Regional Physical Framework Plan, 2004 2030 of SOCCSKSARGEN

Message
The efficient management of develop-
ment knowledge in the regions is an effective
way to alleviate poverty and improve the lives
of the people.
The Regional Physical Framework Plan
(RPFP) is an example of how development
knowledge is packaged to help foster region-
al growth. This document for one, seeks to
contribute to the efficient allocation and utiliza-
tion of land and other physical resources for
maximum social and economic benefits. It pro-
vides policies and development strategies on
settlements and infrastructure development,
agricultural production, tourism, sustainable
mining, and environmental protection. Rural
investment interventions like farm-to-market
roads, small-water impounding areas, and in-
come-enhancing activities are contained in the
RPFP.
Given the increasing demand for land,
the RPFP offers policy guidelines to resolve
land use conflicts among various competing
uses.
Strengthening the land rights of the poor
and easing barriers to land transactions can
supply the region great amount of socioeco-
nomic benefits. The RPFP upholds this ob-
jective by promoting land disposal through an
efficient issuance of titles.
To realize a stable environment, the Plan
highlights the need for the conservation, re-
habilitation and sustained development of the
region’s environment and natural resources
through preservation and reforestation pro-
grams.
Lastly, in response to the recent natural
disasters in the country, the RPFP presents
policies and strategies that will mitigate or pre-
vent damage from future onslaughts of disas-
ters caused by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes,
tsunamis, and landslides.
It is my hope that the stakeholders ben-
efit from this Plan and; governmental, non-gov-
ernmental and private organizations support
the region’s growth and development within
the context of a sound and sustained resource
management.
ROMULO L. NERI
Secretary
Socioeconomic Planning
Nastional Economic and
Development Authority

Message
AUGUSTO B. SANTOS
NEDA Deputy Director-General and
NLUC Chairman
Development Authority
I commend the officers and members
of the Regional Development Council and the
NEDA Regional Office for spearheading the up-
dating of the Regional Physical Framework Plan
(RPFP) as well as the Regional Land Use Com-
mittee.
The updated RPFP links the national and
provincial framework plans and takes into ac-
count various developments. These include
changes in land uses; enactment of new laws,
plans and policies; new data sets generated
from the latest census; and adjustments in the
LGU composition of various regions.
The Plan also upheld the policy recom-
mendations provided in the National Framework
for Physical Planning and at the same time con-
sidered the desired development direction of
LGUs as cited in the Provincial Physical Frame-
work Plans (PPFPs) and Comprehensive Land
Use Plans (CLUPs).
The updated RPFP benefited from inter-
regional consultations which identified comple-
menting spatial development strategies among
the regions sharing common boundaries and
natural resources as well as among regions
with established physical and economic link-
ages. The Plan is thus expected to be more
responsive to the demand for the proper use,
allocation, management, and development of
land and other natural resources at the regional
and subregional levels.
The target users of the RPFP are gov-
ernment agencies involved in the formulation
of policies and plans for the development and
management of the country’s land and other
physical resources as well as planners and deci-
sion-makers in the private sector whose invest-
ment interests affect or are affected by these
resources. Local government units will find the
document helpful in providing data, information,
and reference material on the region’s land and
physical resources and in aligning their own
plans, PPFPs, CLUPs and development plans,
with the regional development objectives and
strategies. Nongovernment organizations and
academic institutions could also utilize the docu-
ments when undertaking land use and physical
planning-related activities.
It is expected that the use of the RPFP will
result in specific policies, programs and strate-
gic interventions to support economic growth
within the context of sustainable development
especially in these areas: (a) food security and
agricultural development; (b) mining; (c) envi-
ronmental protection and biodiversity conserva-
tion; (d) urban development; (e) infrastructure
development; and (f) disaster mitigation, among
others.
The challenge now is for us to work to-
gether so that the region succeeds in attaining
its vision towards growth and development.

Foreword
Regional Development Council XII
Region XII is endowed with rich natu-
ral resources. It is one of country’s top produc-
ers of tuna, rice, corn, and some high value
crops, such as, aspagarus, banana, oil palm
and coffee. Its large deposits of gold and cop-
per, known to be of world class quality, are po-
tential sources of wealth for the region. It has
ecotourism potentials as well with the pres-
ence of Mt. Apo, LakeSebu, Liguasan Marsh
and long stretch of beaches, among others.
However, the region is faced with so-
cio-economic and environmental challenges
which, if left unchecked or mitigated, would
have negative impact on its growth and de-
velopment in the coming generations. This
concern has become more urgent with the ca-
lamities experienced not only in Region XII but
also elsewhere in the country and the world.
Some blame this on the abuse in the use of the
region’s resources. Hence, the efﬁcient alloca-
tion and use of the region’s land and natural
resources for optimal growth and development
is of primary concern to policymakers, particu-
larly of Regional Development Council (RDC)
XII.
For this purpose, the Regional Physical
Framework Plan (RPFP) for Region XII has
been formulated. It provides guidance on how
the region’s resources shall be developed,
utilized and maintained in the next twenty-six
years. The proposed strategies are aimed at
addressing the pressing concerns that greatly
affect the welfare of the region’s constituents,
such as, resource depletion and environmental
degradation, low economic productivity, lack of
infrastructure support, among others.
Since the RPFP is considered as the
mother of all regional development plans,
the formulation of other medium-term socio-
economic, sectoral, city and municipal com-
prehensive land use, and provincial physical
framework plans. Incidentally, the ﬁrst phase of
RPFP, 2004-2030 also covers the same plan
period of the current Medium-Term Regional
Development (MTRDP), i.e., 2004-2010. Thus,
the strategies contained in the MTRDP are es-
sentiallyconsistent with the RPFP.
We all want to have a socially and envi-
ronmentally livable region, with accessible qual-
ity services and economic opportunities for our
constituents. I, therefore, enjoin everyone, par-
ticularly those from line agencies, local govern-
ment units, non-government units, the private
sector, academe, the youth and other sectors,
to support and participate in the implementation
of the RPFP. With our concerted efforts put to-
gether, I believe that we shall become what we
have envisioned Region XII to be by 2030.
DAISY P. AVANCE-FUENTES
Chairperson
Regional Development Council XII

Foreword
On September 5, 2002, the National
Land Use Committee (NLUC) passed Resolu-
tion No. 1,
series of 2002 – “Adopting the Supplemental
Guidelines for the Preparation/Updating of the
RPFP, directing the Regional Land Use Com-
mittees to commence plan preparation/updat-
ing and enjoining NLUC Member-Agencies to
actively participate therefor”. In response to
this issuance, the Regional Land Use Com-
mittee of the Regional Development Council
(RDC) XII formulated the Regional Physical
Framework Plan (RPFP) of Region XII, 2004-
2030 in order to provide and guide the stake-
holders of the region on the optimal use and
protection of its natural resources.
The RPFP presents the vision for the
physical and socio-economic development of
the region for the next twenty-six (26) years,
as well as, the policy guidelines and directions
for the major components of the plan, namely,
Protection Land Use, Production Land Use,
Settlements, and Infrastructure Support. The
plan was subjected to a series of consultations
with the different local development councils
and stakeholder groups in the region which
primarily aimed to generate comments/sug-
gestions to enhance the document. During the
8th RDC XII Regular Meeting on 18 Novem-
ber 2004, the Council approved and adopted
the RPFP through Resolution No. 08, series of
2004.
The RPFP consists of four chapters:
Chapter I (Introduction) contains the general
assumptions and principles underlying the
plan, the general objectives and limitations of
the plan; Chapter II (The Planning Environ-
ment) discusses the existing situation of the
region particularly the physical and natural re-
sources; Chapter III (The RPFP) contains the
challenges, vision, objectives, as well as, the
strategies to provide general directions on the
utilization of the regions natural resources; and
Chapter IV (Plan Implementation) provides for
the mechanism in the realization of the plan.
The RPFP is a very vital instrument in the
formulation/revision/updating of the Compre-
hensive Land Use Plans of the city and munici-
palities of the region, as well as, the Provincial
Physical Framework Plans of the provinces.
The Regional Land Use Committee of Re-
gional Development Council XII acknowledges
with deep appreciation, the support and assis-
tance extended by the following member-agen-
cies in the formulation of the Regional Physical
Framework Plan, namely: DA, DAR, DENR,
DILG, DPWH, DOST, DOTC, DTI, HUDCC,
HLRB, DOT, and NEDA. The Committee also
wishes to acknowledge other line agencies and
local government units that have provided valu-
able necessary inputs, suggestions and recom-
mendations in the completion and enhancement
of the Plan.
I would like to enjoin the support and par-
ticipation of all sectors i.e. the line agencies,
localgovernment units, non-government units,
private sector, academe, etc in the implementa-
tion of the RPFP.
Mabuhay!
HADJA SITTIE MARIAM (MA. LOURDES) D. LIM
Regional Director, NEDA XII and
Chairperson, Regional Land Use Committe XII
Development Authority XII

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter
No.
Title
Page
No.
1 Introduction
1.1 General Assumptions/Principles Underlying the Plan …………………….. 1-1
1.2 General Objectives ………………………………………………………….... 1-3
1.3 Organization of the Plan………………………………………………….…... 1-4
1.4 Limitations of the Plan ……………………………………………………….. 1-5
2 The Planning Environment
2.1 Population and Management ………………………………………….......... 2-1
2.2 Economy ………………………………………………………………………. 2-30
2.3 Physical Characteristics …………………………………………………….... 2-44
2.4 Land Use …….………………………………………………………….…...... 2-100
3 The Regional Physical Framework Plan
3.1 Regional Development Challenges ………………………………………… 3-1
3.2 Vision …………………...……………………………………………………… 3-1
3.3 Goals/Objectives ……………………………………………………………… 3-1
3.4 Regional Spatial Development Strategy …………………………………… 3-2
3.5 Development Strategies ……………………………………………………… 3-12
3.6 Development Scenarios …………………………………………………….... 3-13
3.7 Component Spatial Strategies ………………………………………………. 3-14
3.7.1. Settlement Plan ……………………………………………………….. 3-14
3.7.2. Production Land Use ………………………………………………..... 3-23
3.7.3. Protection Land Use ………………………………………………...... 3-38
3.7.4. Infrastructure Development ………………………………………….. 3-44
4 Plan Implementation
4.1 Review, Approval, and Adoption Process ………………………………….. 4-1
4.2 Phasing of the Plan …………………………………………………………… 4-1
4.3 Integration of Plan and Planning Processes ……………………………….. 4-2
4.4 Financing of the Plan ……………………………………………………….... 4-6
4.5 Monitoring and Evaluation …………………………………………………… 4-6
4.6 Implementation Support ……………………………………………………… 4-12
Annexes
A Glossary of Terms …………………………………………………………….. 5-1
B RDC Resolution No. 08, series of 2004 …………………………………….. 5-5
C New Land Classiﬁcation System ……………………………………………. 5-6
D Composition of the Regional Land Use Committee, Region XII ..……….. 5-7
E Regional Land Use Committee XII – Technical Working Group ………… 5-8
F Regional Development Council XII - Ofﬁcials and Members …….………. 5-9
G Regional Development Council XII - Secretariat …………………...……... 5-10

