Cotabato City


Cotabato City, officially the City of Cotabato, is a independent component city in the province of Maguindanao, Philippines, in the Bangsamoro region. According to the, it has a population of, making it as the most populated city under the independent component city status.
Cotabato City is formerly part and was the regional center of Region XII. But due to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, it is now part of BARMM and served as the regional center. Being an independent component city, it's not a subject to regulation from the Provincial Government of Maguindanao where it is geographically located. The Philippine Statistics Authority also lists Cotabato City as statistically independent.
Cotabato City is distinct from and should not be confused with the province of Cotabato.

History

Prior to the arrival of Hindus and Muslims, the city was a vast swamp and rainforest landscape where numerous ethno-linguistic groups lived. Maguindanao vernacular architecture developed during this era, which included the architectural techniques of at least 10 ethno-linguistic groups. Later on, Hindu traders arrived and the people of the area embraced the practice of Hinduism. The set of moral standards and culture of present-day people of Maguindanao are seen due to this Hindu influence.

Sultanate of Maguindanao

By 1515, after a successful Islamic colonization in Sulu, Muslim traders went to Maguindanao and converted many of the natives to Islam. Those that did not accept the arrival of the Muslims went into higher ground or the interior of the island. During the same year, the Sultanate of Maguindanao was formally established, with Kota Wato as its capital, and ruled a vast territory in Mindanao from until its total collapse in 1888.
Following the Spanish evacuation in Jan. 1899, Datu Piang led the Moro's in a massacre of the remaining Christian community, enslaving those they did not kill. Americans arrived in Mindanao in 1900 after the Spanish–American War ended in 1898. Cotabato town was part of Moro Province and of Department of Mindanao and Sulu from 1903 to 1920, when the Empire Province of Cotabato, referred to as "Moroland" by the Americans, was founded with the town as the capital, with Datu Piang as its first governor.

Cotabato

Several towns were carved off from Cotabato town since the year 1913, with Pikit being the first one founded by Cebuano Christian colonists. Dulawan and Midsayap were incorporated as regular municipalities in 1936. In 1942, at the beginning of the Pacific Front of World War II, the Japanese Imperial forces entered what is now Maguindanao province. In 1945, Maguindanao was liberated by allied Philippine Commonwealth troops and Muslim Maguindanaoan guerrilla units after defeating the Japanese Imperial forces in the Battle of Maguindanao during the Second World War. On August 18, 1947, just two years after the Second World War and a year after the official inauguration of Philippine independence, the number of towns in the gigantic Cotabato province were multiplied by Executive Order No. 82 signed by President Manuel Roxas, namely: Kidapawan, Pagalungan, Buayan, Marbel, Parang, Nuling, Dinaig, Salaman, Buluan, Kiamba, and Cabacan, a total of eleven towns added to the previous four towns; the newly founded towns of Kabuntalan, Pikit, and Glan added up on September 30, 1949. More and more newly created towns added up in the province's number of towns as the province entered the second half of the 20th century.

Cityhood status

The city was chartered by the virtue of Republic Act No. 2364 on June 20, 1959.
The city used to be part of the original Province of Cotabato and was its capital from 1920 until 1967, a year after the separation of South Cotabato; since then the city was the administrative center of the ARMM when Maguindanao was carved out in 1973. However, the city broke off administratively from Maguindanao as it rejoined Soccsksargen in the 1990s. Now many sources consider the city as part of the present Cotabato province, although geographically it is still considered part of Maguindanao.

Inclusion in the Bangsamoro region

The city has traditionally resisted efforts for its inclusion to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao despite serving as the government center of the autonomous region. Despite of this, the city's residents voted for their locality's inclusion in the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region by voting to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law in the January 21, 2019 plebiscite. The city became the government center of the new region.

Geography

Cotabato is approximately from Manila, the country's capital, and is bounded by the municipalities of Sultan Kudarat to the north—with Rio Grande de Mindanao separating the two—Kabuntalan to the east, and Datu Odin Sinsuat to the south. The city faces Illana Bay, part of the Moro Gulf, to the west.
Cotabato City has a total land area of, located at the mouth of the Rio Grande de Mindanao and Pulangi River.

