July to December being the coolest.

Strategic Location:

 The province is a key player in the merging of South Cotabato , Sarangani and General Santos City into one of the country's fastest growing development clusters known as SOCSARGEN. SOCSARGEN serves as a gateway for the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). With its location, it is easily accessible from neighboring ASEAN countries via SOCSARGEN's entryway, General Santos City , with its International Standard Airport that puts key cities in Asia just three to four hours flying time away. There's a Fish Port Complex that serves the region's thriving fishing industry. The Makar Wharf is a major port-of-call in international shipping, and one of the most important ports in Mindanao . All have paved the way to make the constantly evolving SOCSARGEN the venue for a synergetic relationship. SOCSARGEN's gateway, General Santos City , is merely five minutes away from one of South Cotabato 's municipalities, Polomolok.

Land Area: 370,589 Hectares (3,706 sq. km.)

Provincial Capital : Koronadal City

Territorial Composition : 2 Districts

District I

Tampakan
Tupi
Polomolok

District II

Banga
Surallah
Sto.Niño
T'boli
Lake Sebu
Tantangan
Norala
Koronadal City

Political Subdivisions

Upon its creation as a regular province, South Cotabato consisted of 11 municipalities, namely: Banga, General Santos (now a city), Glan, Kiamba, Koronadal, Maitum, Norala, Polomolok, Surallah, Tantangan and Tupi. These municipalties were established long before the creation of the province. Other component municipalities were constituted after it fully functioned as a province. A total of 18 municipalities have contributed much to the development of South Cotabato being one of the fast growing provinces in the country.

The birth of Sarangani Province, conceived from the municipalities of Malungon, Alabel, Malapatan, Glan, Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum has brought changes in the geography and political subdivisions of the province. That event left South Cotabato with 11 remaining municipalities.

Further, on August 16, 2000 , Republic Act No. 8803 was approved. This marks another milestone in the history of South Cotabato . This is an act that converts the municipality of Koronadal into a component city of South Cotabato . Thus, at present the province is left with ten (10) progressing municipalities and the City of Koronadal remains as its Provincial Capital.

Moreover, South Cotabato has a total of 199 barangays and two (2) more are being proposed and still waiting for the approval of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). These proposed barangays are both under the municipality of T'boli .

The table below shows the total number of barangays in the different municipalities, including their respective land area. The distance of each municipality from the provincial capital, Koronadal is likewise shown on the succeeding table as well as the date of creation of each municipalities comprising the province of South Cotabato .

Land Area and Number of Barangays, by Municipality, South Cotabato

Distances of Town Centers from Koronadal City

As the provincial capital and the center of development, Koronadal is situated at a distance of 58 kilometers from the city of General Santos . Banga poblacion which is 13 kilometers away from Koronadal City is the nearest among the 10 municipalities. The second and third nearest municipalities are Tampakan and Tantangan lying 14 and 18 kilometers away from the radius of the provincial center. The farthest municipality is Lake Sebu which is 47 kilometers away.

Socio-Economics

The primary sources of the province's development include agriculture that has rice, corn, coconut, pineapple, asparagus, papaya and banana as major crops. This is in tandem with livestock, poultry and fishery as other thriving industries. As the province looks forward to economic prosperity it is also keeping pace with tight competition. Through greater access, foreign and local trade together with vigorous investment promotions have become the mechanisms that will aid in moving the province's economy. Realizing this, the Provincial Government strongly upholds its stand to double its efforts in enticing possible investors to nestle in the province through its Investment Code and investor-friendly strategies as well as in improving the quality of local products.

Tourism Opportunities

One of the strong thrusts of the province is the promotion of its tourism potential enhanced with unique arts and culture. One can try the range of activities on offer in any of the resorts sprawled throughout the province. The South Cotabato experience is highlighted by one of the country's top-notch tourist destinations, Lake Sebu. This "Land of Dream Weavers" is home of the T'nalak weaving, where ethnic culture and tradition abound, and the sight of the picture-perfect series of waterfalls known as the "Seven Falls." In the haven of Lake Sebu one can experience its picturesque sights set amidst a mountainous backdrop.

How to get here

Via Air

Philippine Airlines - Daily flights from Manila to General Santos City and back and Manila to Davao and back.

Flight Schedules:

Air Philippines - Daily flights from Manila to General Santos City and back via Cebu. Manila to Davao and back.

Flight Schedules:

Departure 6:10 pm Arrival 7:50 pm

Departure 4:00 pm Arrival 5:40 pm

Cebu Pacific - Daily flights from Manila to General Santos City and back. Manila to Davao and back.

Flight Schedules:

Transit to South Cotabato from flights arriving in Davao and General Santos City can then be made by land aboard buses that ply the Davao to General Santos route (3 hours travel time) in transit to Koronadal City (45 minutes travel time) at the Ecoland Bus Terminal in Davao City and the Bulaong Bus Terminal in General Santos City. Taxis at the General Santos City Airport are also available for the 45-minute drive to Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

Via Land

Via Sea

•  Super Ferry leaves Manila bound for General Santos every Monday and Friday and returns every Tuesday and Thursday.

•  Sulpicio Lines inc. sails from Manila to General Santos City every Thursday via Cebu, Zamboanga and Davao.