LIST OF TABLES
Table
No.
Title
Page
No.
2.1 Population Size and Average annual Growth Rate (AAGR) ……….............……… 2-3
2.2 Population Projection, 2005-2030 ………………………….............……….…. …… 2-4
2.3 Doubling Time of Population ……………………………...............…………….…… 2-6
2.4 Population Density …………………………………...............…………………..…… 2-7
2.5 Population Density Projection ……………………............……………………...…… 2-10
2.6 Urban-Rural Population …………………………............……………………….…… 2-11
2.7 Sex Ratio ………………………………………………...............………………..…… 2-12
2.8 Household Population by age Group ………………............…………………..…… 2-12
2.9 Age Dependency Ratio …………………………….............……………...……..…… 2-13
2.10 Projection of Sex-Specific Net Migration Rates …………............…………….…… 2-14
2.11 Highest Grade Completed of Household Population ……….............……………… 2-15
2.12 Simple and Functional Literacy …………………………………….............………… 2-15
2.13 Public Elementary and Education Enrolment ………………………............….…… 2-16
2.14 Public Elementary & Secondary Education Participation Rate ……...…............… 2-17
2.15 Public Elementary & Secondary Education Cohort-Survival Rate ….……............. 2-18
2.16 Distribution of Government Health Manpower Complement ………................…… 2-21
2.17 Hospital Beds & Bed Population Ratio …………………………….............………… 2-21
2.18 GRDP Growth Rate at 1985 Constant Prices …………………….............………… 2-31
2.19 Gross Regional Domestic Product at Constant Prices …………….............….…… 2-32
2.20 GRDP, 1995-2003, Region XII and Mindanao Regions ……………................…… 2-33
2.21 Contribution of Region XII to Mindanao and Philippine GDP ………...............…… 2-34
2.22 Rice and Corn Production of Mindanao Regions ……………….............……..…… 2-35
2.23 Present Land Use – Ricelands within Primelands-Ricelands ……............….……. 2-37
2.24 Growth of the Labor Force in Region XII …………………………………............…. 2-40
2.25 Employment Growth Rate by Major Industry Group/Sector …….............…….…… 2-42
2.26 Summary Table of Mix-Share Analysis ………………………….............……..……. 2-42
2.27 Location Quotient ……………………………………………….............……...……… 2-43
2.28 Region XII Industry Profile, 2001…………………………….……............……..……. 2-43
2.29 Number of Establishment/Industries in Region XII ………….............……………… 2-44
2.30 Land Area by Province/City…………………………………………............…...….… 2-45
2.31 Elevation per Province/City ………………………………………............……..…… 2-49
2.32 Watersheds Areas, Region XII ……………………………...........…………….…… 2-53
2.33 Major Lakes in Region XII ………………………………..........……………….……. 2-54
2.34 List of Water Bodies Classified …………………..……........….……………….…… 2-54
2.35 Land Area by Slope of Region XII ……………………............……………………… 2.55
2.36 List of Water Bodies, Location and Classification …………...........………….……. 2-62
2.37 Areas Prone to Landslides ……………………………………............……………… 2-69
2.38 Active Volcanoes in Region XII ……………………………….............……………… 2-70

LIST OF TABLES
Table
No.
Title Page
No.
2.39 Areas Vulnerable to Volcanic Hazard ……………………………................………...... 2-70
2.40 Flood Prone Areas and Causes of Flooding ……………………………….................. 2-75
2.41 Existing Road Kilometerage by Classification and Road Density .......…................... 2-77
2.42 Existing National Road Kilometerage by Type of Pavement ……….....................….. 2-77
2.43 List of National Roads in Region XII, by Type of Pavement ………...................…… 2-79
2.44 Existing No. and Length of National Bridges by Type .....……………..……….…....... 2-83
2.45 Existing Airports in Region XII ……………………………………………..….........…... 2-84
2.46 Flight Operation and Volume of Passengers & Cargoes ......………….….............…. 2-85
2.47 Number of Households Served by Water Facilities (Levels I, II, and III)..................... 2-86
2.48 Existing National Irrigation Systems ……………………………………………........… 2-90
2.49 Number and Service Area of Communal Irrigation Systems by Provinc/City ........... 2-90
2.50 Regionwide Percentage of Irrigation Development (NIS and CIS Combined) ........... 2-91
2.51 List of Existing NPC Power Generating Plants in Region XII …………….............…. 2-95
2.52 Coverage of Barangay Energization …......…………………………………..........…… 2-95
2.53 Number of Licensed Hospitals by Area, by Type and Classification …….............….. 2-97
2.54 Inventory of Established Day Care Centers by province/City ….....…….…..........…. 2-100
2.55 Coverage Area, Land Classification Map .....…………………………………........…… 2-101
2.56 Regional Land Use Accounting ………………….....………………………...........…… 2-107
2.57 Rice Production, Population and Regional Requirement for the Period 2000-2030.. 2-113
2.58 Corn Production, by Area ………………………………………………………………... 2-113
2.59 Rice Production, Province of Sultan Kudarat ………………………………….………. 2-114
2.60 Rice Production, Province of South Cotabato ........................................................... 2-114
2.61 Rice Production, Province of Sarangani Province ..................................................... 2-115
2.62 Rice Production, Province of Cotabato Province ....................................................... 2-115
2.63 Fishery Production …………………………………….………….....…………………..... 2-116
2.64 Production Forest Land Cover …………………………………………………………... 2-118
2.65 Mineral Reserves of Region XII, by Province ………….....……………………………. 2-120
2.66 Historical Tourist Attraction ……………………………………………………………..... 2-121
2.67 Natural Tourist Attraction …………………………………….………………….….......... 2-121
2.68 Man-made Tourist Attraction …………………………………………………….……….. 2-123
2.69 No. of Accredited Tourism Establishment in Region XII ..………………….………….. 2-124
2.70 Major Establishments in Region XII …………………………………………………….. 2-129
2.71 Protected Areas (Existing and Proposed …..…………………………………………… 2-132
2.72 Status of Coral Reefs …………………………………………………………………….. 2-134
2.73 Seagrass Beds ……………………………………………………………………………. 2-134
2.74 Mangrove Areas ………………………………………………………………….……….. 2-135
2.75 Profile of Certificates of Ancestral Domain Claims (CADCs) ………….....………….. 2-138
2.76 Profile of Certificates of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs) ……………..……………. 2-138

LIST OF TABLES
Table
No.
Title Page
No.
2.77 Land Use Opportunity ………………………………………………………………….... 2-141
2.78 Consolidated Network of Protected Areas for Agri-Industrial Development ……….. 2-145
2.79 Decision Zones, Region XII …………………………………………………….…….. 2-146
3.1 Roles of Identiﬁed Intermediate Urban Centers ……………………………….…….... 3-10
3.2 Potential Investment Areas in Region XII ……………………….……………………... 3-11
3.3 Goals and Targets ……………………………………………………………………… 3-12
3.4 Development Scenario …………………………………...………………………….… 3-13
3.5 Regional Proposed Land Use Accounting ……….....……………………………….. 3-26
3.6 Top Ten Other Crops Produced in Region XII, 2003 ………....…………………..….. 3-27
3.7 Key Programs and Projects by Phase, Croplands and Fishing Grounds ....…….. 3-31
3.8 Key Programs and Projects by Phase, Production Forest ………..……………….. 3-33
3.9 Key Programs and Projects by Phase and Corridor, Industrial Development Areas 3-36
3.10 Key Programs and Projects by Phase, Protection nd………………………………… 3-37
3.11 Major Programs/Key Projects and Proposals by Phase and Corridor ……………… 3-42
4.1 Monitoring and Evaluation Activities …………………………………………………… 4-10

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure
No.
Title Page
No.
2.1 Average Annual Growth Rate of Population, by Province/City …………………… 2-1
2.2 Population Size by Province/City …………………………………………………..... 2-3
2.3 Language/Dialect Generally Spoken by Household, Region XII ……………….... 2-13
2.4 Crude Death Rate by Province/City …………………………………………………. 2-19
2.5 Infant Mortality Ratio By Province/City ……………………………………………… 2-19
2.6 Maternal Mortality Ratio By Province/City ……………………………………….…. 2-20
2.7 Urbanization Trend by Area …………………………………………………………. 2-24
2.8 Average annual Gross Regional Domestic Product at 1985 Constant Prices … 2-30
2.9 GRDP, 1995-2003, Region XII and Mindanao Regions, At 1985 Constant
Prices .................................................................................................................. 2-33
2.10 Comparison of GRDP/GDP Growth Rate of Philippines/Mindanao/ Region XII
at Constant 1985 Prices ……………………………………………………………… 2-34
2.11 GRDP, 1995-2003 at Constant 1985 Prices ……………………………………….. 2-35
2.12 Rice Production in Mindanao, by Region …………………………………………… 2-36
2.13 Region XII Contribution to Total Rice Production of Mindanao …………………... 2-36
2.14 Corn Production in Mindanao by Region, 1995-2000 …………………………….. 2-37
2.15 Region XII Contribution to Total Corn Production in Mindanao 1995-2000 …….. 2-38
2.16 Labor and Employment Status, Region XII ………………………………………… 2-39
2.17 Labor Force Distribution by Area …………………………………………………… 2-39
2.18 Employment Rate, Region XII …………………………………………………….…. 2-40
2.19 Employed Persons in region XII by Industry Group ……………………….……… 2-41
4.1 Horizontal Integration of Plans at the Regional Level …………………………….. 4-2
4.2 Vertical Integration of Plans at the Regional Level ………………………………… 4-4
4.3 Regional Organizational Structure for Physical and Land Use Planning ……….. 4-6
4.4 Monitoring Organizational Structure ………………………………………………… 4-8
4.5 Environmental Monitoring Structure ………………………………………………… 4-10

LIST OF MAPS
Map
No.
Title Page
No.
2.1 1990, 2000 Population Size Map ………………………………………………………… 2-2
2.2 2010, 2030 Projected Population Size Map ……………………………………….…… 2-5
2.3 1990, 2000 Population Density Map …………………………………………………… 2-8
2.4 2010, 2030 Projected Population Density Map ………………………………………… 2-9
2.5 Existing Settlements Map ………………………………………………………….…… 2-23
2.6 Map of Region XII …………………………………………………………………………. 2-46
2.7 Location Map of Region XII.………………………………………………………………. 2-47
2.8 Elevation Map ……………………………………………………………………………… 2-48
2.9 Climate Map ……………………………………………………………………………… 2-50
2.10 Watersheds Map ………………………………………………………………………… 2-51
2.11 Slope Map ………………………………………………………………………………… 2-56
2.12 Soil Map …………………………………………………………………………………… 2-57
2.13 Geologic Map ………………………………………………………………………………. 2-59
2.14 Ground Water Availability Map ……………………………………………………………. 2-60
2.15 Erosion Map ……………………………………………………………………….……… 2-72
2.16 Fault Lines Map ……………………………………………………………………………. 2-73
2.17 Land Use Constraints Map …………………………..…………………………………… 2-74
2.18 Map Showing Existing Major Roads, Seaport and Airports……………………………. 2-78
2.19 Map Showing Public Transport Routes ………………………………………………….. 2-82
2.20 Map Showing Areas Covered by Water Districts ……………………………………….. 2-87
2.21 Map Showing Existing National Irrigation Systems (NIS) Service Areas ……………. 2-88
2.22 Map Showing Existing Power Generation and Transmission Facilities Map ……….. 2-93
2.23 Map Showing Areas Served by a Telephone Exchange ………………………………. 2-94
2.24 Map Showing State Universities and Colleges and TESDA Administered Schools ... 2-98
2.25 Map Showing Tertiary Hospitals in Region XII ………………………………………….. 2-99
2.26 Land Classification Map (Official) ………………………………………….…………… 2-102
2.27 Land Classification Map (Unofficial) …………………………………...………………… 2-103
2.28 Land Cover Map …………………………………………………………………………… 2-105
2.29 Existing Land Use Map …………………………………………………………………… 2-106
2.30 Historical Tourist Attractions Map ………………………………..………………………. 2-125
2.31 Natural Tourist Attraction Map ……………………………………………………………. 2-126
2.32 Manmade Tourist Attraction Map …………………………………………………………. 2-127
2.33 NIPAS Map …………………………………………………………………………………. 2-131
2.34 Land Use Opportunity Map ………………………………………………………………. 2-142
2.35 Pedo-Ecological Zone Map ………………………………………………………………. 2-143
2.36 Prime Lands Map ………………………………………………………………………… 2-144
3.1 Sustainable Agri-Industrial Development Strategy (SAIDS) Map …………………….. 3-6

