Cotabato Lungsod ng Kutabato
—  Independent-Component City  —
City of Cotabato
Mindanao River at Cotabato City
Official seal of Cotabato Seal
Nickname(s): Stone Fortress of Mindanao
Map of Maguindanao showing the location of Cotabato City.
Cotabato Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 7°13′N 124°15′E / 7.217°N 124.25°E / 7.217; 124.25Coordinates: 7°13′N 124°15′E / 7.217°N 124.25°E / 7.217; 124.25
Country	Philippines
Region	SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
Province	Maguindanao/Cotabato
District	Lone District of Maguindanao
Founded	1862
Cityhood	June 20, 1959
Barangays	37
Government
• Mayor	Japal "JoJo" Guiani
• Vice-Mayor	Mus Sema
Area
• Total	176.00 km2 (67.95 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	271,786
• Density	1,500/km2 (4,000/sq mi)
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code	9600
Income class	3rd class city (as of June 30, 2010)
Website	Official website

The City of Cotabato (Malay: Kotabatu) is one of the cities of the Philippines located in Mindanao. Cotabato City is an exclave of the SOCCSKSARGEN region found within the boundaries of Maguindanao province, but is independent of that province. Cotabato City is distinct from and should not be confused with the province of Cotabato. Cotabato's population was about 271,786 in 2010 census.

History[link]

Cotabato City had witnessed more history than any other place in Mindanao. Its history dates back to the 15th century when Shariff Kabunsuan, an Arab missionary, landed along the banks of the Rio Grande de Mindanao and introduced Islam to the natives. Islam was the faith that moved the early settlers to communal life, and to establish the Sultanate of Maguindanao with its golden age ushered in by Sultan Dipatuan Qudarat during the 17th century the time when Cotabato City developed as the capital town of Maguindanao.

In the nineteenth century, when Sultan Makakua ruled, roads and wharfs were constructed which gave rise to the birth of modern day Cotabato. However, the then Municipality of Cotabato was first organized at the later part of the 19th century when the Spaniards established a military post at Barangay Tamontaka, one of the earliest Christian settlements.

The town was founded by the Spaniards in 1862 and named it in a Spanish equivalent of the word "fort." Christianity was introduced in 1870 in the area. Almost a century later it became a city on July 10, 1959. During that time it was the capital of the undivided province of Cotabato.

On July 1, 1950, the then Municipality of Cotabato was made first class municipality under Executive Order No. 466. Nine Years later, on June 20, 1959, it was created into a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act No. 2364.

During the beginning of the 1950s up to the mid-1960s, Cotabato was by far the second largest and most progressive city in Mindanao, after Davao City. However, mass insurgencies between Christians and local Muslims in the region capitulated the city's economic decline. Now the city is mostly isolated to other important economic centers in Mindanao.

When the Empire Province of Cotabato was dissolved 1967, the city used to be part of the newly-founded North Cotabato province until 1973; since then the city was the administrative center of the ARMM. However, the city broke off administratively from Maguindanao as it rejoined SOCCSKSARGEN in the 1990s. Now some sources consider the city as part of the present Cotabato Province.

Geography[link]

Cotabato is approximately 698.9 nautical miles (1294 km) from Manila, the country's capital, and is bounded by the municipalities of Sultan Kudarat to the north—with Rio Grande de Mindanao separating the two—Kabuntalan to the east, and Datu Odin Sinsuat to the south. The city faces Illana Bay, part of the Moro Gulf, to the west. Cotabato City has a total land area of 176.0 square kilometers.

Economy[link]

The city currently serves as the center for economic support activities (trade and finance), education and other support services such as social, physical, cultural and other basic services of Central Mindanao are offered in the city.

Government[link]

Cotabato City is the regional center of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) but the city is actually part of the SOCCSKSARGEN region, sometimes grouped with Cotabato in some sources,^[1] and does not belong to the ARMM.

Political Feud[link]

This city has been a home for numerous political feuds resulting to assassinations, killings and bombings. The present Mayor JoJo Guiani and six of his family and allies are being investigated after an ambush to his rival, Vice Mayor Mus Sema, who served three terms as a mayor prior to his Vice Mayoralty and is being rumored to run next election and according to police reports, this is the reason of his ambush which he survived .

Barangays[link]

Cotabato City is politically subdivided into 37 barangays.

Climate[link]

Income Classification[link]

Cotabato City is average income in a year is approximately PHP 400m or more. Cotabato City is a 1st class city.

Tourist attractions[link]

• Rio Grande de Mindanao. The second largest river in the Philippines and the longest in Mindanao crisscrossing, with its tributary, the city's vast area. Estimated to be 182 kilometers long and 96 meters wide. Water sports and boat racing are the popular attractions of the river, usually held to coincide with the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival and the Feast of Hariraya Puasa.
• Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid – The largest mosque in the Philippines
• Tamontaka Church – Built in 1872 of Spanish architecture and design. It is the oldest church in the city, a relic of the living past.
• Lourdes Grotto – A replica of Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in France. The compound is equipped with a retreat house for recollection and seminars, a mini zoo and a children's park.
• Kutang Bato Caves – The only cave in the country that is right in the heart of the city. Its various entrances, all within traffic a rarity that can only be had in the "Heart of Mindanao". These caves were also the source of the city's present name for "Kuta" means "Fort" and "Bato" means "Stone" hence the name "Fort of Stone" which later on became Cotabato.
• Old Cotabato City Hall – A century old structure which houses almost all of the city government offices. It showcases the architectural design of the Maguindanaon Art.
• Takumi Butai Memorial Shrine – A monument in honor of Takumi Butai and the Japanese soldiers who died here during the Second World War. Takumi was the Provincial Commander of the Japanese forces assigned in Cotabato City. Before he died, he requested that some of his ashes be buried in Cotabato City. This shrine was put up by the Lion's Club of Kyoto, Japan in cooperation with the City Government of Cotabato.

Malls around the City[link]

• South Seas Mall Cotabato - the first shopping mall in the city.

Cotabato City Officials[link]

Congresswoman[link]

• Hon. Bai Sandra A. Sema

City Mayor[link]

• Hon. Japal J. Guiani Jr.

City Vice Mayor[link]

• Hon. Muslimin G. Sema

City Councilors[link]

• Hon. Graham Nazer G. Dumama
• Hon. Eduardo C. Rabago
• Hon. Marino R. Ridao
• Hon. Wilfrido H. Bueno
• Hon. Abdullah A. Andang
• Hon. Madatu B. Datumanong
• Hon. Froilan R. Melendrez
• Hon. Florante L. Formento
• Hon. Sukarno G. Sema
• Hon. Kusin S. Taha
• Hon. Abdillah J. Lim
• Hon. Aeyresc Japal G. Sayadi

See also[link]

• Mindanao
• Cagayan de Oro

References[link]

1. ^ Local Governance Performance Management System
2. ^ "Historical Weather for Cotabato, Soccsargen, Philippines". http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=64789&refer=&units=metric&cityname=Cotabato-Soccsksargen-Philippines. Retrieved 2011-08-15. 

Ranking[link]