Koronadal City in SOCSKSARGEN - An Emerging Business Haven

Contributor: Brian Baltazar Bingil (NAPOLCOM XII – Public Information Officer)

People who have not been to Mindanao would think that the entire place is already engulfed by skirmishes because of inappropriate information about the island. This notion must be corrected because there a lot of facts about Mindanao that most of Filipinos are not aware of.

Fact 1: Mindanao is the 19^th largest island in the world.

Fact 2: It’s the second largest island in the Philippines.

Most part of Mindanao might be even one the most peaceful place in the entire country. Koronadal City, in South Cotabato for instance, one of the newest cities is a peaceful and flourishing locale in the island. This part of the globe could never even give a buzz to those who have'nt visited Mindanao. Being a Mindanaoan, and have traveled in some places in Luzon and Visayas, I would say that it’s better if not the best place than other places do. 

Compared to other areas in the Philippines, Koronadal is a typhoon resistant locality. It has a strong and competent Local Government Unit. The city is also the regional seat of SOCSKSARGEN (Region XII) which is composed of four (4) provinces and five cities namely; South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani, Cotabato Province, Koronadal City, Tacurong, General Santos City, Kidapawan City and the oldest city is Cotabato.

Koronadal is not just as peaceful as it is but it’s also a typhoon resistant city. It is impenetrable by tropical depression nor tropical storms since it lies between two (2) mountain ranges – Roxas and Quezon Mountain Ranges which is a characteristic of a valley. Their peaks reaching as high as 700-800  meters above sea level and gradually dropping towards the center of the city. In general, Koronadal has a level to gently sloping terrain, or 50.18% of the total land area is predominantly flat. These mountain ranges act as a walls which fortifies the city against bad weather condition.

Roxas and Quezon Mountain Ranges tower around the city as if they are silent guards against typhoons.

Aerial View of systems of Mindanao Mountain Ranges approaching Gen. Santos City Airport which may also affect the strength and speed of typhoons.

The city is located within the northeastern part of South Cotabato Province, lying in the latitude between 6^o 24’ to 6^o 34’ north and longitude 124^o 47’ to 124^o 58’ east.  The city is bounded in the northwest by the Municipality of Tantangan, South Cotabato and the Municipality of Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat in the northeast; on the southwest, by the Municipality of Banga, South Cotabato and on the southeast, by the Municipalities of Tupi and Tampakan, South Cotabato.

Since the city was established more than seven decades ago, it continuously develops and boomed into what it is now--a dazzling and dynamic city. This remarkable progress can be largely attributed to its stable peace and order condition, typhoon resistant, education, resilience, competent, effective and efficient Local Government.

Some dubbed this city as Crown City of the South, because it seems like the name came from the word “corona” latin word for crown, however it does not mean that way. Koronadal was coined from two (2) B’laan word Kolon (Cogon) a kind of grass which is used by Filipinos as alternative roofing and Datal which means vast plain.

Majority of the populace are Hiligaynon, followed by Cebuanos, Ilocanos and other ethnicity such as Kapampangans, Pangasinense, Tagalog, Maguindanaons, Maranaos and Bla’ans. People from different walks of life, tribes and religious beliefs live harmoniously and consider this place as their abode.

The largely spoken dialect is Hiligaynon, however because of the influx of migrants coming from the neighboring cities and provinces Cebuano population is continuously growing. The exodus was brought about by the creation of the City as the new seat of Region 12 last September September 2001, by virtue of Executive Order No. 36 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo transferring South Cotabato, Sarangani, General Santos formerly the SocSarGen District, and Koronadal from Southern Mindanao to Region XII, and renaming the region, from Central Mindanao, to SOCCSKSARGEN.

The city continuously reaps the fruit of its hard labor since it was established more than 7 decades ago as municipality. It conventionally grows as it faces the challenges that a young city. Investors both local and national scope are slowly picking the area as their new destination. Businesses sprout like mushrooms as buildings after buildings are being constructed by private entities and government entities.

Construction of 4-story classroom

Overtime, it’s landscape has transformed into a vibrant and dazzling urban area. At the moment, there are already (3) malls which used to be small enterprises. Banks, housing units, commercial spaces and educational institutions grow and expand their establishments.

This is because people here are confident that they are secured. Residents from neighboring provinces and cities frequent here not just to find jobs but to enjoy the amenities as well. They visit here to shop, enjoy the night life, eat in restaurants, cafés, food chain and the like.

Koronadal at night

Local tourist gradually pouring-in as Barangay Mambucal promotes the two (2) tourist destination. The RMMZipline Resort and Mambucal Hot Sulfur Spring Resort. Instead of looking for some adventures and eco-tourism experience far-away you can visit this places since it is only about four (4) kilometers from the city proper.

I wrote this blog hoping to change the Filipinos outlook about Mindanao. I wish that more people would learn more about our country specially here in Mindanao.