LIST OF MAPS
Map
No.
Title Page
No.
3.2 The Main Corridors……………………………………………………………………..… 3-7
3.3 The Potential Corridors…….………………………………………………………..…... 3-8
3.4 Settlements Plan Map …………………………………………………………………… 3-15
3.5 Proposed Land Use Map ……………………………………………………………….. 3-25
3.6 Long-Term Infrastructure Projects, Roads and Bridges ……………………………... 3-59
3.7 Long-Term Infrastructure Projects, Airports, Seaports and
Integrated Transport Terminals ……………………………………………………….... 3-60
3.8 Long-Term Infrastructure Projects, Upgrading /Expansion of
Water Supply Systems (Water Districts) ………......………………………………….. 3-61
3.9 Long-Term Infrastructure Projects, National Irrigation Systems (NIS) …………….. 3-62
3.10 Long-Term Infrastructure Projects, Flood Control,
Shore Protection and Drainage Systems ……………………………………………… 3-63
3.11 Long-Term Infrastructure Projects, Power Generation and Transmission ………… 3-64

CHAPTER 1
Introduction
T
he Regional Physical Framework Plan
(RPFP) comprises policies and broadspatial
strategy for the long term development
of the region. Region XII is comprised ofthe
provinces of Cotabato (North), Sarangani and
South Cotbato, and the cities ofCotabato, General
Santos, Kidapawan, Koronadal and Tacurong.
As a blueprint for thelong-term development
of the region, it sets out the urban structure for
its futuredevelopment with regard to achieving
economic growth and efficiency and healthy
environmentforliving.Italsoembodiespoliciesfor
infrastructure and utilities development towards
achieving physical and economic integration, as
well as, policies for the distribution of population
and for the location of employment and other
criticaleconomic activities at the regional scaled.
The RPFP has four components namely;
settlements, production, protection, and
infrastructure.
The RPFP for Region XII covers the period,
2004-2030. Generally, the proposals of the Plan
are drawn in a semi-diagrammatic way. The
translation of the broadproposals into detailed
local development plans are left to the local
government unitswho have the responsibility of
defining the growth of their respective areas.
The plan is flexible to meet unforeseen
changes in the scale and nature of growth of the
region. Hence, it must be periodically subjected to
review to meet new conditions.
1.1 General Assumptions/Principles Underlying the Plan
T
he formulation of the plan is based on the
following assumptions:
a. Population Growth
Population in major urban centers of
the region will continue to grow rapidly and
exert greater pressure in the suburbs and prime
agricultural lands, if left unmanaged, given their
respective current high population growth rates.
However, moderate population increases may
be achieved through the implementation of
population management programs appropriate for
the region.
b. Regional Economy
A shift in the economic structure of the
region, from a predominantly agri-based economy
to one that is agri-industrial, is assumed to take
place through the establishment of development
corridorsalongthemajorurbancentersconnecting
the existing vast agricultural and industrial areas.
To complement this, conservation and protection
of the region’s coastal environment is addressed
through coastal zone development along with eco-
tourisminpotentialareasoftheregion.Effortsshall
be made to provide the necessary infrastructure
support upon which industrialization will
depend.

2 Introduction
c. Regional Geographic
Conﬁguration
It is assumed that the current geographic
configuration of RegionXII will remain unchanged
during the plan period as provided by Executive
Order No. 36 issued by Her Excellency President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on September 19, 2001.
d. Peace and Order
The peace and order condition in the region
is foreseen to improve and stabilize with the on-
going peace and confidence building efforts of
government with the Moro National Liberation
Front (MNLF), Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF), National Democratic Front (NDF), and
other groups (the tri-peoples - Christians, Muslims
and Lumads/Indigenous Peoples) who have been
at the center of armed conflicts in the region.
This would make the region more attractive as an
investment area, as well as, travel destination. This
would further redound to boost its local economy
with the creation of more jobs and employment
opportunities.
It is also assumed that these conflict-
affected areas will turn into vibrant economic
zones considering the current interventions of
government such as the establishment of Peace
Zones, Peace and Development Communities
(PDCs) and KALAHI sites.
e. Socio-economic
Development of Mindanao
Efforts are being pursued to accelerate the
socio-economicdevelopment of Mindanao as a
major island group of the Philippines. Region
XII is expected to substantially contribute to
Mindanao’s overall goal of agri-industrialization.
Thus, the RPFPs of the Mindanao regions should
be able to show areas of complementation towards
achieving economic and physical integration in
the island. It is also assumed that resources to
support programs/projects proposed in the RPFPs
shall be equitably distributed among the regions
in Mindanao, for the regions to realize their
individual contributions to its growth.
f. Plan Implementation
It is assumed that the public and private
sectors will adhere to thegeneral physical
development directions and the proposals in the
Plan as sustainable development in the region
depends on these being done. While detailed
feasibility studies are yet to be made on some of
the proposed programs, it is assumed that the
government will ensure that
the policies set forth in the Plan are given due
consideration and that the financial requirements
to implement this Plan will be made available at
every phase of its implementation.
Consistent with the National Framework for
Physical Planning, 2001-2030, physical planning
in Region XII shall proceed in the context of the
following principles toward the attainment of the
regional development vision:
a. Food security utilizing the principle of
sustainable agricultural development and
agrarian reform;
b. Environmental stability and ecological
integrity through effective natural resource
management and balancing demand of
land using activities visà-vis preservation of
ecosystems;
c. Economic and physical integration through
balanced dispersion of agriindustrialand
ecotourism development areas and
appropriate infrastructure systems;
d. Rational urban development by harnessing
the potentials of urbancenters to achieve
complementary relationship not only in
terms of economic growth, but also in socio-
cultural and institutional aspects; while also
at the same time developing the competitive
advantage of the rural areas with respect
to their respective natural endowments
and presence of skilled manpower and
farm work force;
e. Equitable access to physical resources and

Regional Physical Framework Plan 2004-2030 3
natural resources through just distribution of
the region’s resources and by providing equal
opportunities to all Filipinos in the region
in the use and acquisition of land and other
resources;
f. Private-public sector partnership by
encouraging shared responsibility between
the government and the private sector in the
development and management of the region’s
physical resources;
g. People empowerment by establishing
pragmatic, appropriate, flexible and dynamic
structures or mechanisms that involve the
T
he Regional Physical Framework Plan
(RPFP) provides a rational basis for the
development of Region XII in the next
twenty-seven (27) years by defining the scope and
limits for socio-economic development planning. It
embodies a set of policies and a graphic translation
of the desired spatial arrangement of landusing
activities in the region. The RPFP seeks to achieve
the following main objectives:
a. Effect a rational distribution of the regional
population;
b. Facilitate access of the regional population
to basic economic opportunities and social
services;
c. Guide public and private investments to
ensure sustainable use of the region’s natural
resources; and
d. Enhance, safeguard and protect the quality
of the environment.
The RPFP, therefore, is designed to show
the desired direction and intensity of growth of
the region as a whole, as well as, of its sub-regional
participation of key stakeholders;
h. Social unification and respect for cultural
diversity by keeping the culturally diverse
people of the region (Muslims, Christians
and the indigenous cultural communities)
united in the pursuit of lasting peace and
prosperity in the region, as well as, ensuring
the indigenous people’s rights to develop,
control and use lands within their ancestral
domain; and
i. Market orientation by adopting the interplay
of market forces within the framework
ecological and intergenerational factors
1.2 General Objectives
areas covering a long-term period, in this case from
2004 to 2030.
The direction and intensity of growth
that the region seeks to promote represents a
balance between the need for the region to fulfill
its functional role with respect to the national
economy, on one hand, and the need to ensure
sustained utilization of the physical resources of
the region, on the other. Hence,
it takes into account and seeks to contribute to
the attainment of national development goals and
targets.

4 Introduction
T
he RPFP document is composed of four
major chapters. The first chapter focuses
on the general assumptions/principles
underlying the Plan, its general objectives,
organization of the RPFP document, and the
limitations of the Plan.
The second chapter covers the planning
environment which is an analysis of the existing
situationoftheregion’spopulationandsettlements,
economy and employment, physical characteristics
and infrastructure facilities/services, land use and
development opportunities.
The third chapter focuses on the framework
for spatial development to include the vision,
development challenges, regional goals and
objectives and the broad spatial pattern proposed
for the region. It also includes the translation of
the regional spatial development strategy along the
four (4) major components of the RPFP, namely:
Settlements Landusesandphysicalresources
involving some degree ofurban
or rural concentrations and
their associated demand and
supply requirements.
1.3 Organization of the Plan
Production Land uses and physical
resources focused on economic
production, from the extractive
to the modern service sectors.
Protection Landusesandphysicalresources
that need to be protected,
conserved or rehabilitated,
including areas that require
the prevention or mitigation of
disasters.
Infrastructure Land uses and physical
resources dealing with capital
investments that support
spatial integration, production
efficiency and social service
delivery.
Specific sectoral strategies and policies and
proposals are likewise included in this chapter.
The fourth chapter of the Plan describes
the implementation design specifically; the
institutional arrangements, support activities
and the regional land use plan monitoring and
evaluation system.
T
he formulation of the RPFP is based on
technical and sectoral studies supported
with maps and other data/information.
However,RegionXIIhasbeenrecentlyreconfigured
by virtue of the issuance of Executive Order (EO)
No. 36 on September 19, 2001 that realigned the
administrative regions in Mindanao. With this
Order, Region XII embraced a new geographic
configuration comprising the provinces of
Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan
Kudarat; and the cities of Cotabato, General
Santos, Kidapawan, Koronadal and Tacurong.
Given that Region XII is a newly reconfigured
region, there are limitations identified in the
formulation of the RPFP: unavailability of
official Region XII base and thematic maps
1.4 Limitation of the Plan
and inadequate and/or inconsistent data and
information on the new Region XII. In the
case of unavailable official maps of Region XII,
information from official maps of the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
and the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau
of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) were
digitized to come up with working maps on the
region. In relation to this, the land area that was
adopted for planning purposes was also based on
the digitized information which approximates that
of the DENR-Land Management Services data.
On the inadequate data, appropriate estimation
procedures were undertaken to derive the
desired indicator/data from the same sources to
describe present and project future trends of said
indicator.

