Polomolok | ||
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Municipality | ||
Polomolok Public Market
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Nickname(s): Agroindustrial and suburban municipality of South Cotabato ; The Land of Pineapple Shores ; Little Brazil of the Philippines | ||
Map of South Cotabato with Polomolok highlighted |
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Location within the Philippines | ||
Coordinates: 06°13′N 125°04′E / 6.217°N 125.067°ECoordinates: 06°13′N 125°04′E / 6.217°N 125.067°E | ||
Country | Philippines | |
Region | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | |
Province | South Cotabato | |
District | 1st District, South Cotabato | |
Founded | September 10, 1957 | |
Barangays | 23 | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Honey Lumayag-Matti (AIM) | |
Area | ||
• Total | 339.97 km2 (131.26 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 300 m (1,000 ft) | |
Population (2015 census) | ||
• Total | 152,589 | |
• Rank | 17 out of 1,489 Municipalities | |
• Density | 450/km2 (1,200/sq mi) | |
Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | |
ZIP code | 9504 | |
Dialing code | +63 (0)83 | |
Income class | 1st municipal income class | |
126312000 | ||
Electorate | 81,957 voters as of 2016 | |
Languages | Hiligaynon, Tagalog, English | |
Website | polomolok |
Polomolok is a first class suburban municipality of South Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 152,589 people.
It is located between General Santos and Tupi. Polomolok is seated about 41 kilometres (25 mi) south-east of the provincial capital city of Koronadal, 17 kilometres (11 mi) north of the port city of General Santos and 1,030 kilometres (640 mi) south-east of the national capital Manila. The municipality ranks 21st in the largest income earner municipalities of the Philippines.
Polomolok already filed a resolution to the Congress for Polomolok to become a city.
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 (General Santos) from Luzon and Visayas. On November 2, 1940, Polomolok was officially opened for settlement and known as Polomok 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.