Polomolok, South Cotabato

Polomolok
—  Municipality  —
Bayan ng Polomolok Lungsod sa Polomolok
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): Agri-industrial and Sub-Urban Residential Centre of South Cotabato
Map of South Cotabato showing the location of Municipality of Polomolok.
Polomolok Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°13′N 125°4′E
Country	Philippines
Region	SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
Province	South Cotabato
Districts	1st District of South Cotabato
Barangays	23
Founded	August 27, 1957
Government
• Type	Component Municipality
• District Representative	Pedro Acharon Jr. (AIM) (2010-2013)
• Mayor	Isidro D. Lumayag (LP-NPC-AIM) (2010-2013)
• Vice Mayor	Eliazar G. Jovero (LP-NPC-AIM) (2010-2013)
• Municipal Council	Councilors Jose R. Falcon Jude G. Bontuyan Nilda B. Almencion Leo J. Cordova Xavier J. Bayan Melani G. Deypalan Ireneo J. Cabahug SK Federation President Jon Leo Licayan
Area
• Total	339.97 km2 (131.26 sq mi)
Elevation	300 m (1,000 ft)
Population (2010)
• Total	137,821
• Density	410/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
	source : LGPMS
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code	9504
Area code(s)	83
Climate(s)	18°C-30°C (Summer) 18°C-25°C (Normal)
Language(s)	Bisaya, Tagalog, English, Hiligaynon
Income class	1st Class
Classification	Urbanized Town
Ecclesiastical Province	Diocese of Marbel

Polomolok is an Agro-Industrial Urban Municipality of South Cotabato, Philippines. Situated between General Santos City and Tupi, it has a population as of 2010 LGPMS census of 137,821 people in 27,564 households. It is the largest Municipality in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region and the second largest Municipality in Mindanao. The Municipality also belong to the Top 30 Richest Municipalities in the Philippines.

The municipality has already reached the requirements to be a city.

Brief History

The name Polomolok was derived from the B’laan term "FLOMLOK’ which means hunting grounds. In the early years, the place where the Poblacion is presently situated was known for its abundance of wild life. There were no roads and the lowlanders befriended the B’laan highlanders and utilized them as guides. Aside from a rich hunting ground, Polomolok had so many creeks with free flowing water coming from the hillsides. Those cool and clear flowing water encouraged foreigners to settle in this place. One of them was a Japanese trader Zenjiro Takahashi and his B’laan wife. He began clearing the area and planted agricultural crops. Not long after, some of the Christians came to settle and started to clear the area.

In 1940, the Philippines Commonwealth government embarked on a very bold program of social amelioration. One of the projects was the distribution of lands to interested people who wanted to settle in Mindanao. Settlers were brought by boat to Dadiangas from Luzon and Visayas. On November 2, 1940, Polomolok was officially opened for settlement and known as POLOMOLOK SETTLEMENT DISTRICT. Atty. Ernesto Jimenez was appointed as its first overseer. He was responsible for the allocation of farm lots. Then came the creation of some barrios of the settlers. These were Palkan, Lemblisong, Polo, Polomolok Central (now Poblacion), Polomolok Creek (now Magsaysay), Sulit, Lamcaliaf, Kinilis, Glamang, Bentung, Koronadal Proper, Leve, and Silway. The first settlers, after a crop or two, started to invite their friends and relatives to settle in this place, because the soil was so fertile that any crop can survive due to favorable climate conditions.

The settlement program was interrupted for four years by the American-Japanese War. Don Francisco Natividad was appointed Military Mayor with Datu Badung Nilong as Vice Mayor and the late Sgt. Nuevarez as Chief of Police. In 1948, the late Perfecto Balili was designated NLSA Administrator with Rosendo Sarte as Officer-In-Charge. In 1954, the NLSA was abolished in the course of government reorganization. All records of NLSA were taken over by the Board of Liquidators. The Municipality of General Santos (formerly Buayan) was incorporated. On August 21, 1957, the Municipality of Polomolok was created by virtue of a Presidential Executive Order No. 264 signed by His Excellency, President Carlos P. Garcia. It started functioning as a regular and independent municipality on September 10, 1957 as a 6th class municipality. The local officials were appointed by the President. Its first appointed Mayor was Datu Badong Nilong.

From 1957 to 1963, the progress of this town was still very slow. Fields have always been green, harvest bountiful but farm products had low market value and circulation of cash was rather slow. Then came a breakthrough, when the largest pineapple company, the Dole Philippines, Inc. was planted and inaugurated on December 7, 1963. Since then Dolefil has been the big goose that lay golden eggs for this town.