CHAPTER 2
THE PLANNING
ENVIRONMENT

Regional Physical Framework Plan 2004-2030 2-1
CHAPTER 2
The Planning
Environment
2.1 Population Management
2.1.1 Population
a. Population Size and Growth Rate
The population of Region XII in 1980 was
about 1.7 million. It increased to 2.4 million in
1990 with an average annual growth rate of 3.37
percent between these periods. In year 2000, the
region attained a population of 3.2 million with
an annual growth rate of 2.99 percent from 1990
to 2000. As shown in the table, the growth rate
between 1980-1990 is higher by 0.38 percentage
point than the growth rate between 1990-2000.
General Santos City recorded the highest
growth rate of 5.3 percent in 1990 and 5.10
percent in 2000. While, Tacurong City registered
the lowest growth rate in 1990 at 2.5 percent, and
Koronadal City registering the lowest growth rate
of 2.09 percent in 2000.
Going down to municipal level, 14 out of
45 municipalities registered a growth rate higher
than the regional level of 2.99 percent in 1990-
2000. These municipalities were the following:
Tiboli and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato province;
Alabel, Glan, Maasim, Maitum, Malapatan, and
Malungon in Sarangani province; Bagumbayan,
Kalamansig, Lebak, Lutayan, Pres. Quirino and
Sen. Ninoy Aquino in Sultan Kudarat province;
and none for Cotabato province.
Figure 2.1 Average Annual Growth Rate, by Province/City
Ave. Annual Growth Rate, by province/city
3.07
2.58
2.98
3.87
4.24
5.30
3.04
2.20
3.79
2.60
3.07
2.58
2.09
2.652.50
3.06 3.15
5.10
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
C
otabato
prov.
SaranganiP
rovSo.C
otabatoSultan
K
udaratC
otabato
C
ity
G
eneralS
antos
Kidapaw
an
Koronadal
Tacurong
1980-1990
1990-2000

Map 2.1 Map Showing Population Size

2.093.04133,786108,73880,566Koronadal City
3.153.06101,20574,19054,864Kidapawan City
5.105.30411,822250,389149,396General Santos City
2.584.24163,849127,06583,871Cotabato City
3.073.87510,151377,120257,876Sultan Kudarat
2.602.98556,942430,720321,139So. Cotabato
3.792.58410,622283,141219,372Sarangani
2.203.07857,438689,805509,735Cotabato Province
2.993.373,222,1692,399,9531,722,727Region XII
2.402.7518,133,86414,298,16010,905,243Mindanao
2.342.3576,498,73560,703,20648,098,460Philippines
1990-20001980-1990200019901980
AAGR (%)Population
Province/City
2.093.04133,786108,73880,566Koronadal City
3.153.06101,20574,19054,864Kidapawan City
5.105.30411,822250,389149,396General Santos City
2.584.24163,849127,06583,871Cotabato City
3.073.87510,151377,120257,876Sultan Kudarat
2.602.98556,942430,720321,139So. Cotabato
3.792.58410,622283,141219,372Sarangani
2.203.07857,438689,805509,735Cotabato Province
2.993.373,222,1692,399,9531,722,727Region XII
2.402.7518,133,86414,298,16010,905,243Mindanao
2.342.3576,498,73560,703,20648,098,460Philippines
1990-20001980-1990200019901980
AAGR (%)Population
Province/City
Source: NSO XII
Table 2.1 Population Size and Average Annual Growth Rate (AAGR), 1980, 1990 & 2000, By Area
Basedon2000census,RegionXIIpopulation
is about 18 percent of the Mindanao’s population
and 4.2 percent of the total population of the
country.
Across provinces, Cotabato province
registered the most number of inhabitants
accounting for almost 27 percent of the region’s
population in 2000, while Sarangani province
had the least population count
accounting for about 13 percent of
the total population of the region.
For cities, General Santos has the
largest population while Tacurong
City, recorded the least.
Looking at the population
level of municipalities, the first
five (5) municipalities with the
greatest population count based on
1980 census include the following:
Midsayap, Polomolok, Mlang, Pikit
andSurallah.In1990census,thefirst
five include Polomolok, Midsayap,
Mlang, Glan and Banga. In 2000 census, the top
5 municipalities included Polomolok, Midsayap,
Malungon, Glan and Mlang. It was noted that
Midsayap, Polomolok and Mlang, maintained
their ranks in the top 5 for 3 census years.
However, increase of population in Malungon
and Glan was very noticeable from rank 15th
and 7th, respectively, in 1980 to among the top 5
municipalities in 2000.
So. Cotabato
17%
Sarangani
Prov
13%
Cotabato
prov.
27%
SultanKudarat
16%
CotabatoCity
5%
General
Santos
13%
Tacurong
2%
Koronadal
4%
Kidapawan
3%
Figure 2.2 Population by Province/City

2-4 The Planning Environment
b. Population Projection
Considering the average annual growth
rate of 2.99 percent in 1990-2000, the region’s
population will have about 7.7 million people in
2030. By then,the country is expected to reach a
population count of 152.5 million with an average
annual growth rate of 2.34 percent.
Across provinces, by year 2030, Cotabato
province will be having a total population of 1.6
million at an average annual growth rate of 2.2
percent. Sultan Kudarat’s population is expected
to increase at about 1.26 million at 3.27 percent
annual growth rate. Sarangani’s population,
however, is expected to reach 1.25 million,
considering the 3.79 percent average annual
growth rate. With the annual growth rate of 2.6
percent, South Cotabato is expected to reach 1.2
million in 30-year period.
Looking at the city level, General Santos is
expected to reach a level of 1.1 million by year
2030 at an average annual growth rate of 5.1
percent, followed by Cotabato City at 272,445
at 2.58 percent growth rate. Koronadal City is
expected to reach 202,521 persons after 30 years
at 2.1 percent growth rate; Kidapawan City will be
having 188,328 persons at 3.1 percent growth rate
and Tacurong City will have 151,888 persons at
3.5 percent growth rate.
The top five municipalities with the biggest
population count by 2030 are the following:
T’boli in South Cotabato (399,950); Malungon
(387,597) and Glan (216,101) both in Sarangani
province; Lake Sebu in South Cotabato (212,010);
and Midsayap, in Cotabato (210,772).
The rapid growth of population in T’boli
could be attributed to natural increase, migration
and economic activities like mining and tourism.
But, since T’boli is situated in mountainous part
of South Cotabato, further pressures of settlement
have to be managed with restraint in consideration
of the physical
limitations and environmental constraints of
the area. Malungon and Glan’s population in
Sarangani could be due to the boom of production,
commercial crop plantation, eco-tourism and small
to medium scale industries in the area.
85,540,857
96,028,614
107,802,224
121,019,342
135,856,946
152,513,719
20,334,764
22,894,909
25,777,376
29,022,745
32,676,706
36,790,701
3,715,276
4,304,510
4,987,685
5,779,288
6,696,527
7,759,32
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
2030
PhilippinesMindanaoRegion XIIYear
85,540,857
96,028,614
107,802,224
121,019,342
135,856,946
152,513,719
20,334,764
22,894,909
25,777,376
29,022,745
32,676,706
36,790,701
3,715,276
4,304,510
4,987,685
5,779,288
6,696,527
7,759,32
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
2030
PhilippinesMindanaoRegion XIIYear
Table 2.2 Population Projection, 2005-2030
Source of data: NSO XII

Map 2.2 Map Showing Projected Population Size

c. Doubling of Population
Should the 1990-2000 average annual growth
rate of 2.99 percent prevail until the succeeding
years, the population of the region is expected to
double in twenty three (23) years, or by 2023. By
then, the region is expected to have 6.4 million
people. The region is expected to double its popu-
lation five years earlier than the Mindanao’s and
six years earlier than the Philippines’ doubling
time.
The area which will have the shortest time to
double its population is General Santos City. At
the rate of 5.10 percent, General Santos City will
double in just 13 years and that will be by 2013. At
a rate of 3.79 percent, Sarangani’s population will
double in 2018 which is 18 years from the 2000
census. Cotabato’s population will take a longer
period to double its population at a rate of 2.2 per-
cent, and that would be in 2031 or after 31 years.
The rate by which population will double has
significant implication on settlement considering
the land requirement and basic social amenities
and services required to provide for basic human
needs. General Santos City, the
only highly urbanized center in the region, record-
ing the shortest time by which its population will
double, would have to prepare for the expansion
areas by developing suburbs for housing, and in-
stitutions to cater to health and education needs
of the emergent populace. Considering further,
that at present, the city also posted the highest
population density, the neighboring settlements
shall prepare for the high probability of hosting
the spill over of development and people in their
localities.
d. Population Density
There were about 90 persons per sq. km in
the region in 1980. This increased to 168 persons
per sq. km in 2000 increase of about 87 percent
for a period of 20 years.
Compared to the national figure of 255
persons per sq. km, the region was about 87
152,997,470
36,267,728
6,444,338
1,714,876
1,113,884
1,020,302
821,244
327,698
202,410
267,572
152,708
823,644
2029
2028
2023
2031
2026
2022
2018
2027
2022
2033
2026
2013
29
28
23
31
26
22
18
27
22
33
26
13
2.34
2.40
2.99
2.20
2.60
3.07
3.79
2.58
3.15
2.09
2.65
5.10
Philippines
Mindanao
Region XII
Cotabato Province
South Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat
Sarangani
Cotabato City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
Tacurong City
General Santos City
YearNo. of Years
Expected Population
Doubling Time1990-2000
AAGRArea
152,997,470
36,267,728
6,444,338
1,714,876
1,113,884
1,020,302
821,244
327,698
202,410
267,572
152,708
823,644
2029
2028
2023
2031
2026
2022
2018
2027
2022
2033
2026
2013
29
28
23
31
26
22
18
27
22
33
26
13
2.34
2.40
2.99
2.20
2.60
3.07
3.79
2.58
3.15
2.09
2.65
5.10
Philippines
Mindanao
Region XII
Cotabato Province
South Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat
Sarangani
Cotabato City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
Tacurong City
General Santos City
YearNo. of Years
Expected Population
Doubling Time1990-2000
AAGRArea
Table 2.3 Doubling the Population, By Area
persons per sq. km less dense and 10 persons per
sq. km lesser than Mindanao’s man-land ratio of
178 persons per sq. km.
Based on three census years (1980, 1990 and
2000), Cotabato City and General Santos City
consistently registered the most densely populated
cities, the fact that they are also the two major
urban centers in the region. These are followed by
Source of Basic Data NSO XII

