LANGUAGES
Most inhabitants of SOSKSARGEN are bilingual. Aside
from Cebuano which is widely spoken, many speak an extra dialect or two.
Most are also conversant in English which is the official language in
schools and business communications.
LOCATION
General Santos City is the Philippines' southernmost
city. It is bounded by the municipalities of Polomolok and T'boli
belonging to South Cotabato Province, and by Alabel, Malungon and Maasim
belonging to Sarangani Province.
THE LAND
About 35% of the city's land area is suitable for
urban uses while 57% is classified as alienable and disposable. Around
23,000 hectares can be used for intensive and specialized agriculture
while 11,564 hectares of sloping land are available for reforestation and
grazing. Its rich expanse of land is said to contain substantial amounts
of minerals such as limestone, sulfur, copper, nitrate, luminate, rutile
and guano. The city has six rivers, three of which are rich sources of
sand and gravel for construction.
BRIEF HISTORY
General Santos City's history dates back to the
turn of the 15th century when Sariph Kabungsuan of Arabia arrived in
Cotabato Province in Mindanao to introduce Mohammedanism with the help of
his religious teachers. He reigned as the Sultan of Mindanao until the
early part of the 20th century when the Americans came. In 1914, the first
batch of Christian migrants settled in Glan along Sarangani Bay. On
February 27, 1939, General Paulino Santos led the first and largest batch
of settlers organized under the National Land Settlement Administration to
the shores of Sarangani Bay. The 62 pioneers, mostly from Luzon,
industriously tilled Cotabato's fertile expanse of land. Thousands more
from Luzon and Visayas would later migrate into the area, then known as
Buayan District. In 1948 the district became a municipality and six years
later was renamed General Santos as a tribute to its great pioneer. On
July 8, 1968, it was elevated to city status.
THE PEOPLE
General Santos City has one of the highest
population growth rates in the Philippines. At 5.3%, it is significantly
higher than Southern Mindanao region's 2.9% and the nation's 2.3%. The
city's ever-increasing population is attributed to the continuing influx
of migrants attracted by the area's bright economic opportunities. Working
age population is about 145,000. Employment rate is a high 95%.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
In 1963 up to 1967, the then
municipality of General Santos experienced an economic upsurge as several
large agri-based corporations such as Dole Philippines, General Milling
Corporation and UDAGRI moved into the area. The city's economy is
basically agro-industrial and has contributed much to SOSKSARGEN's
emergence as the Philippines' leading producer of at least eight
agricultural commodities. General Santos City accounts for the second
largest total daily fish landings in the Philippines at 300 metric tons.
It is home to five major tuna canneries.
Source: Invest in Mindanao CD-ROM published by Growth with
Equity in Mindanao, developed by Interactive Design Studio
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