Urban Areas

Cotabato City has two 27 urban barangays that are grouped into two major urban areas, the Down Town Area and the Upper Town Area.
Down Town Area covers the barangays of Poblacion and Bagua which has a population of more than 150,000, Down Town area is below the sea water level, so it is always prone to flooding, down town is the center of banking, trading and commerce of Cotabato City, more than 20 banks including Central Bank of the Philippines are here, the two major wet markets are also located here the Mega Market and the City Arcade, malls and supermarkets are also here such as South Seas Mall, Puregold Main Branch, Sugni Super Store, Superama and also the upcoming KCC Mall of Cotabato. Some of major schools are also located at the down town area such as Notre Dame University, Cotabato City Central Pilot School the largest elementary school, STI Cotabato and Notre Dame of Cotabato, many restaurants and fast food chains are located here such as McDonalds, two branches of Jollibee, Greenwhich, Chowking, Goldilocks, Redribbon, Mang inasal, Mister Donut and Choobi Choobi.
Upper Town Area is the elevated area of Cotabato City, it covers all barangays of Rosary Heights and where the Peoples Palace are situated, the upper town area is the services center of Cotabato City because the Regional Government Agencies from the Bangsamoro Region and Region 12 are located on this area, it also covers Cotabato Regional and Medical Center and other medical hospitals, other educational institutions are also located here Cotabato City State Polytechnic College, Notre Dame-RVM, AMA Computer College and also the defunct University of Mindanao is located here. There are three major shopping malls here the CityMall, Mall of Alnor and Fiesta Mall, many restaurants are also spread out on this area such as Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Chicken Deli, Reyes Barbecue, Hukad Restaurant, Bo’s Coffee, Blackscoop Cafe, Highlands Coffee and Penongs.
The other two developing areas are Barangays of Kalanganan which is the Seaport and the Grand Mosque is located, the major industry here are aquaculture, the proposed Public Market and Public Terminal is located here, coastal road is also under construction on this area. Another developing area is the Barangays of Tamontaka, which the proposed International Airport will be established on this area, Tamontaka is also the east diversion road of Cotabato City.

Topography

The city is situated in the lowest portion of Maguindanao province. The City of Cotabato with its 37 barangays spans an area with marked landscapes of flat, level to nearly level, very gently sloping to gently undulations to moderately sloping or rolling. It is basically a delta formed by two big rivers, the Tamontaka River and the Rio Grande de Mindanao. Basically 70% of its total land area is below sea level. There are only 2 existing elevated areas in the city, the PC Hill and the Timako Hill with an altitude of 90 and 150 feet, respectively.
Concentration of settlements and other urban uses are in the central portion while the southwestern and southeastern portion have mixed uses of agricultural land settlements. The city is criss-crossed by meandering and braided creeks and rivers like the Matampay, Parang, Timako, Esteros and Miwaruy.
These water bodies serve as sources of both agricultural, industrial and domestic water requirements of some rural barangays. These rivers also serve as the natural drainage flow of the city's wastes.

Barangays

Cotabato City is politically subdivided into 37 barangays. Cotabato City has 27 urban barangays as classified by Philippine Statistics Authority.
Urban
Rural
Under the Köppen climate classification system, Cotabato City features a tropical rainforest climate, falling just short of a tropical monsoon climate.

Demographics

The majority of the inhabitants of Cotabato City are Maguindanaon, comprising about 50% of the city's population. There are sizable ethnic populations of Cebuanos, Tagalogs, Iranun, Hiligaynons, Binisaya and Chinese. The remainder of the population belongs to other ethnicities.

Language

The main language is Maguindanao. Tagalog, Chavacano and Cebuano spoken by both Christians and Muslims, as well as Iranun, Maranao, English, and Arabic, are also heard in the city. The dialect of Chavacano native to Cotabato City is referred to as Cotabateño.

Religion

As reported by Philippine Statistics Authority on 2015, 76.15% of the people of Cotabato City are adherent of Islam and mainly belong to Sunnites. The followers of Islam are mainly Maguindanaoan, Iranun, Maranao, and Tausug people. The remaining proportion belong to non - Islamic belief such as Christianity, Buddhism and other sects.
Cotabato City also hosts the largest mosque in the Philippines, the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid which can accommodate approximately 15,000 worshippers. It is also the seat of the Archdiocese of Cotabato which serves its Roman Catholic population.
Festivals religious of origin are also held in the city annually such the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival which is dedicated to Sharif Kabungsuwan, a Muslim missionary which introduced Islam in the area. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, since the Mary, mother of Jesus as the Immaculate Conception, is regarded by the patron saint of the city by its Catholic population.

Local Government

Elected officials 2019-2022:
1935 Philippine Constitution
Cotabato City is the commercial, industrial, finance, education and regional center of Bangsamoro Region as well as Central Mindanao. It is a strategically located at the center of Mindanao which the city has a road link to all major cities in the island such as Davao, Cagayan de Oro,Zamboanga City and General Santos City.
The city government had reported some 1.2-billion pesos worth of new investments or a recorded 1,368 new businesses in 2019, As a result of the robust growth in city’s economy it has posted a total annual income of 1.044 billion pesos in the same year, for the past five years, Cotabato City’s annual income had been growing at an average of 10.51 percent yearly, also in 2019 Cotabato City is recognized as the top 2 most competitive component city in Mindanao and the most competitive city in Region 12 for 3 consecutive years.

