Cotabato is one of four provinces comprising the Soccsksargen Region ( Region XII ).
The province is subdivided into seventeen (17) municipalities and one city, with a total of 543 barangays represented as two congressional districts. The seat of the provincial government is at the capital city of Kidapawan.
The original Cotabato province known as the “Empire Province of Cotabato” used to be the largest in the country in terms of land area until November 22, 1973, when Presidential Decree 341 was issued creating the new provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao. Earlier, South Cotabato was segregated, and what was then North Cotabato was renamed Cotabato under Batas Pambansa 660 on December 19, 1983.
Half of the province’s total land area is forest land. This includes timberlands, animal sanctuaries, national parks and forest reserves. Of international interest is Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak at 3,142 meters (10,311 feet), with its monkey-eating eagle and the Waling-Waling. Domestic and foreign tourists have come once and again to Mt. Apo National Park, among them geologists and other scientists hoping to discover new species of flora and fauna.
Despite its being an inland province, Cotabato manages to make up with two freshwater lakes. Hidden among the mountain ranges at an elevation of 2,194 meters (7,200 feet) is the rare freshwater lake at Venado. And then there is Lake Agko with its rare blue boiling water. Both are found in Kidapawan, while other tourist attractions abound in such areas as Kabacan, Carmen, Makilala, and Magpet.
At the Epol River and Gambudes Caves, visitors are treated to three kilometers of a cascading river with a series of six waterfalls. The Liguasan and Libungan marshes are two of the largest in the region and teem with rich aquatic life.
Located at Barrio Makilala, New Israel Eco Park is a mountain village that is home to a religious sect called the ‘Moncadista’. The place is famous for tamed monkeys.
The beautiful scenery from mountain ranges plus cool and clear water coming right from mountain springs at the foot of Mt. Apo and free-flowing into four swimming pools make up the majestic experience that can be had at the inland Le Re’ve Resort.
Ddubbed as Cotabato’s “Fountain of Youth”, Batasan-Biangan Hotspring Resort is a favorite picnic area at the locale, with clear water flowing from mountain falls believed to have healing powers.
Cotabato has a distinct character resulting from varying cultures, dialects, traits and ways of life as indicated by its unique blend of people. Today, about 80% of the population are Christian migrants from the Visayas and Luzon. The cultural communities predominated by Muslims and Manobo highlanders comprise the remaining 20%.