Topography and Climate

Located at the southern part of South Cotabato, Polomolok is nestled at the base of the most prominent scenic spot Mt. Matutum. It is cone-shaped and looms over the provinces at 2,286 meters high, a unique challenge to mountaineers. It is perhaps the provinces most imposing landmark.

Natural hot and cold spring abound at its foot. Natural springs are abundant within this area and provide free flowing water. Two of these springs have developed into natural resorts.

Economy, commerce, trade and industry

The Municipality of Polomolok prides its successful implementation of its Revenue Generation Program as an exemplary practice. The purpose of the program is to increase local revenues from collection of real property taxes and other fees and charges; update Municipal Tax Ordinance; Conduct Business Tax Mapping; and system automation. Rank 3rd on the rich municipalities and cities in Mindanao with less percentage of poverty incidence..

Agriculture

It is splendidly gifted with pineapple products and processing, livestock resources (cattle, swine production, meat packaging) furniture, asparagus and cut flowers, cotton ginnery, corn, vegetable and fruits.

Dole Philippines Incorporated is the largest industrial firm involved in growing, processing and exporting of fresh and canned pineapple. As of 2004, the area planted to pineapple is 15,507.872 hectares with an average production volume of 31.94 metric tons per hectare. This industry, which is situated at Barangay Cannery Site, generates about 6,000 jobs at present. It is considered as the biggest taxpayer in the municipality.

Corn is the second most grown crop in the municipality. Data from the Agriculture Office revealed that for the year 2003 there are 3,931 hectares or 13.46% of the total cultivated land agricultural lands were devoted to corn. About 1,236 hectares of which are planted to traditional corn seeds at average production of 3.20 MT/hectare and 2,695 hectares are planted to hybrid corn at average production of 4.0 MT/ hectare. The major producers are Barangay Klinan 6, Glamang, Landan, Silway 8 and Upper Klinan. About 30% of populace adopt corn as their staple food. Table 16 shows the Area Planted and Production of Corn by Barangay...

Rice is also one of the major crops. 99% of the total population has rice as their staple food. Office of the Agriculturist reported that for the year 2006, 445 hectares were utilized for rice production, of which only 300 hectares are irrigated, 45 are lowland, and 100 are upland. Irrigated areas are planted 2.5 time a year while rainfed and upland are planted only once. "Gintoang Masaganang Ani Program" Program targets for the average production of rice at about 4.5 MT, for irrigated, 3 MT for lowland and 1.5 MT for upland. This target was met by the farmers this year because of rice diseases and pest infestation.

The record of the Department of Agriculture shows that as of 2006, the total area planted with asparagus is 1,435.52 hectares. Plantations of this crop are in Barangay Sulit, Sumbakil, Crossing Palkan, Bentung, Lapu, Pagalungan, Lumakil, Rubber and Magsaysay. Farmer growers have access to the export market due to contract agreement with Marsman-Drysdale Agri-Ventures and Tropifresh. The surplus are sold in the local market and diversifically used as supplements for cattle fattening.

Vegetables grow well in Barangay Palkan, Kinilis, Maligo, Sumbakil and Koronadal Proper where the climate is cool and the soil is fertile. However, the farmers cannot really produce in large volume due to financial constraints and unstable prevailing market prices of vegetables.

Livestock and poultry production has increased tremendously in the past years. This is partly due to the municipality's climate and terrain which is ideal for livestock and poultry production. The land area devoted for agri-livestock production is 80 hectares or 0.27 percent of the total agricultural land.

For the year 2006, the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist reported that there are 322,628 heads of livestocks and poultry raised in the municipality. Poultry has the most number of heads at 271,420 where 3,639 are layers, 17,852 are backyard, and 249,929 are commercial under contract growers scheme with different Agri-business firms such as RFM, Vitarich, and Swift followed by swine with 23,719 heads which 10,970 are backyard and a total of 15,113 are raised commercially, and cattle with 24,491 heads where 2,065 are backyard and a total of 22,426 heads fattened in the cattle farms of Montery and DEALCO.

Supply of livestock in the municipality is insufficient due to shipment of livestock which are raised commercially to other parts of the country leaving the backyard raisers to support the local market. The municipality still depend on supplies coming from other areas in the province.

