Maguindanao del Sur

Maguindanao del Sur, officially the Province of Maguindanao del Sur (Maguindanaon: Dairat nu Salatan Magindanaw, Jawi: دايرت نو سلاتان مڬیندانو, Filipino: Timog Maguindanao), is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro region in Mindanao. Its capital is the municipality of Buluan near the city of Tacurong in the neighboring province of Sultan Kudarat. It borders Cotabato province to the east, Maguindanao del Norte to the west, and Sultan Kudarat to the south.

Maguindanao del Sur Salatan Magindanaw سلاتان مڬیندانو
Province
(from top: left to right) Dimaukom Mosque, Guindulungan Hall, Municipal Complex of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Freedom Park in Datu Montawal, Pagalungan Integrated Terminal, Archway Sign in Datu Unsay.
Flag Seal
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Coordinates: 06°55′N 124°34′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Bangsamoro
Plebiscite	September 17, 2022
Transition period	September 18, 2022 – January 9, 2023
Capital and largest municipality	Buluan
Government
• Governor	Ali Midtimbang
• Vice Governor	Hisham Nando
• Representative	Esmael Mangudadatu
Area
• Total	5,471.74 km2 (2,112.65 sq mi)
Population  (2025)
• Total	832,993
• Density	150/km2 (390/sq mi)
Demonym	South Magindanawon
Divisions
• Independent cities	0
• Component cities	0
• Municipalities	24 Ampatuan Buluan Datu Abdullah Sangki Datu Anggal Midtimbang Datu Hoffer Ampatuan Datu Montawal Datu Paglas Datu Piang Datu Salibo Datu Saudi Ampatuan Datu Unsay General Salipada K. Pendatun Guindulungan Mamasapano Mangudadatu Pagalungan Paglat Pandag Rajah Buayan Shariff Aguak Shariff Saydona Mustapha South Upi Sultan sa Barongis Talayan
• Districts	Legislative districts of Maguindanao del Sur
Time zone	UTC+8 (PHT)
ISO 3166 code	PH-MGS
Spoken languages	Maguindanaon Tiruray Tagalog English
Income classification	2nd class

History

Historical affiliations

Spain 1521–1898
 United States of America 1898–1942
 Japan 1942–1945
 United States of America 1945–1946
 Philippines 1946–present

Foundation

See also: Maguindanao leadership crises

Maguindanao del Sur was formed when Maguindanao province was split into two provinces; the other province being Maguindanao del Norte. The division occurred following a plebiscite on September 17, 2022 which ratified Republic Act 11550 which proposed the partitioning of the province. As per law former Maguindanao Governor Mariam Mangudadatu was expected to become the governor of the newly formed Maguindanao del Sur province.^[1][2] However an issue arose since the determination of the first set of officials of the province presumes that the plebiscite was held prior to the 2022 national and local elections. However the plebiscite was postponed to a date after the elections.^[3] This led to the Commission on Elections to come up with a legal opinion.^[4][5] The position was issued on September 28, 2022, where the election body conclude that only the Department of the Interior and Local Government could appoint the first officials of the province.^[3]

Mangudadatu would assume the position and take oath as governor of the new province in October 13, 2022. Nathaniel Midtimbang, a member of the Maguindanao Provincial Board, became her vice governor.^[6] A transition period would take place until January 9, 2023.^[7]

Geography

Map of Maguindanao del Sur

Maguindanao del Sur is composed of 24 municipalities and 2 legislative districts. It has a total area of 4,973.48 square meters (53,534.1 sq ft). Being landlocked, it is bounded by Maguindanao del Norte to the west, Cotabato to the north and east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south