216.64617.5501.9371.9Koronadal City
354.19285.7209.5154.9Kidapawan City
668.49616.0374.6223.5General Santos City
147.881,108.0859.2567.2Cotabato City
4,378.00115.985.758.6Sultan Kudarat Province
3,522.30157.8122.091.0So. Cotabato Province
3,696.60111.176.659.3Sarangani Province
6,019.80142.4114.684.7Cotabato Province
19,165.86167.9125.089.7Region XII
101,587.0178.5140.7107.3Mindanao
300,000.0255.0202.3160.3Philippines
200019901980
Land Area
(sq. km)
Population Density (persons/sq. km)
Province/City
216.64617.5501.9371.9Koronadal City
354.19285.7209.5154.9Kidapawan City
668.49616.0374.6223.5General Santos City
147.881,108.0859.2567.2Cotabato City
4,378.00115.985.758.6Sultan Kudarat Province
3,522.30157.8122.091.0So. Cotabato Province
3,696.60111.176.659.3Sarangani Province
6,019.80142.4114.684.7Cotabato Province
19,165.86167.9125.089.7Region XII
101,587.0178.5140.7107.3Mindanao
300,000.0255.0202.3160.3Philippines
200019901980
Land Area
(sq. km)
Population Density (persons/sq. km)
Province/City
Table 2.4 Population Density, 1980, 1990 & 2000, by Area
the newly created cities of Koronadal, Tacurong
and Kidapawan with
617.5, 471.4 and 285.7 population density (2000),
respectively. Sarangani had the least dense
population followed by Sultan Kudarat.
By municipality, the top 3 municipalities
with high population density in 1980 were
Norala at 324.3 persons/sq. km.; followed by
Banga at 272.4 persons/sq. km. both in South
Cotabato; and Midsayap in Cotabato province,
at 244 persons/sq. km. While in 1990, the top 3
municipalities in terms of population density were
Banga (322.5 persons/sq. km); Polomolok (317.4);
and Midsayap (306.3); in 2000, Polomolok has the
highest population density of 393.2 persons/sq.
km; followed by Midsayap at 385.4 persons/sq.
km.; and Banga with a population density of 373.2
persons/sq. km.
e. Projected Population Density
The region’s population density is expected
to reach 406 persons/sq. kilometer by 2030, about
Source of Land Area: Land Management Bureau XII
238 persons/sq. km higher than the 168 persons/
sq. km. recorded in 2000.
A higher growth in population density
is expected in the cities as compared with the
provinces of the region.
At the municipal level, the following
municipalities are expected to be more densely
populated in year 2030, as compared with other
municipalities of the region, to wit: Pres. Quirino,
Sultan Kudarat (847 persons/sq. km); Midsayap,
Cotabato (768 persons/sq. km); Polomolok,
South Cotabato (747 persons/sq. km); Malungon,
Sarangani (686 persons/sq. km); and Pigcawayan,
Cotabato and Sto. Niño, South Cotabato at 602
persons/sq. km.

Map 2.3 Population Density Map

Map 2.4 Projected Population Density Map

668.492,7411,6661,013General Santos City
147.882,3761,8421,429Cotabato City
4,378.00287212157Sultan Kudarat Province
3,522.30341264204So. Cotabato Province
3,696.60339234161Sarangani Province
6,019.80274220177Cotabato Province
19,165.86406303225Region XII
203020202010
Land Area
(sq. km)
Population Density
(persons/sq. km)
Province/City
668.492,7411,6661,013General Santos City
147.882,3761,8421,429Cotabato City
4,378.00287212157Sultan Kudarat Province
3,522.30341264204So. Cotabato Province
3,696.60339234161Sarangani Province
6,019.80274220177Cotabato Province
19,165.86406303225Region XII
203020202010
Land Area
(sq. km)
Population Density
(persons/sq. km)
Province/City
Table 2.5 Population Density Projection, 2010, 2020, & 2030, By Area
f. Population Distribution
Urban-Rural Population
The region’s total population in 1990 was
2,399,812. This grew to 3,222,169 in 2000, post-
ing an increment of 34.27%. Urban population in
1990 was 896,727, or 37.37 % of the total popula-
tion. In 2000, urban population rose to 1,271,765
or 39.47% of the total population in the same
year, a difference of 2.1 percentage points. Be-
tween 1990 and 2000, the urban growth rate was
3.56%.
Population in Region XII is predominantly
rural, comprising 65.3 percent of the total popu-
lation in 2000 census while the remaining 34.7
percent comprised the urban population. Basi-
cally, most of the rural population engaged in agri-
cultural activities. Those that were in urban areas,
mostly, were in industry
and services sectors.
Across provinces and cities, Cotabato Prov-
ince accounts for slightly more than one-fourth
(26.61%) of the population of the region in 2000.
South Cotabato comes next with 556,942 popula-
tion or 17.85%; Sultan Kudarat province, 15.83%;
Cotabato City, 12.78%; and Sarangani province,
12.74% of the region’s total population.
With respect to urban population, only
21.6% of the entire population of the province
of Cotabato constitutes its urban population. It
was overtaken by South Cotabato with 31.01%
of its populace residing in urban areas, followed
by Sultan Kudarat province with 26.08%.
Compared with urban population in 1990, all four
provinces exhibited a decreasing trend in 2000.
The emigration of some rural population in the
provinces to their component and adjacent cities
partly explains this phenomenon. Apparently,
majority of the cities, except General Santos,
indicated positive growth in urban population.
Kidapawan city’s urban population drastically
rose from 26.85% to 47.07%, also for Tacurong
City from 54.99% to 74.19%. These are relatively
infant but continuously growing cities.
Sex Ratio
The ratio of males to females in a particular
population is called its sex ratio. For Region XII,
the sex ratio is 104.3 males for every 100 females
as of 1990, and it decreased to 103.9 males for
every female in 2000. Across provinces and cities,
all areas were male dominated except for Cotabato
City, where there were only 94.6 and 95.1 males for
every 100 females in 1990 and 2000, respectively.
The predominance of males gradually
decreases with age since females have greater life
expectancies. In 1990, the life expectancy rate

59,34917,00576,354Tacurong City
80,12053,666133,786Koronadal City
53,57247,633101,205Kidapawan City
69,997341,825411,822General Santos City
-163,849163,849Cotabato City
401,001109,150510,151Sultan Kudarat
420,158136,784556,942South Cotabato
343,66066,962410,622Sarangani
675,039182,399857,438Cotabato Province
2,102,8961,119,2733,222,169Region XII
RuralUrbanTotal Population
2000
Province/City
59,34917,00576,354Tacurong City
80,12053,666133,786Koronadal City
53,57247,633101,205Kidapawan City
69,997341,825411,822General Santos City
-163,849163,849Cotabato City
401,001109,150510,151Sultan Kudarat
420,158136,784556,942South Cotabato
343,66066,962410,622Sarangani
675,039182,399857,438Cotabato Province
2,102,8961,119,2733,222,169Region XII
RuralUrbanTotal Population
2000
Province/City
Table 2.6 Urban-Rural Population, 2000, By Area
Source: NSO XII
(ER) for female in the Philippines was 67.5 and
is expected to reach 73.8 by 2010 based on NSO
projection. The highest ER for Cotabato province
which included Kidapawan City was estimated at
66.7 for females and 61 for males, while the lowest
was in Cotabato City at 55.2 for females and 51 for
males. The lowest ER Practices such as migration
(as when large numbers of males move away from
home in search of employment) also have an
impact on sex ratios.
104.8
105.0
105.6
105.7
95.1
102.7
101.8
102.4
101.6
105.0
104.7
106.3
106.9
94.6
-
101.6
102.8
102.4
Cotabato Province
South Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat
Sarangani
Cotabato City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
Tacurong City
General Santos City
103.9104.3Region XII
20001990Area
104.8
105.0
105.6
105.7
95.1
102.7
101.8
102.4
101.6
105.0
104.7
106.3
106.9
94.6
-
101.6
102.8
102.4
Cotabato Province
South Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat
Sarangani
Cotabato City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
Tacurong City
General Santos City
103.9104.3Region XII
20001990Area
Table 2.7 Sex Ratio, 1990 & 2000, By Area, Region XII
Source: NSO XII

Age Structure
More than half (57.4 percent) of the
region’s population belong to the economically
productive group (ages 15-64 yrs. old). About 39.7
percent are ages 0-14 yrs. old and the remaining
2.9 percent are ages 65 and over.
Age Dependency Ratio
Age dependency ratio is the number of de-
pendents (aged 0-14 and 65 and over) for every 100
persons in the productive age group (aged 15-64).
In 2000, the region has about 74 dependents for
every 100 persons in the productive age group. Of
the 74 dependents, 69 belong to the young ages
(under 15) while the remaining 5 consist of the
elderly.
Ethnic Composition
In the 1990 census, it was revealed that
the region has more than 70 dialects spoken by
various ethnic groups. Majority comprised Hili-
gaynon (Ilongo) with 37 percent of the total popu-
lation. This was followed by
Cebuano at 24 percent; and Maguindanaon which
constitutes around 17 percent of the region’s pop-
ulation.
The provinces of Cotabato, South Cotabato (Sa-
rangani included) and Sultan Kudarat are
dominated by Ilongos. In Cotabato City, the
dominant dialect is Maguindanaon; and in Gen-
eral Santos City, Cebuano. Other major dialects
spoken are Ilocano, Manobo, Tagalog, B’laan, Ma-
ranao, T’boli and Waray.
91,89956,89465 & over
1,846,9951,305,61015-64
1,276,3331,033,6900-14REGION XII
9,4154,56865 & over
248,241140,97115-64
153,192103,9590-14Gen. Santos City
3,8602,47565 & over
100,03974,97515-64
57,61849,1860-14Cotabato City
16,0979,91265 & over
331,728235,54615-64(Including Tacurong)
237,943189,9960-14Sultan Kudarat
21,53714,17865 & over
399,295292,61615-64(Including Koronadal)
268,831231,6330-14South Cotabato
10,2516,19765 & over
226,825150,84815-64
173,061125,9850-14Sarangani
30,73919,56465 & over
540,867410,65415-64(Including Kidapawan)
385,688332,9310-14Cotabato Province
20001990
Household Population
Age GroupArea
91,89956,89465 & over
1,846,9951,305,61015-64
1,276,3331,033,6900-14REGION XII
9,4154,56865 & over
248,241140,97115-64
153,192103,9590-14Gen. Santos City
3,8602,47565 & over
100,03974,97515-64
57,61849,1860-14Cotabato City
16,0979,91265 & over
331,728235,54615-64(Including Tacurong)
237,943189,9960-14Sultan Kudarat
21,53714,17865 & over
399,295292,61615-64(Including Koronadal)
268,831231,6330-14South Cotabato
10,2516,19765 & over
226,825150,84815-64
173,061125,9850-14Sarangani
30,73919,56465 & over
540,867410,65415-64(Including Kidapawan)
385,688332,9310-14Cotabato Province
20001990
Household Population
Age GroupArea
Table 2.8 Household Population by Age Group, by Area, Region XII, 1990 & 2000
Source: NSO XII

76.8
72.6
76.4
80.7
60.1
65.3
85.9
84.0
84.9
87.6
68.9
77.0
Cotabato 1/
South Cotabato 2/
Sultan Kudarat 3/
Sarangani
Cotabato City
General Santos City
73.183.2Region XII
20001990
Age Dependency Ratio by Province/CityArea
76.8
72.6
76.4
80.7
60.1
65.3
85.9
84.0
84.9
87.6
68.9
77.0
Cotabato 1/
South Cotabato 2/
Sultan Kudarat 3/
Sarangani
Cotabato City
General Santos City
73.183.2Region XII
20001990
Age Dependency Ratio by Province/CityArea
Table 2.9 Age Dependency Ratio, 1990 & 2000, By Area
1/ Includes Kidapawan City
2/ Includes Koronadal City
3/ Includes Tacurong City
Source: NSO XII
Cebuano
25.0%
Waray
0.3%
T'boli
0.6%
Maranao
0.6%
Ilocano
9.5%
Manobo
2.3%
Tagalog
3.6%
Bilaan
1.2%
Maguindanao
18.2%
Ilongo
38.7%
Figure 2.3 Language/ Dialect Generally Spoken,. By household, Region XII, 1999
g. Movement of Population
Migration
Netmigrationrateistheratioofthedifference
between the in-migrants and out-migrants in a
population to the mid-year population during the
same period. Cotabato province and Cotabato
city were characterized by negative net migration
rate, which means there were more people going
out or out-migrants, from 1990 until year 2020.
On the other hand, in-migration was prevalent in
the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani and
Sultan Kudarat.

