SOCCSKSARGEN

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Region XII
Region 12 Regional center Koronadal City, South CotabatoPopulation 3,222,169 – Density 170.3 per km² Area 18,925.7 km² Divisions – Provinces4 – Cities5 – Municipalities45 – Barangays1,194 – Cong. districts6 Languages Tboli, Blaan, Cotabato Manobo, Tagabanwa, others

SoCCSKSarGen is a region of the Philippines, located in central Mindanao, and is officially designated as Region XII. The name is an acronym that stands for the region's four provinces and one of its cities: South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City. The regional center is Koronadal City located in the province of South Cotabato. Cotabato City, though geographically within the boundaries of the province of Maguindanao, itself is part of SOCCSKSARGEN, and is independent of that province. Maguindanao province is a part of another special region called the ARMM which has its seat in Cotabato City.

1 Geography
2 Political Divisions
- 2.1 Component Cities
- 2.2 Highly Urbanized City
3 Musical Heritage
4 References

Geography

The region has extensive coastlines, valleys and mountain ranges. Known for its river system, the region is the catch basin of Mindanao. The system is a rich source of food, potable water and energy production. Cotabato contains the Rio Grande de Mindanao, which is the longest river in Mindanao and the second longest in the Philippines.

Political Divisions

Political map of SOCCSKSARGEN Province/CityCapital Population
(2000) Area
(km²) Pop. density
(per km²) Cotabato Kidapawan City958,643 6,565.9 146.0 Sarangani Alabel410,622 2,980.0 137.8 South Cotabato Koronadal City690,728 3,996.1 172.9 Sultan Kudarat Isulan586,505 4,714.8 124.4 Cotabato City [1]— 163,849 175.99 931.0 General Santos City [2]— 411,822 492.86 835.6

1. ^ Cotabato City is independent of Maguindanao province, which is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The seat of the ARMM regional government is also in Cotabato City.

2. ^ General Santos City is a highly urbanized city; figures are excluded from South Cotabato.

Component Cities

Highly Urbanized City

General Santos City

Musical Heritage

Main articles: Music of the Philippines and Kulintang

The native Maguindanaon and other native Muslim/non-Muslim groups have a fascinating culture that revolves around kulintang music, a specific type of gong music, found in the SoCCSKSarGen.