Kidapawan

Kidapawan
Component City
City of Kidapawan
Kidapawan City Hall
Seal
Nickname(s): City of Fruits and Highland Springs
Motto(s): "Nakapangyayari ang Sambayanan" (The People are Sovereign)
Map of Cotabato with Kidapawan highlighted
Kidapawan Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 7°01′N 125°05′E / 7.02°N 125.08°E / 7.02; 125.08Coordinates: 7°01′N 125°05′E / 7.02°N 125.08°E / 7.02; 125.08
Country	Philippines
Region	Soccsksargen (Region XII)
Province	Cotabato
District	2nd District
Founded	August 18, 1947
Cityhood	February 12, 1998
Barangays	40 (see Barangays)
Government [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Panlungsod
• Mayor	Joseph A. Evangelista (Liberal)
• Vice Mayor	Bernardo Piñol Jr. (PDP-Laban)
• Electorate	75,080 voters (2016)
Area [2]
• Total	358.47 km2 (138.41 sq mi)
Elevation	279 m (915 ft)
Population (2015 census)[3]
• Total	140,195
• Density	390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Kidapaweño Kidapawanon
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	9400
PSGC	124704000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)64
Climate type	Tropical rainforest climate
Income class	3rd city income class
Local income (₱)	721,853,788.93(2016) [4]
Native languages	Hiligaynon Cebuano Tagabawa Obo language Ilianen language Tagalog
Website	kidapawancity.gov.ph

Kidapawan, officially the City of Kidapawan, (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Kidapawan; Hiligaynon: Dakbanwa/Syudad sang Kidapawan; Filipino: Lungsod ng Kidapawan) or referred to as Kidapawan City, is a 3rd class city and capital of the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 140,195 people.^[3]

Located at the foot of Mount Apo, it is a popular destination from late October to December and in the summer, when thousands of tourists climb the country's highest mountain.

Etymology

The origins of the word Kidapawan are disputed. According to official documents, Kidapawan means "Spring in the Highlands", a contraction from the old native Manobo words tida, which means "spring", and pawan, which means "highland".

History

The first settlers around Kidapawan were predominantly Maguindanaon. The influx of Christian settlers from Luzon and the Visayas resulted in the evolution of the word from 'Tidapawan' to 'Kidapawan'. Aside from the Manobos and Christians, Kidapawan was also home to the most prominent Muslims, including a Sultan (Sultan Omar Kiram II) who was a descendant of Rajah Baguinda.

Kidapawan City was created by the Republic Act. No. 8500, signed by President Fidel V. Ramos on February 12, 1998, making it the first component city of Cotabato Province. The Act was ratified by a large majority by a plebiscite on March 21, 1998. It was originally named a district of Pikit.

In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces entered Kidapawan. Three years later, local Filipino soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary units and Moro guerrilla fighters taken to liberate Kidapawan fought the battles against the Japanese Imperial forces. Kidapawan was later declared a separate municipality by Executive Order No. 82 issued by President Manuel Roxas on August 18, 1947. It thus become the fourth town of the then Empire Province of Cotabato, composed previously of the municipalities of Cotabato (now Cotabato City), Dulawan (later named Datu Piang) and Midsayap.

Created along with the city were the twelve original barangays, namely: Birada, Ginatilan, Indangan, Linangcob, Luvimin, Manongol, Marbel, Mateo, Meohao, Mua-an, Perez, and Sibawan. From the original land area of 273, 262 hectares, Kidapawan retained only 34,007.20 hectares when four municipalities were created from it namely: Magpet (June 22, 1963, R.A. 3721), Matalam (Dec. 29, 1961, E.O. 461), M’lang (Aug. 3, 1951, E.O. 462) and President Roxas (May 8, 1967, R.A. 4869).

Prior to its conversion to a municipality, five appointed District Mayors had served Kidapawan. The first was Datu Siawan Ingkal, tribal chieftain of the Manobos, who headed the Civilian Emergency Administration when World War II broke out. He was followed by Felimon Blanco, Ceferino Villanueva, Jacinto Paclibar, and Alfonso Angeles Sr., who became the first elected mayor of the municipality.

Kidapawan became the provincial capital of Cotabato Province pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 341 dated 22 November 1973, with the provincial seat of government located in Amas. Later, Batas Pambansa No. 660 dated 19 December 1983 renamed the Province of North Cotabato to simply Cotabato. By the time it became the province capital, Kidapawan had already 40 barangays under its geopolitical jurisdiction.

Local government

Geography

Kidapawan is located at the foot of Mount Apo in the south-eastern section of Cotabato province, placed in the middle of other major cities of General Santos, Davao City, Cotabato City and Cagayan de Oro.