Commercial Retail and Banking Center

Cotabato City has one of the Highest Bank Deposits in Mindanao with total of Php18,736,523,000.00 deposits as of June 30, 2017 with 150,406 bank accounts the city has 20 banks, due to high bank deposits and good economic dynamism. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas built its Central Mindanao branch in the city.
The city has local and national-based shopping centers. Local-based shopping centers like Superama, Sugni, Mall of Alnor, and Southseas Mall have been in competition with the national-based shopping centers like CityMall, Puregold, Robinsons Supermarket and Department Store, Centro Department Store, and SM Savemore. Cotabato City is one of the fastest growing economy in the Soccsksargen region.
KCC Malls had started its full blown construction last July 1, 2020, it is located at a prime lot along Quezon Avenue corner Sinsuat Avenue, the project is estimated to cost 2 billion pesos, the mall is 4 storey with a total lot area of 11 hectares, on the second phase of construction is the completion of 11 storey hotel with convention center, probably upon completion this could be the tallest building in the region 12. NCCC Malls, a Davao-based mall corporation have also confirmed their interest to build their mall within the city.

Agro-Industrial

Cotabato City has a more or less 1,700 hectares of fishponds which has an annual production of 500,000 kg of mangrove crabs, prawn and milkfish.
Aiming to be the halal hub of the Philippines, the City Government and Malaysian Businessman built a Class AA halal slaughter house in Baranggay Kalangan II in the city primary serving the entire Central Mindanao, the Halal slaughter house generates a gross income of 4,642,135.00 pesos in 2018.
The city has different factories for cooking oil, coffee, corn starch, processed food and furniture operating within the city.

Tourism

Recently the number of hotels, inn and pension houses increases, in 2015 the city post an all-time high tourist arrivals growth of 241.01% highest on region 12, and Cotabato City has a 63.97% hotel occupancy rate, rank 1 in region 12.

Landmarks

Air
Flights going to Cotabato City can be reached via Cotabato Airport which is currently situated in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, an adjascent town from the city. The following airline companies are flying from these destinations vice versa.

Land
Modified Toyota Townace and Modified Suzuki Multicab are the usual means of transportation routing the city, while tricycle are only roaming within downtown area. Single motor transport known as Habal-habal are also available around in some location. There are also taxi company operating within city or nearby municipality, namely Alnor Taxi and Wow Taxi.
Inter-city bus transportations are accessible with these Bus Companies listed below. There are also Shuttle Vans currently operating in the city that travels to Lebak, Pagadian, Marawi, Iligan, Zamboanga, Parang, North Upi, Kabuntalan and even to various towns in BARMM, SOCCSARGEN, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Davao Region.
Power is handled by Cotabato Light and Power Company, a private firm owned by Aboitiz who gets power resources from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.. It also operates a bunker fuel-fired stand-by power engines to address emergency situations like power failures, trip-offs and fluctuations.
Metro Cotabato Water District is the main water supplier in the city. It has an active connection of 29,960. It resources are located in Barangay Dimapatoy, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
Telecommunications are handled by PLDT or Philippine Long Distance Company, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Sun Cellular. Internet service providers in the city are PLDT, Smart, and Globe. Cable services are being handled by local-based Cotabato Cable and national-based Cignal and Sky Cable.

Healthcare

The city has one government hospital and eight private hospitals. Below is the list of current operating hospitals in the city.
formerly Cotabato City State Polytechnic College is the only government tertiary institution in the city. Aside from the existing government basic education institution the Laboratory Science High school of CSU and Cotabato City Science and Technology High school are specialized government established secondary schools. While listed below are the partial private educational institutions in the city, having a total of 14,228 enrollees for Higher Education in School Year 2017–2018.

Private Basic Education

Radio

FrequencyNameCompanyFormatCall SignPowerCovered Location
89.3 FM89.3 Brigada News FMBrigada Mass Media CorporationNews, Talk radioDXYC10 KWCotabato City
90.9 FM90.9 iFM CotabatoRadio Mindanao NetworkNews, Talk radio, MusicDXWD10 KWCotabato City
92.7 FM92.7 Happy FM CotabatoNotre Dame Broadcasting CorporationNews, Talk radio, Pop, OPM, Entertainment, Catholic RadioDXOL10 KWCotabato City
93.7 FM93.7 Star FMBombo Radyo Philippines; Consolidated Broadcasting SystemNews, Talk radio, Pop, OPM, EntertainmentDXFD10 KWCotabato City
95.1 FMMOR 95.1 For Life!ABS-CBN CorporationNews, Talk radio, Pop, OPM, EntertainmentDXPS10 KWCotabato City
95.9 FM95.9 Radyo Natin CotabatoManila Broadcasting Company/Radyo Natin NetworkNews, Talk radio, Pop, OPM, Community RadioDXTC5 KWCotabato City
99.0 FM99.0 Voice FM CotabatoAl-Balagh Foundation/Prime Broadcasting NetworkNews, Talk radio, Community Radio, Islamic RadioDXJC5 KWCotabato City
105.3 FM105.3 Radyo Bandera News FM CotabatoBandera News PhilippinesNews, Talk radio, MusicDXJN5 KWCotabato City

TV Stations

Free TV:
Local TV Stations :
Cotabato City is twinned with:

Local