Cotabato City is Neither North Nor South Cotabato

COTABATO CITY

NOTE: Cotabato and Cotabato City are NOT the same.

© Mike Gonzalez, 2005

Cotabato City, officially the City of Cotabato, is a 3rd class independent component city in the province of Maguindanao, Philippines, in the Bangsamoro region. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 299,438, making it as the most populated city under the independent component city status.

Cotabato City was formerly a part and the regional center of Region XII, but due to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, it is now part of Bangsamoro and serves as the regional center. Being an independent component city, it’s not a subject to regulation from the Provincial Government of Maguindanao where it is geographically located. The Philippine Statistics Authority also lists Cotabato City as statistically independent.

Cotabato City is distinct from and should not be confused with the province of Cotabato.

Photo from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotabato_City

The city is situated in the lowest portion of Maguindanao province. The City of Cotabato with its 37 barangays spans an area with marked landscapes of flat, level to nearly level, very gently sloping to gently undulations to moderately sloping or rolling. It is basically a delta formed by two big rivers, the Tamontaka River and the Rio Grande de Mindanao. Basically 70% of its total land area is below sea level. There are only 2 existing elevated areas in the city, the PC Hill and the Timako Hill with an altitude of 90 and 150 feet, respectively.

Concentration of settlements and other urban uses are in the central portion while the southwestern and southeastern portion have mixed uses of agricultural land settlements. The city is criss-crossed by meandering and braided creeks and rivers like the Matampay, Parang, Timako, Esteros and Miwaruy.

These water bodies serve as sources of both agricultural, industrial and domestic water requirements of some rural barangays. These rivers also serve as the natural drainage flow of the city’s wastes. Read More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotabato_City

Photo from: https://www.soxph.com/2018/03/colorful-pc-hill-in-cotabato-city.html

Cotabato City is the commercial, industrial, finance, education and regional center of Bangsamoro Region as well as Central Mindanao. It is a strategically located at the center of Mindanao which the city has a road link to all other major cities in the island such as Davao, Cagayan de Oro,Zamboanga City and General Santos City. The city government had reported some 1.2-billion pesos worth of new investments or a recorded 1,368 new businesses in 2019, As a result of the robust growth in city’s economy it has posted a total annual income of 1.044 billion pesos in the same year, for the past five years, Cotabato City’s annual income had been growing at an average of 10.51 percent yearly, also in 2019 Cotabato City is recognized as the top 2 most competitive component city in Mindanao and the most competitive city in Region 12 for 3 consecutive years based on the Cities Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) annual ranking. Read More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotabato_City

Photo from: https://www.facebook.com/CotabatoCityLGU/posts/2018-in-cotabato-city-is-getting-more-and-more-colorfulthe-city-government-of-co/740234562841890/

Did you know that Cotabato City doesn’t belong to the Province of Cotabato nor South Cotabato? It actually, politically and geographically belongs to Maguindanao Province.

Apparently, the city’s geopolitical location is as complicated as its history, culture and reputation. A city clouded with fear, and living in the stigma of its history and impression. A place struggling to move away from its own shadow.

But the truth is, like other Mindanaoan City, Cotabato is typically diverse, multicultural and generally peaceful. As the provincial capital of Maguindanao, it is a melting pot of religion and tradition, and a gateway to the best of the region.

I invite you to go beyond your comfort zone, explore and discover Cotabato City and be awed by the multitude of surprises that await every wandering soul in this city and beyond. Read More: https://www.lakwatsero.com/destinations/travel-guide-cotabato-city/#sthash.vUDLtWuY.dpbs