Sarangani Province (http://sarangani.gov.ph)
Sarangani is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region. Its capital is Alabel. With a 230 kilometres (140 mi) coastline along the Sarangani Bay and Celebes Sea, the province is at the southernmost tip of Mindanao Island, and borders South Cotabato and Davao del Sur to the north, and Davao Occidental to the east.
Sarangani is part of the South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-Gen. Santos City (SOCCSKSARGEN) development cluster, and is linked by paved roads to
the international airport and harbor of Gen. Santos City.
The province is divided into two parts, separated by the Sarangani Bay and General Santos City, and it used to be part of South Cotabato until it was made an independent province in 1992.
HISTORY
The island of Sarangani was named by Ruy López de Villalobos in 1543 as Antonia, in honor of Antonio de Mendoza y Pacheco who commissioned Villalobos expedition to the Philippines. The early inhabitants who first inhabited Sarangani were the indigenous natives, called "MunaTo," a native term for "first people."
In 1942, the Japanese troops occupied Southern Cotabato (now Sarangani). In 1945, Filipino troops of the 6th, 10th, 101st and 102nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 10th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary entered and liberated in Southern Cotabato (now Sarangani) and fought against the Japanese Imperial Army forces during the Battle of Cotabato at the end of World War II under the Japanese Occupation.
Before its inception in 1992, Sarangani was part of South Cotabato as the Third District of South Cotabato. The province was created by Republic Act No. 7228 on March 16, 1992, penned by Congressman James L. Chiongbian. His wife, Priscilla L. Chiongbian, was the first Governor of Sarangani. They are known as the Father and Mother of Sarangani Province.
SUBDIVISIONS
Sarangani is subdivided into 7 municipalities grouped into two parts, separated by the Sarangani Bay. The western part consists of Kiamba, Maasim, and Maitum, while the eastern part is composed of Alabel, Glan, Malapatan, and Malungon.
ECONOMY
Coconut, corn, rice, banana, mango, durian, rubber, and sugarcane are just some of the major crops now being planted by the Sarangans. Other possibilities
lie in a wide range of commercial choices: industrial plantations (mango, abaca, coffee, rubber, and rattan), agro-forestry (high-value crops), light manufacturing and processing facilities, real estate and housing, tourism, beach resorts, hotels and restaurants, recreational facilities, port zone development, milling plants, fruit production, processing of canned fruits and vegetables, production of ornamental plants, furniture, trading, telecommunications, mining, and aquaculture.
Sarangani's favorable investment climate is manifested by the large plantations (mango, banana, pineapple, asparagus), cattle ranches, and commercial fishponds that have been operating in the area, some of which having existed as far back as 40 years.
Businesses locating in the province are assured of stable power and water supply. Electricity comes from the National Power Corporation, and augmented by a 50 mW power plant in Alabel, the province's capital. Water is provided for by sustainable spring development projects.
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarangani)