Demographics

In the 2015 census, the population of Kidapawan was 140,195 people,^[3] with a density of 390 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,000 inhabitants per square mile.

In the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 125,447 people,^[6] up 117,610 from in 2007. The religion is predominantly Christian, although there are many Muslims residing in the city as well. The main languages are Cebuano and Hiligaynon, while Tagalog and English are the secondary languages.

Cebuanos and Hiligaynons are the major ethnic groups in the city. Other ethnic groups residing in the area are the Ilocanos, Maguindanaons and Manobos. Cebuano is the most widely spoken language, especially in the city proper. English is considered as the medium of instruction in schools and other learning institutions; it is also predominantly used in major government agencies in their transactions and reports. Laws and ordinances in the city are all written in English. Most of the inhabitants can also speak Filipino.

Economy

Kidapawan City is classified as a 3rd-class component city, The City is considered as the province’s industrial hub. It plays a pivotal role in the economic development of the province and its adjacent areas. It is the commercial and trading hub of six neighboring municipalities. It lies at the heart of three large domestic markets: General Santos City, Davao City and Cotabato City.

Tourism

Foot of Mt. Apo

Lake Venado

Kidapawan City is one of the most well-known starting points for trekking on Mount Apo via the city's Lake Agco in Brgy. Ilomavis,^[9] Kidapawan-Santa Cruz,^[10] and Kidapawan-Magpet trails^[11] which towers at 10,311 feet above sea level with a total area of 14.6 square meters. The country’s tallest peak is an abode to the almost extinct Philippine eagle.^[12][13] Within the Mt. Apo Natural Park is the Mandarangan Geological Site which is being promoted as a major educational tourism site. Lake Venado, hidden among the mountain ranges, stands at an elevation of 7,200 feet above sea level.

Another tourist attraction in this city is Kansal Falls located at Sitio Lapaan in Barangay Perez. The water from the Kansal Falls is still one of the cleanest and cheapest in Asia and the source of North Cotabato’s Metro Kidapawan Water District Dam. The water rushing through Kansal Falls comes from the various mountain springs of Mt. Apo. This waterfall is the source of Kidapawan City’s water supply.

Events

Often dubbed as the Second Fruit Basket of the Philippines, the city government celebrate the abundance of the exotic fruits grown in Kidapawan City by holding an annual festival in the month of August called Timpupu, the fruit festival. This festival, first held in 2002,^[14] celebrates fruit harvest. The city purchases large quantities of local fruit which is laid out on tables along the streets for visitors and residents.^[15] Dubbed “Timpupu” from the Manobo word “harvest”, the celebration signifies the people's thanksgiving.

The Foundation Anniversary of the City of Kidapawan is held every February 12.

Education

Transportation

Local public transportation is primarily served by almost 3,000 motor tricycles known as just "motor". Multicabs, and jeepney provide transportation to barangays and adjacent municipalities. Public Utility Vans also served routes to and from the cities of Davao, Cotabato, and Tacurong. Mindanao Star, Davao Metro Shuttle and Yellow Bus Line are the bus companies operating in the city. Nearest airport is the Davao International Airport.

Commercial retail centers

• Gaisano Grand Mall of Kidapawan

Purok 1 Lanao, Kidapawan City

• KMCC Shopping Mall

Dayao St. ,KidapawanCity

Notable security-related incidents

Identified by the Arm Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command as conflict affected area which has the presence of CPP-NPA and BIFF, the list below are the current incidents happened in the city.

• Road side blast Improvise Explosive Device (IED) bomb burst along the national highway in Barangay Marbel, leaving three (3) cops wounded around 2 p.m of May 26, 2017. New Peoples’ Army (NPA) Guerilla Front 53 was behind the said attacks.^[26]
• The 2017 Kidapawan jail siege occurred when about a hundred unidentified armed men attacked the North Cotabato Provincial Jail in Kidapawan, Philippines at around midnight freeing at least 158 inmates. Five inmates, a barangay official and a prison guard died in the siege. The jail break resulting from the attack is reportedly the biggest in the history of North Cotabato.
• 2016 Kidapawan protests - For three days from March 30, 2016, thousands of farmers and their supporters blockaded the Davao-Cotabato Highway in Kidapawan, North Cotabato. A day before prior to the road blockade, 500 farmers protest in front of the National Food Authority Office in Kidapawan to air their grievances. The demonstration ended violently with at least three deaths on the side of the protesters and a total of 116 injured on both sides after the police dispersed the mass action.

See also

• Kidapawan Medical Specialist Center

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kidapawan.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kidapawan.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code