-0.012763
-0.023696
-0.012763
-0.023696
-0.012589
-0.020648
-0.012417
-0.017992
-0.012248
-0.015677
-0.012081
-0.013661
Cotabato City
Male
Female
0.001849
0.000641
0.001849
0.000641
0.002531
0.000918
0.003465
0.001314
0.004742
0.001881
0.006491
0.002693
Sultan Kudarat
Male
Female
0.067489
0.091745
0.674890
0.091745
0.537950
0.066640
0.428790
0.048405
0.034178
0.035160
0.027243
0.025539
Sarangani
Male
Female
0.073090
0.100576
0.073090
0.100576
0.057586
0.072060
0.045370
0.051629
0.035746
0.036990
0.028163
0.026502
South
Cotabato
Male
Female
-0.004555
0.008313
-0.004555
-0.008313
-0.003961
-0.007229
-0.003601
-0.006571
-0.003430
-0.006259
-0.003430
-0.006259
Cotabato Prov.
Male
Female
2015-
2020
2010-20152005-
2010
2000-
2005
1995-
2000
1990-
1995
Area
-0.012763
-0.023696
-0.012763
-0.023696
-0.012589
-0.020648
-0.012417
-0.017992
-0.012248
-0.015677
-0.012081
-0.013661
Cotabato City
Male
Female
0.001849
0.000641
0.001849
0.000641
0.002531
0.000918
0.003465
0.001314
0.004742
0.001881
0.006491
0.002693
Sultan Kudarat
Male
Female
0.067489
0.091745
0.674890
0.091745
0.537950
0.066640
0.428790
0.048405
0.034178
0.035160
0.027243
0.025539
Sarangani
Male
Female
0.073090
0.100576
0.073090
0.100576
0.057586
0.072060
0.045370
0.051629
0.035746
0.036990
0.028163
0.026502
South
Cotabato
Male
Female
-0.004555
0.008313
-0.004555
-0.008313
-0.003961
-0.007229
-0.003601
-0.006571
-0.003430
-0.006259
-0.003430
-0.006259
Cotabato Prov.
Male
Female
2015-
2020
2010-20152005-
2010
2000-
2005
1995-
2000
1990-
1995
Area
Table 2.10 Projection of Sex-Speciﬁc Net Migration Rates by Province/City, 1990-2020
Source: NSO XII
8,1197,56018,63511,44612,79120,43178,982Not Stated
3,1839672,4831,0801,7642,87112,348Post Baccalaureate
16,8538,27711,0972,50518,56718,64875,947
Academic Degree
Holder
43,23423,90038,45516,19250,76165,459238,001College Undergraduate
13,4854,44710,0643,14722,68319,15572,981Post Secondary
115,59935,633135,29968,544175,295221,973752,343High School
130,12544,422217,614181,831247,193381,7511,202,936Elementary
10,5582,35112,7747,53618,06519,84871,132Pre-School
15,92914,24761,42659,27654,87382,316288,067No grade completed
Gen.
Santos
City
Cot. City
Sultan
Kudarat
Saran-
gani
South
Cotabato
Cotabato
Province
Region XII
Highest Educational
Attainment
8,1197,56018,63511,44612,79120,43178,982Not Stated
3,1839672,4831,0801,7642,87112,348Post Baccalaureate
16,8538,27711,0972,50518,56718,64875,947
Academic Degree
Holder
43,23423,90038,45516,19250,76165,459238,001College Undergraduate
13,4854,44710,0643,14722,68319,15572,981Post Secondary
115,59935,633135,29968,544175,295221,973752,343High School
130,12544,422217,614181,831247,193381,7511,202,936Elementary
10,5582,35112,7747,53618,06519,84871,132Pre-School
15,92914,24761,42659,27654,87382,316288,067No grade completed
Gen.
Santos
City
Cot. City
Sultan
Kudarat
Saran-
gani
South
Cotabato
Cotabato
Province
Region XII
Highest Educational
Attainment
Table 2.11 Highest Grade Completed of Household Population, By Province/City, 2000
Source: NSO XII

h. Educational Status
Population by Educational Attainment
Based on NSO data, in 2000, about 43 pe
cent of the household population 5 years old and
over in the region, completed elementary educa-
tion, and 27 percent reached high school level.
While those holding college degrees constituted
2.7 percent of the population. Besides, around 10
percent of the total household population had no
grade completed.
Proportion of household population who had
earned academic degree was higher in Cotabato
and General Santos cities at 5.8 and 4.7 percent.
Literacy Rate
Simple Literacy
Simple literacy refers to the ability
of a population aged 10-64 years old to read
and write simple message in any language or
dialect. In 1994, simple literacy among the
population was highest in Cotabato City at
about 97.66 percent. Also, male and female
literacy rates in Cotabato City were recorded
the highest at 98.11 percent and 97.27 percent,
respectively. On the other hand, Cotabato
Province recorded the lowest simple literacy
rate at 89.36 percent with male literacy rates at
89.76 percent and female literacy rate at 88.91
percent.
Table 2.12 Simple and Functional Literacy by Province and City, Region XII, CY 1994
Source: NSO XII
81.7475.3588.75General Santos City
93.9492.7395.00Cotabato City
78.6376.7180.67Sultan Kudarat
73.6370.5376.76South Cotabato
72.7679.8176.07Cotabato Province
Functional Literacy
Simple Literacy
Both SexesMaleFemaleProvince/City
Functional Literacy
Simple Literacy
Both SexesMaleFemaleProvince/City
Functional Literacy
Functional literacy refers to the ability of the
population aged 10-64 years old to perform basic
numerical skills. In 1994, highest functional litera-
cy was in Cotabato City where 93.94 percent were
found to be functionally literate. This means that
ten (10) out of 100 had deficiency in numeracy
skills. Cotabato Province had the lowest function-
al literacy rate at 72.76 percent.
Enrolment
Enrolment in the public elementary schools
showed moderate increase by about 2.0 percent
from 532,580 in SY 2001-2002 to 541,460 in SY
2002-2003. In the secondary level, enrolment
posted 187,186 in SY 2000-2001 to 224,951, for
SY 2002-2003 noting an increase of 9.10 percent.
The enrolment record in the region exhibits
fluctuating trend as observed during each school

219,266
61,325
20,930
35,654
35,545
13,905
200,944
57,165
19,202
43,566
32,485
12,713
187,186
59,897
17,252
36,835
29,911
11,815
b. Secondary
Region XII
Cotabato Province
Sarangani
South Cotabato City
Sultan Kudarat
541,460
157,636
71,019
89,766
95,418
27,527
63,227
16,980
19,888
532,580
151,400
68,634
110,329
95,251
26,742
63,546
16,678
538,427
165,424
63,609
111,442
93,581
26,433
61,407
16,531
ENROLMENT
a. Elementary
Region XII
Cotabato Province
Sarangani
South Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat
Cotabato City
General Santos City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
2002-20032001-20022000-2001INDICATORS BY PROVINCE
219,266
61,325
20,930
35,654
35,545
13,905
200,944
57,165
19,202
43,566
32,485
12,713
187,186
59,897
17,252
36,835
29,911
11,815
b. Secondary
Region XII
Cotabato Province
Sarangani
South Cotabato City
Sultan Kudarat
541,460
157,636
71,019
89,766
95,418
27,527
63,227
16,980
19,888
532,580
151,400
68,634
110,329
95,251
26,742
63,546
16,678
538,427
165,424
63,609
111,442
93,581
26,433
61,407
16,531
ENROLMENT
a. Elementary
Region XII
Cotabato Province
Sarangani
South Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat
Cotabato City
General Santos City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
2002-20032001-20022000-2001INDICATORS BY PROVINCE
Table 2.13 Public Elementary and Secondary Education Enrolment,
SY 2000-2001 to SY 2001-2003, Region XII
Source: NSO XII
year which could be as-
cribed to unstable peace
and order condition and
rising cost of education.
This condition somehow
caused disturbance in
the regular and continu-
ous education of school-
going children.
Participation Rate
E l e m e n t a r y
participation rate (PR)
measures the proportion
ofschoolgoingpopulation
who are actually in
school. The PR in public
schools showed a very
slight increase between
SY 2000-2001 and SY
2001-2002 from 92.37
Regional Physical Framework Plan, 2004-2030 2-17
percent to 92.91 percent, respectively. In SY 2002-
2003, PR showed a decrease to 78.56 percent.
Across provinces and cities, the participation
rate in public elementary was highest in Cotabato
City in SY 2000-2001 at 99.90 percent and lowest
in Sarangani at 67.61 percent. In the following
year, SY 2001-2002, PR was highest in General
Santos City at 104.75 percent and lowest in South
Cotabato at 84.41 percent. For SY 2002-2003,
PR was again highest in Cotabato City at 91.65
percent, and lowest in Sarangani Province at 73.03
percent.
In the secondary level, slight improvements in
PR from 72.13 percent in SY 2000-2001 to 72.96
percent in SY 2001-2002 was noted. However,
in SY 2002-2003 PR in all areas were very low
based on the new formula used by DepEd in
computing PR. Highest PR was in General Santos
City while the lowest PR was noted in Sarangani.
Low participation rate may be attributed to a
number of children of indigenous peoples from
the hinterlands that either do not have enough
access to basic education or are forced to work to
augment family income.
Cohort-Survival Rate
School-aged children who enter Grade I
mustbeabletofinishelementaryforsixconsecutive
years and those enrolled in first year high school
must also complete the secondary education for
four consecutive years to assure a 100 percent
survival rate at both levels. Cohort-Survival Rate
(CSR) in the elementary posted 66.05 percent in
SY 2000-2001 to 53.29 percent in SY 2002-2003.
Despite massive advocacy about children’s rights
and parents’ responsibilities under the Child-
Friendly Movement program of government
with UNICEF, CSR is generally very low in the
region. The lowest CSR in the elementary level
was consistently noted in Sarangani for two school
years, 2000-2001 to 2002-2002. In SY 2002-2003,
CSR was lowest in Kidapawan City.
In the secondary level, regional data on
CSR was recorded at 68.06 percent in SY 2000-
2001 and 71.52 percent in SY 2001-2002. However,
in SY 2002-2003, CSR showed a decrease of 61.86
percent.

