About Us
SARANGANI PROVINCE
Sarangani was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 7228 dated March 16, 1992, the country’s 76th province. It was formerly part of South Cotabato Province as its 3rd Congressional District and geographically located between latitude of about 5˚ 30” to 6˚ 30” North and longitude 124˚ 15” to 125˚ 30” East. The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) RXII-4, Alabel, Sarangani has a total area of 395,755 hectares consisting of seven (7) municipalities under its area of responsibility or 140 barangays.
It has two (2) CENR Offices, Kiamba and Glan. Under CENRO Kiamba were the coastal municipalities of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum while CENRO Glan has Malungon (only inland municipality), and coastal mucinipalities of Alabel, Malapatan and Glan. Malungon has the biggest land area with 89,662 has. or 23% of Sarangani’s land area and Maitum has the smallest land area with only 32,435 has.
Sarangani is surrounded by Celebes Sea, Sarangani Bay, and the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur. Also the coastal zone of SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City), one of the country’s fast growing development clusters.
General Information
Administered as part of the Cotabato Empire during the American period, the area (now Sarangani) was incorporated in 1966 into the province of South Cotabato.
Sarangani was established as an independent province in 1992 through Republic Act 7228 authored by former Rep. James L. Chiongbian. This landmark legislation spurred development in the former third district of South Cotabato.
Since pre-Spanish times, Sarangani has been occupied by indigenous tribes and Muslimgroups whose rich cultural heritage has meaningfully survived to this day.
In fact in 1992, Sarangani old-time residents have found relics or artifacts of cavemen or ancient tribes who had inhabited at Pinol Cave, Maitum, Sarangani. Etching out various facial expressions in clayed portraits, the artifacts of anthropomorphic secondary burial jars are believed to have great significance not only to Philippine prehistory but also of Southeast Asia.
National Museum’s researchers described the artifacts as “unparalleled in Southeast Asia” that date back to the Metal Age (nearly 2000 years ago). In 2002 another discovery of potsherds from different ages likely 3000 years old was unearthed at Linao Cave, seven kilometers from the Maitum municipal hall.
The same group of researchers could not directly tell if Linao Cave was also a burial site like Pinol Cave was, but they observed, however, that it (Linao Cave) “may likely have been a ritual site.” The recovered shards, accordingly, depicted sketches of people believed to be older than the Maitum Jars.
Sarangani Province was named after Sarangani Bay. The name itself is legendary -- it is about Saranganing, an adventurous son of a Sangil family from the coast of Celebes off Indonesia. His voyages often brought him to the Sultanate of Buayan (now General Santos City), the stronghold of Maguindanaoans. His outstanding character impressed the people that they named the bay in his honor.
The Province is the Mindanao’s front door to BIMP-EAGA, the southernmost province in mainland Mindanao. It is cut midway by General Santos City, giving its two sections hammock-like shapes that hug the mountains and Sarangani Bay.
Physical Profile:
Land Area
Sarangani has a total land area of 395,755 hectares composed of seven municipalities and 140 barangays. There are six coastal municipalities: Maitum, Kiamba, Maasim, Alabel, Malapatan and Glan while Malungon is the only inland municipality with the biggest land area of 89,663 hectares while Maitum has the smallest land area with only 32,435 hectares.