Tacurong

Tacurong
Component City
City of Tacurong
Official seal of Tacurong Seal
Nickname(s): The City of Goodwill; International Gateway of Sultan Kudarat; Mindanao's Palm Oil Exporter
Motto: "Uswag Tacurong!"
{{#property:P242}} Map of Sultan Kudarat with Tacurong City highlighted
Tacurong Location within the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country	[[{{#property:P17}}]]
Region	SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
Province	[[{{#property:P131}}]]
District	1st District of Sultan Kudarat
Founded	August 3, 1951
Cityhood	August 16, 2000
Barangays	20
Government
• Mayor	Lina O. Montilla (NPC)
Area
• Total	153.40 km2 (59.23 sq mi)
Elevation	200 m (700 ft)
Population (2010)
• Total	89,188
• Density	580/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code	{{#property:P281}}
Dialing code	{{#property:P473}}
Income class	3rd class city; partially urbanized
Website	{{#property:P856}}

Tacurong, officially the City of Tacurong (Hiligaynon: Dakbanwa/Syudad sang Tacurong; Filipino: Lungsod ng Tacurong), is a third class city in the province of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 89,188 people. Tacurong has a total land area of 15,340 hectares, the smallest in land area among the province's 12 municipalities. Tacurong became a component city of Sultan Kudarat in 2000 by virtue of Republic Act 8805 in September 2000.

Tacurong is located at the center of SOCCSKSARGEN. It is 92 kilometres (57 mi) from General Santos City, 96 kilometres (60 mi) from Cotabato City and 178 kilometres (111 mi) from Davao City. It is situated at the crossroads of the Davao-General Santos-Cotabato highways, and is the financial, commercial, education, and recreation center of the area. It services the needs of 15 neighboring municipalities. People from these areas go to Tacurong to sell their products, purchase their needs, pursue education, avail of medical and health services, and seek recreation. As an important hub of the Mindanao transport grid, Tacurong is visited by numerous passengers and transients on their way to the cities of Davao, Cotabato, General Santos and even Cagayan de Oro.

History

The place which later became the City of Tacurong was once a barangay of the municipality of Buluan of the then province of Cotabato. The place was originally called “Pamansang”, after a creek that flows from south to north of the area. In the 1940s, the place became the way station of the 19-C Survey Team due to its strategic location and suitability for the purposes of the survey team. During those years, the place also became a stopover point for travelers and the Oblate missionaries on their way to the different points of Cotabato Province.

The name “Pamansang” was changed to “Talakudong”, the Maguindanao term for head covering which was worn by most of the early settlers and people in the area. How the place came to be associated with head covering cannot be ascertained. Eventually, the name was later shortened / changed to Tacurong. It can only be deduced that the present name Tacurong must have originated from the word “talakudong”

Tacurong was separated from its mother town of Buluan and was created a municipality by Executive Order Number 462 signed by the late President Elpidio Quirino on August 3, 1951. The city is composed of mostly Hiligaynon settlers from the Visayas.

Tacurong then had an estimated area of 40,000 hectares comprising 14 barangays. When Tantangan, a barangay of Tacurong was created into a municipality in 1961, the southern portions of Tacurong were separated. The area was further reduced when Pres. Quirino was created into a municipality on November 22, 1973 taking with it some of the eastern portions. Tacurong now has a total land area of 15,340 hectares, the smallest in land area among the 12 municipalities that compose the new province of Sultan Kudarat, created on November 22, 1973 by Presidential Decree No. 341. Although Isulan became the provincial capital, Tacurong remained as the premier town.

After 49 years of existence as a municipality, Tacurong became the first component city of the Province of Sultan Kudarat through the effort, of Hon. Angelo O. Montilla, the Congressman of the Lone District of Sultan Kudarat by virtue of House Bill No. 6497 duly approved and signed by President Joseph E. Estrada through Republic Act 8805 “An Act Converting the Municipality of Tacurong into a Component City of the Province of Sultan Kudarat to be known as the “City of Tacurong” on August 16, 2000 and duly confirmed by the “Takurs” on a plebiscite held on September 18, 2000.

Barangays

The city is politically subdivided into twenty (20) barangays, listed here with 2010 populations.

2

Demographics

Population census of Tacurong City
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	58,785	—
1995	69,822	+3.28%
2000	76,354	+1.94%
2007	82,546	+1.08%
2010	89,188	+2.86%
Source: National Statistics Office

Festivities and cultural events

The festivities in the city are:

• Talakudong Festival, on September 18 showing the culture of the Tacurongnons.
• Inugyunay Festival, a thanksgiving festival in December to January.

Infrastructure

Transportation

The city has an integrated terminal which vans and buses currently assigned on designated place. Tacurong to the far side places in their curriculums and places.

Bus companies operating in Tacurong City:

• Yellow Bus Line, Inc. (General Santos City/Koronadal City)
• Holiday Bus (General Santos City)
• Rural Transit Mindanao, Inc. (General Santos City/Cagayan de Oro City)
• Weena Express (Cotabato City/Davao City/Kidapawan City)
• Tacurong Express (Davao City/Kidapawan City)

Buildings

The city has the National Food Authority (NFA) complex which has the largest grains silo in the Philippines, and also second in Asia. It also holds the record of the highest building in the region of SOCCSKSARGEN.

Health services

Health services include the Sultan Kudarat Doctors Hospital and the Tacurong Medical Center. In a new additional 45 million give by government creating the Sultan Kudarat Medical Center that construction starts on 2015 to serve the people frequently.

Education

The city has 9 private schools, 48 public schools, and 1 university— Sultan Kudarat State University

Media

Radio stations:

• DXTA-FM Radyo Natin Tacurong
• DXTK-FM Tagring-FM Tacurong
• DXTT-FM Double T Radio

External links

• Official Website
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System
• DepEd Tacurong Website
• Tacurong Sales