43.29
43.20
31.67
41.07
37.25
59.82
54.35
54.27
58.42
72.96
76.41
41.36
60.97
68.65
92.48
71.19
99.66
n.d.a
72.13
73.98
38.65
56.84
72.03
98.86
64.69
99.83
n.d.a
b. Secondary
Region XII
Cotabato Province
Sarangani
South Cotabato City
Sultan Kudarat
Cotabato City
General Santos City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
78.56
83.40
73.03
75.61
75.05
91.65
80.31
73.43
76.37
92.91
97.24
99.81
84.41
95.76
88.26
104.75
91.32
n.d.a
92.37
98.94
67.61
81.35
98.37
99.90
91.25
91.49
n.d.a
PARTICIPATION RATE
a. Elementary
Region XII
Cotabato Province
Sarangani
South Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat
Cotabato City
General Santos City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
2002-20032001-20022000-2001INDICATORS BY PROVINCE/CITY
43.29
43.20
31.67
41.07
37.25
59.82
54.35
54.27
58.42
72.96
76.41
41.36
60.97
68.65
92.48
71.19
99.66
n.d.a
72.13
73.98
38.65
56.84
72.03
98.86
64.69
99.83
n.d.a
b. Secondary
Region XII
Cotabato Province
Sarangani
South Cotabato City
Sultan Kudarat
Cotabato City
General Santos City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
78.56
83.40
73.03
75.61
75.05
91.65
80.31
73.43
76.37
92.91
97.24
99.81
84.41
95.76
88.26
104.75
91.32
n.d.a
92.37
98.94
67.61
81.35
98.37
99.90
91.25
91.49
n.d.a
PARTICIPATION RATE
a. Elementary
Region XII
Cotabato Province
Sarangani
South Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat
Cotabato City
General Santos City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
2002-20032001-20022000-2001INDICATORS BY PROVINCE/CITY
Table 2.14 Public Elementary & Secondary Education Participation Rate,
n.d.a. - No Data Available
Source: NSO XII
61.86
56.29
50.32
64.67
58.18
63.56
58.04
59.29
49.63
71.52
68.00
59.17
66.81
61.56
88.72
81.88
74.50
68.66
64.23
61.58
66.21
61.38
73.69
79.83
73.73
Region XII
Cotabato Province
Sarangani
South Cotabato City
Sultan Kudarat
Cotabato City
General Santos City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
53.29
48.20
51.45
59.94
49.16
52.56
67.06
47.04
59.20
63.77
56.45
51.84
64.97
61.69
64.35
81.86
65.24
66.05
54.00
45.78
71.36
63.23
67.43
76.72
83.81
COHORT-SURVIVAL RATE
Region XII
Cotabato Province
Sarangani
South Cotabato City
Sultan Kudarat
Cotabato City
General Santos City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
2002-20032001-20022000-2001INDICATOR BY PROVINCE/CITY
61.86
56.29
50.32
64.67
58.18
63.56
58.04
59.29
49.63
71.52
68.00
59.17
66.81
61.56
88.72
81.88
74.50
68.66
64.23
61.58
66.21
61.38
73.69
79.83
73.73
Region XII
Cotabato Province
Sarangani
South Cotabato City
Sultan Kudarat
Cotabato City
General Santos City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
53.29
48.20
51.45
59.94
49.16
52.56
67.06
47.04
59.20
63.77
56.45
51.84
64.97
61.69
64.35
81.86
65.24
66.05
54.00
45.78
71.36
63.23
67.43
76.72
83.81
COHORT-SURVIVAL RATE
Region XII
Cotabato Province
Sarangani
South Cotabato City
Sultan Kudarat
Cotabato City
General Santos City
Kidapawan City
Koronadal City
2002-20032001-20022000-2001INDICATOR BY PROVINCE/CITY
Table 2.14 Public Elementary & Secondary Education Cohort-Survival Rate,
Source: NSO XII

i. Health Status
Crude Birth Rate
In 2001, the crude birth rate (CBR) for the
region was placed at 18 births per 1,000 popula-
tion, which slightly increased to 20 births per 1,000
population in 2003. Looking at the downtrend
in CBR for the last three years somehow implies
gains from the region’s population management
program.
Across provinces, Sultan Kuda-
rat registered the highest CBR at 21.4
while General Santos City also post-
ed the highest at 27.0 among the cit-
ies. Apparently, General Santos City
also registered the fastest doubling
time of population.
Crude Death Rate
The crude death rate (CDR) or
the total deaths from all ages in the
region indicated fluctuating trend
from 2001 to 2003. For provinces and
cities, Cotabato City registered the
most number of deaths since 2001
while Sarangani posted the least number of deaths
for the past three years. It could be observed that
those areas with lower CBR have relatively higher
CDR. Conversely, those LGUs with higher CBR
also registered lower CDR. This suggests that the
growth of population is directly influenced by the
trend in CBR and CDR.
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
The infant mortality rate expresses the prob-
ability of death in the first year of life, usually stat-
ed as a number per 1,000 livebirths.
The incidence of infant mortality exhibited a
downtrend from 2001 to 2003. Between 2001 and
2003, the figure decreased from 11 infant deaths
for every 1,000 livebirths to 5.3
per 1,000 livebirths. Among the
provinces, South Cotabato has
the highest incidence of infant
deaths since 2001, followed by
Sultan Kudarat Province. Across
cities, General Santos registered
consistently the most number
of infant deaths in the past
three years. Compared with the
national figure however, the re-
gions IMR is still lower than the
national target of 32 by 2004.
Crude Death Rate By Province/City
Region XII, CYs 2001-2003
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
2001 2002 2003
Per1,000Population
Cotabato
Sarangani
SouthCot.
Sultan
Kudarat
Cotabato
City
Gen.Santos
City
Kidapawan
Source: DOH XII, P/CHOs
Crude Death Rate By Province/City
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
2001 2002 2003
Per1,000Population
Cotabato
Sarangani
SouthCot.
Sultan
Kudarat
Cotabato
City
Gen.Santos
City
Kidapawan
Figure 2.4 Crude Death Rate by Province/City, Region XII,
CYs 2001-2003
Infant Mortality Ratio By Province/City
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
2001 2002 2003
Per1,000livebirths
Cotabato
Sarangani
SouthCot.
SultanKudarat
Cotabato City
Gen.Santos
City
KidapawanCity
KoronadalCity
Infant Mortality Ratio By Province/City
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
2001 2002 2003
Per1,000livebirths
Cotabato
Sarangani
SouthCot.
SultanKudarat
Cotabato City
Gen.Santos
City
KidapawanCity
KoronadalCity
Figure 2.5 Infant Mortality Rate by Province/City, Region XII,
CYs 2001-2003

Maternal Mortality Ratio By Province/City
0
1
2
3
4
5
Cotabato Sarangani South Cot. Sultan
Kudarat
Cotabato
City
Gen.
Santos
City
Kidapawan
City
Koronadal
City
Tacurong
City
Provinces/Cities
Per1,000livebirhts
2001 2002 2003
Maternal Mortality Ratio By Province/City
0
1
2
3
4
5
Cotabato Sarangani South Cot. Sultan
Kudarat
Cotabato
City
Gen.
Santos
City
Kidapawan
City
Koronadal
City
Tacurong
City
Provinces/Cities
Per1,000livebirhts
2001 2002 2003
Leading causes of infant deaths are the
common infectious but preventable diseases
like pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome
and diarrhea. They remained to be the leading
infant killer-disease in the region. Health and
nutrition condition of infants directly affect
their chances to survive. Other indirect causes
ofinfantdeathsareinadequatequalityprenatal
care and malnutrition among pregnant women
which most often than not, result to infants
mborn with congenital disorders and defects.
Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)
In terms of maternal mortality or the number
of mothers who died due to pregnancy or as
a result of childbirth, the incidence is also
on a declining trend, from 1.3 in 2001 to 0.7
per 1,000 livebirths in 2003. Just like infant
mortality, the leading causes of maternal
deaths were the common preventable diseases
such as post-partum hemorrhage or bleeding
after childbirth, septicemia, hypertension
and its complications and obstructed labor.
Maternal deaths also occurred because of
failure to detect high-risk pregnancies earlier
due to irregular or no pre-natal check ups at
all.
Figure 2.6 Maternal Mortality Rate by Province/City, Region XII,
CYs 2001-2003
Health Manpower Complement
On health manpower, as of 2003, the
total number of government physicians in
Region XII was 163; nurses, 245; dentists, 57;
nutritionists, 17; medical technologists, 70;
midwives, 810; sanitary inspectors, 80; and Ba-
rangay Health Workers (BHWs), 6,613. Most
of the health professionals are stationed in
Rural Health Units and/or government hospi-
tals, leaving the rural folks with limited choice
but to seek health services of midwives who,
most of the times, are covering more than just
one barangay.
Based on the current ratio of
health manpower to population,
particularly doctors, midwives and
sanitary inspectors, the region is
in need of additional doctors and
sanitary inspectors due to backlog.
In 2003, on the average, one doc-
tor (MHO) served around 21,823
persons over the standard of
1:20,000; while a sanitary inspec-
tor served about 44,465 persons,
more than double the standard
ratio of 1:20,000. For nurses and
midwives, the ratios are within the
standard level. Among the LGUs,
Cotabato Province need an addi-
tional of about 31 doctors and 30
sanitary inspectors, while General Santos City
need an
additional of about 30 doctors, 67 midwives
and 10 sanitary inspectors to be able
to cater adequately to the health care needs of
the current population.

Hospital Bed Population Ratio and Hospital Bed
Backlog
As of 2003, the region has a total of 3,237
hospital beds both in public and private hospitals.
Of this number, 1,140 are found in the government
hospitals while 2,097 beds are in private hospitals.
Considering both public and private hospital
beds, the hospital bed to population ratio is
1:1,099, which is still within the standard ratio of
1: 2,000.
Table 2.17 Hospital Beds & Bed Population Ratio (Government & Private)
By Province/City, Region XII, CY 2003
* - Data for Koronadal City and Tacurong City are integrated with South Cotabato & Sultan Kudarat data, respectively
Source: FHSIS, DOH-CHD XII
9191 : 3,2051 : 1,0993,2372,097301,110Region XII
420 : 108,2291 : 474179179Tacurong City
--1 : 4381 : 642224124100Koronadal City
540 : 108,2291 : 467232232Kidapawan City
1361 : 4,7201 : 800590490100General Santos City
--1 : 8701 : 470370170200Cotabato City
1651 : 5,0091 : 1,570351241110Sultan Kudarat
2541 : 11,2371 : 1,76635029555South Cotabato
1661 : 6,7341 : 6,20276670Sarangani
2421 : 3,6621 : 1,51861536030225Cotabato
NON-
DOH
DOH
PRIVAT
E
GOVERNMENT
HOSPITAL
BED
BACKLOG
GOVT
HOSPITAL
BED-
POPULA-
TION RATIO
Total
BED-
POPULA-
TION
RATIO
TOTAL
BEDS
(Govt &
Private)
NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED
BEDS
PROVINCE/
CITY
9191 : 3,2051 : 1,0993,2372,097301,110Region XII
420 : 108,2291 : 474179179Tacurong City
--1 : 4381 : 642224124100Koronadal City
540 : 108,2291 : 467232232Kidapawan City
1361 : 4,7201 : 800590490100General Santos City
--1 : 8701 : 470370170200Cotabato City
1651 : 5,0091 : 1,570351241110Sultan Kudarat
2541 : 11,2371 : 1,76635029555South Cotabato
1661 : 6,7341 : 6,20276670Sarangani
2421 : 3,6621 : 1,51861536030225Cotabato
NON-
DOH
DOH
PRIVAT
E
GOVERNMENT
HOSPITAL
BED
BACKLOG
GOVT
HOSPITAL
BED-
POPULA-
TION RATIO
Total
BED-
POPULA-
TION
RATIO
TOTAL
BEDS
(Govt &
Private)
NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED
BEDS
PROVINCE/
CITY
Table 2.16 Distribution of Government Health Manpower Complement by Province/City, Region XII, CY 2003
98-1580810577017245163Region XII
Tacurong
City *
Koronadal
City *
2-335021152Kidapawan
City
106715142752279General
Santos City
--595522084Cotabato City
No data--No data166132056542Sultan
Kudarat
14--24208163258971South
Cotabato
11-513949723519Sarangani
30-311721010623616Cotabato
SANITARY
INSPTRS
MID-
WIVES
DOC-
TORS
SANITARY
INSPTRS
MID-
WIVES
DEN-
TISTS
MED.
TECHNO
NUTRI-
TIONISTS
NUR-
SES
DOC-
TORS
Health Manpower BacklogNumber of Government Health Personnel/Workers
Province/
City
98-1580810577017245163Region XII
Tacurong
City *
Koronadal
City *
2-335021152Kidapawan
City
106715142752279General
Santos City
--595522084Cotabato City
No data--No data166132056542Sultan
Kudarat
14--24208163258971South
Cotabato
11-513949723519Sarangani
30-311721010623616Cotabato
SANITARY
INSPTRS
MID-
WIVES
DOC-
TORS
SANITARY
INSPTRS
MID-
WIVES
DEN-
TISTS
MED.
TECHNO
NUTRI-
TIONISTS
NUR-
SES
DOC-
TORS
Health Manpower BacklogNumber of Government Health Personnel/Workers
Province/
City