Barangays

Polomolok is politically subdivided into 23 barangays. Barangay Poblacion is also known as Polomolok itself. There are 3 Urban Barangays and 20 Rural Barangays.

Urban barangays

• Poblacion (Polomolok)
• Cannery Site
• Magsaysay

Rural barangays

• Bentung
• Crossing Palkan
• Glamang
• Kinilis
• Klinan 6
• Koronadal Proper
• Lam Caliaf
• Landan
• Lapu
• Lumakil
• Maligo
• Pagalungan
• Palkan
• Polo
• Rubber
• Silway 7
• Silway 8
• Sulit
• Sumbakil
• Upper Klinan

Education

Secondary (high school)

• Notre Dame Siena-College of Polomolok - High School
• Dole Philippines International School
• San Lorenzo Ruiz Academy of Polomolok
• Poblacion Polomolok National High School
• Polomolok National High School
• Mt. Matutum Christian School
• Matutum View Baptist Academy, Inc.
• Silway-8 National High School
• Sulit National High School
• Upper Klinan National High School
• BEST College of Polomolok - High School
• Schola de San Jose - High School
• General Santos Academy - High School
• Christian School of Polomolok

Tertiary (college)

• BEST College of Polomolok
• Notre Dame Siena-College of Polomolok
• Schola de San Jose
• General Santos Academy

Transportation

By land

The Polomolok Terminal has its daily trip to General Santos City from 3am to 7pm and has a trip to Koronadal City from 5am to 5pm. The estimated time allotment from Polomolok to General Santos and vice versa is only 15~20 minutes. From General Santos City, there is a 24/7 trip to Polomolok, the PUVs along National Highway near NDDU.

By sea

The General Santos City Seaport is accessible to Polomolok, there are daily trips from Manila to General Santos through Superferry and many other shipping companies.

By air

General Santos International Airport is 20 minutes away from Polomolok's City proper.

Communications and broadcasting

Polomolok's broadcast communications are GenSan-based due to their geographical location which they're neighbor Cities.

Telecommunications and internet

Polomolok have a number of Telecoms and Internet providers, the Smart Communications provide HSPA (4G) network and Internet, Globe Telecoms also provide Internet, 2G and 3G network, PLDT provides DSL Connections as well as Telephone connections; BayanTel also provides Telephone and Internet connections. MarbelTel also provides Internet and Telephone connections.

Festival

• FlomLok Festival is a Municipal-wide festival which represents the early inhabitants of the town.
• Pinyahan Festival is the Foundation Anniversary of the Barangay Cannery Site.
• Malambuon Festival is the Foundation Anniversary of the Barangay Poblacion.

Hospitals

• Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital is a 95-bed capacity tertiary level hospital located at Barangay Cannery Site, Polomolok.
• Heramil's Maternity and Children Hospital is a 30-bed capacity secondary level hospital located along the Cannery Rd., Poblacion, Polomolok.
• Bontuyan Medical Clinic is a 25-bed capacity secondary level hospital located along French Sts., Poblacion, Polomolok.
• Polomolok Municipal Hospital is a government Hospital that has a 15-bed capacity which is located at the Rural barangay of Pagalungan, Polomolok.

Banking institutions

• Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC)
• Landbank of the Philippines (LBP)
• Peninsula Bank (Penbank)
• Rural Bank of Alabel

Drugstores and pharmaceuticals

• Mercury Drug - Dama de Noche Branch
• Rojon Pharmacy
• Carlee Pharmacy
• The Generic Pharmacy
  • Poblacion
  • Cannery Site
• Farmacia ni Dok
• Rose Pharmacy
• UNIFIED Cooperative Pharmacy

Other known establishments

• Fit Mart Polomolok
• Gaisano Warehouse (Underconstruction)
• Gala Builders Suply
  • French St. Polomolok
  • Cannery Site
• Gala Enterprises
  • Polomolok
  • Cannery Site
• LBC Polomolok
• Palawan Pawnshop
  • Polomolok
  • Cannery Site
• M Lhuillier
  • Polomolok
  • Cannery Site
• Cebuana Lhuillier
  • Polomolok
  • Cannery Site
• RD Pawnshop
  • Polomolok Branch 1
  • Polomolok Branch 2
• Chooks To Go
  • Polomolok 1
  • Polomolok 2
  • Cannery Site
• Minute Burger
  • National Highway
  • Poblacion
  • Cannery Site
• Dunkin' Donuts

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Dolefil Chairs for Trees Project
• Rayelicious
• Discover Polomolok