2.1.2 Settlements
Settlements are defined as areas where
concentrations of population are engaged
in economic, political, cultural and social
activities. In Region XII, these settlements vary
from small agriculture- based rural towns to
primary urban areas with population ranging
to hundreds of thousand. Rural settlements
are basically agriculture-based settlements
while urban centers are those where certain
functions and higher level of services can
be found related to commercial, trade and
industry, service and administrative services.
a. Urbanization and Settlement Pattern
Urban- Rural Population Growth
Region XII is characterized as predominantly
rural having registered a very minimal change
in its urban population between 1990 and
2000. Majority of the region’s population
still reside in rural areas that constitute about
sixty-five (65) percent of the total populace.
The settlements in the southern part of the
region are also predominantly agriculture-
based. This pattern is mirrored by the positive
increment of the agriculture’s share in the
Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP)
while the industrial sector’s contribution
indicated a decreasing trend.
The urban growth rate for the whole of
Region XII from 1990-2000 was posted at 3.56.
Across provinces and cities, Kidapawan City
posted the highest growth in urban population
at 9.11; Tacurong City, 5.77; Cotabato
Province, 4.62; closely followed by General
Santos City with 4.23. Sultan Kudarat, South
Cotabato, Koronadal City and Cotabato City
showed almost the same pace of urban growth,
growing at over 2 percent rate, while the lowest
was Sarangani Province with 1.98.
Tempo of Urbanization
Across provinces, the province of South
Cotabato posted the fastest urbanization as
urban population increased from 21 percent
in 1980 to 31 percent in 1990. Among the
fast urbanizing towns in the regions are
those situated in the said province, such as
Polomolok and Tupi. For the cities, Cotabato
and General Santos are considered highly
urbanized while the relatively new cities of
Kidapawan, Tacurong, and Koronadal still
have population in rural areas.
Notably, two of the fastest growing areas are
the newly established cities of Kidapawan
and Tacurong. The infusion of infrastructure
support and improvement of existing ones,
and the growing commercial and small-
medium enterprises may have invited rural
migration to these newly urbanizing cities in
search for employment and better economic
opportunities, typical of rural-urban migration
processes. Other than economic factors,
social, cultural, and enhanced inter-linkages
between and among adjacent places from the
province of Sultan Kudarat, and nearby towns
of Maguindanao provinces contributed to the
burgeoning growth or urban populace in these
cities.
However, the ratio based on government ho
pital beds only, was higher at 1: 3,205 pa-
tients, way below the standard. The absence
of government hospitals in Kidapawan City
and Tacurong City could have aggravated this
situation. Thus, the region still needs around
919 hospital beds to meet the standard requir
ment.

Map 2.5 Existing Settlements Map

A few of the region’s rural towns exhib-
ited relatively fast urban growth trends like Ba-
nisilan and Libungan in Cotabato Province.
These two towns are among the agriculture
production areas of the province of Cotabato.
Libungan is situated along the major route
from Cotabato City to Davao City. It is proxi-
mate to Midsayap, one of the fast urbanizing
-
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
Cotabato
City
General
Santos City
Tacurong
City
Koronadal
City
Kidapawan
City
Cotabato
Province
Sultan
Kudarat
Province
Sarangani
Province
South
Cotabato
Provinces/Cities
Population
1990 Urban Population 2000 Urban Population
-
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
Cotabato
City
General
Santos City
Tacurong
City
Koronadal
City
Kidapawan
City
Cotabato
Province
Sultan
Kudarat
Province
Sarangani
Province
South
Cotabato
Provinces/Cities
Population
1990 Urban Population 2000 Urban Population
towns of the province that serve as both cen-
ters of education, commerce and trade. It may
be possible to attribute such fast growth to the
moderate development taking place in the area
coupled with the fact that it being adjacent to
Midsayap could have served as immediate ex-
pansion area for the spill of population of said
municipality.
Figure 2.7 Urbanization Trend By Area, Region XII, 1990-2000
Source: National Statistics Ofﬁce
Population Concentration Tendencies
The population of the new region exhib-
its unequal distribution. However, it showed
moderate improvement as gleaned from popu-
lation of each census year. In 1990, the popu-
lation that has to be redistributed to attain a
rational, efficient and desirable spatial organi-
zation of population was posted at 18.50
percent.
The swift growth of the regions in the
post-war era up to the sixties was primarily
due to vast availability of prime lands for ag-
riculture, an economic opportunity available
to them at that time along with the alternative
settlement opportunity offered by the govern-
ment during the same period.
Population growth in the 70’s somehow
slackened and this could be partly ascribed
to more attractive opportunities available in
other regions in the island in terms of employ-
ment, education and stable peace and order
condition.
Only minor portions of differential
growth rates among the areas in the region
can be accounted for by fertility differences
and even less by mortality variations. Thus,
internal migration may be viewed as the major
factor underlying observed population differ-
entials.

b. The Region’s Existing Functional Net
work of Settlements
Settlements are usually formed where
social and economic opportunities abound,
wherebetterqualityoflifeisperceivedpossible.
The concentration of people in one specific
geographic area results to the formation of
settlements.
Settlements evolve depending on the
scale and level of activities brought about
by economic, social and political functions
of a locality. Modernization in the field of
transportation, communication, public health
and safety, and industries also shaped the kind
of settlements. In the region, the settlement
pattern could be explained by a variety of
factors, economic activities, presence of social
facilities or amenities, political stability, peace,
order and security, and other institutions and
structures that provide higher standards of
living.
The reconfigured Region XII is
characterized by uneven spatialdistribution
of its population but is more contiguous
and homogeneous, geographically. Also, the
present settlement trend of the region follows
a linear pattern where settlements tend to
concentrate along the major transportation
axis interconnecting the provinces, cities and
municipalities throughout the region. Patches
of settlements, however, are located in the
rural areas, particularly in hinterlands and
coastal areas.
The component cities in the region,
Kidapawan, Koronadal, and Tacurong all
grew from inland towns with their population
concentrating in the urban while the rural
areas are sparsely populated. The region has
a three—tiered settlement structure with
General Santos City and Cotabato city serving
as the primary urban centers; the cities of
Kidapawan, Koronadal and Tacurong, and
the towns of Isulan, Alabel, Kabacan, and
Midsayap as the intermediate urban centers.
All the rest of the municipalities would either
be considered as medium town or small town
serving as primary production areas.
The region is comprised of four (4)
provincesrepresenting5percentofthenation’s
total provinces. There are forty-five (45)
municipalities, accounting for just 2.7 percent
of the total municipalities nationwide. There
are also five (5) cities, of which one, General
Santos City, is classified as a highly urbanized
city and Cotabato city as independent
chartered city. The three others, Kidapawan,
Tacurong and Koronadal are component
cities. The region’s provinces and cities exhibit
varied degree of development characterized by
its prime socio-economic roles and functions
and geographical location.
The nine (9) provinces and cities
comprising the region play specialized but
reinforcing and complementary roles that
sustain its economy and people.
General Santos, the region’s only highly
urbanized city, is the center of international
trade and commerce owing to the thriving
industries in the area. The presence of
principal infrastructures boosts the primacy
of the city in terms of higher level of services.
Among its major physical facilities are the
international airport and the marine ports.
Industries located in the place range from
small to medium industries related to food
processing, fruit processing and cold storage
facilities for its fishery products.
Cotabato City, also one of the primary
urban centers of the region, served as regional
center of administrative Region XII, until
the recent issuance of Executive Order No.
304. It also provides basic tertiary level

services through key institutions providing
higher level education, modern health and
medical, commercial, industrial, modern
communication, as well as, financial, market
support and recreation services. The Cotabato
Regional and Medical Center is situated in the
city, serving both the region’s public health
clients and that of the neighboring ARMM
provinces. As the former administrative seat of
Region XII, the city plays significant political
and economic influences over its outlying
areas. It also serves as a transshipment point
because of the Cotabato Airport, even if it
is located in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao
of the ARMM, its proximity to the city make
possible the role of the city as port of entry and
exit for both people and products. The Polloc
Port in Parang, Maguindanao also provides
interconnection and mobility of people and
goods from within the region to other points
of destinations.
Other major urban growth centers are
those that serve as provincial capital towns.
They host offices of both the provincial and
national governments for effective governance
and service delivery. These areas manifest fast
urbanization as evidenced by rapid urban
growth,growingtradeandcommerce,financial
and social institutions, minor processing and
manufacturing enterprises, among others.
Kidapawan City is located about 106
kilometers north of Cotabato City, and 120
kilometers from Davao City. The Provincial
Capitol of Cotabato, its seat of government,
is situated in Barangay Amas of Kidapawan
City, about 14 kilometers to the city proper.
Kidapawan, known as fruit city, is essentially an
agro-ecotourism center. Part of Mt. Apo, which
is a popular tourist destination, is situated in
the city. It also has a geothermal plant, the
Philippine National Oil Corporation, located
in Barangay Ilumavis, of the city. It is also
fast developing into a trade, commerce and
financial center as manifested by the increasing
number of banks and commercial complex
in the area. As such, it plays a crucial role of
filling the gap for tertiary level social services,
institutions, commercial, market and banking
needs of the outlying rural neighbors.
Tacurong City, a component city of
Sultan Kudarat, became a city almost at the
same time Kidapawan and Koronadal were
created. It is also adjacent to Isulan, the capital
town of the province. It serves as the trading
and commerce center and transport hub for
the areas surrounding it, including the towns
of Buluan and Datu Paglas of Maguindanao
province of the ARMM region.
Koronadal City is the seat of government
of the Province of South Cotabato and recently
declared through Executive Order No. 304 as
the regional center of Region XII. Koronadal
is bounded on the north by Tacurong and
on the southern part by General Santos City
Located strategically at the heart of the region,
Koronadal City is emerging as commerce
and trading center. The city is endowed with
abundantsourceofwaterthatfeeditsirrigation
systems, and about 1.7 percent of its land with
a slope ranging from 0 to 8 per cent, the city
is also best suited for general agriculture and
industrial development activities.
Alabel is the capital town of Sarangani
province, hosting the seat of its Provincial
Government. It is an intermediate urban
center providing secondary level services,
trade and commerce, and other administrative
services.
Isulan serves as the capital town of Sultan
Kudarat province. It also provides specialized
services like markets, trade and commerce;
with educational institutions and a provincial
hospital catering to the outlying rural areas in
the province.

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