•  †  Capital municipality
•   Municipality

City or municipality DistrictPSGC unknown Population ±% p.a. AreaPSGC unknown Density Barangay Coordinates[A] (2015)[8] (2010)[9] km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi Ampatuan 1st 2.1% 24,801 17,800 6.52% 255.40 98.61 97 250 11 6°49′58″N 124°27′34″E Buluan † 2nd 4.3% 50,008 38,106 5.31% 699.50 270.08 71 180 7 6°43′09″N 124°47′32″E Datu Abdullah Sangki 1st 2.0% 23,878 17,079 6.59% 220.00 84.94 110 280 10 6°46′43″N 124°28′36″E Datu Anggal Midtimbang 1st 2.1% 25,016 13,339 12.72% 85.43 32.98 290 750 7 7°00′35″N 124°19′40″E Datu Hoffer Ampatuan 1st 2.1% 25,012 16,295 8.50% 193.45 74.69 130 340 11 6°51′05″N 124°25′48″E Datu Montawal 2nd 3.0% 34,820 31,265 2.07% 31.74 12.25 1,100 2,800 11 7°04′40″N 124°44′55″E Datu Paglas 2nd 2.4% 28,387 20,290 6.60% 132.10 51.00 210 540 23 6°44′47″N 124°52′20″E Datu Piang 1st 2.2% 25,600 28,492 −2.02% 302.97 116.98 84 220 16 7°01′44″N 124°29′58″E Datu Salibo 1st 1.3% 14,947 15,062 −0.15% 150.62 58.15 99 260 17 7°01′10″N 124°28′25″E Datu Saudi Ampatuan 1st 2.3% 26,427 20,330 5.12% 60.16 23.23 440 1,100 8 6°55′34″N 124°24′50″E Datu Unsay 1st 1.0% 11,813 12,490 −1.06% 95.39 36.83 120 310 8 6°53′25″N 124°25′57″E General Salipada K. Pendatun 2nd 2.4% 28,103 24,004 3.05% 189.37 73.12 150 390 19 6°49′34″N 124°45′13″E Guindulungan 1st 1.7% 19,911 16,071 4.16% 130.68 50.46 150 390 11 6°57′22″N 124°23′51″E Mamasapano 1st 2.1% 24,800 22,354 2.00% 85.31 32.94 290 750 14 6°53′42″N 124°30′17″E Mangudadatu 2nd 2.1% 25,046 14,864 10.44% 98.16 37.90 260 670 8 6°41′28″N 124°48′05″E Pagalungan 2nd 3.4% 39,653 31,891 4.24% 898.76 347.01 44 110 12 7°03′18″N 124°42′00″E Paglat 2nd 1.4% 15,920 11,207 6.91% 177.74 68.63 90 230 8 6°48′36″N 124°46′58″E Pandag 2nd 2.1% 25,057 13,795 12.04% 85.31 32.94 290 750 8 6°45′22″N 124°47′20″E Rajah Buayan 2nd 2.0% 23,652 17,423 5.99% 71.98 27.79 330 850 11 6°54′28″N 124°33′02″E Shariff Aguak 1st 2.7% 31,692 34,376 −1.54% 392.70 151.62 81 210 13 6°51′40″N 124°26′41″E Shariff Saydona Mustapha 1st 1.7% 19,855 16,442 3.66% 164.42 63.48 120 310 16 6°58′34″N 124°28′56″E South Upi 1st 3.4% 40,178 35,990 2.12% 184.80 71.35 220 570 11 6°51′18″N 124°08′36″E Sultan sa Barongis 2nd 1.9% 22,425 22,547 −0.10% 291.30 112.47 77 200 12 6°52′56″N 124°36′01″E Talayan 1st 2.6% 30,032 16,042 12.68% 143.84 55.54 210 540 15 6°59′04″N 124°21′21″E Total[B] 637,033 507,554 4.42% —[C] —[C] —[C] —[C] 287 (see GeoGroup box) ^ Coordinates are sortable by latitude. (Italicized entries indicate the generic location. Otherwise, they mark the city or town center). Dashes (—) in cells indicate unavailable information.

Demographics

Population Census of Maguindanao del Sur

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	87	—
1918	49,868	+52.72%
1939	83,968	+2.51%
1948	139,403	+5.79%
1960	214,514	+3.66%
1970	190,151	−1.20%
1975	162,626	−3.09%
1980	198,079	+4.02%
1990	280,161	+3.53%
1995	337,730	+3.56%
2000	365,081	+1.68%
2010	520,882	+3.62%
2015	651,896	+4.37%
2020	741,221	+2.74%
2024	832,993	+2.84%
a No census was held in 1985 due to a political and economic crisis b Census was delayed from the original 2005 due to the reenacted budget that lasted until 2006 Source: National Census and Statistics Office (1975,[10] 1980,[11] and 1990[12] census), National Statistics Office (1995,[13] 2000,[14] 2007,[15] and 2010[16]: 49  census) and Philippine Statistics Authority (2015 and 2020 census)[17]

According to the 2020 census conducted before the province's creation, Maguindanao del Sur has a population of 741,221 people, with a population density of 160 inhabitants per square kilometer or 410 inhabitants per square mile.^[18] The predominant ethnic group is the Maguindanaon.

Population percentage (2020 Census)[19]
Ampatuan: 24,801 (3.8%)   Buluan: 50,008 (7.6%)   Datu Abdullah Sangki: 23,878 (3.6%)   Datu Anggal Midtimbang: 25,016 (3.8%)   Datu Hoffer Ampatuan: 25,012 (3.8%)   Datu Montawal: 34,820 (5.3%)   Datu Paglas: 28,387 (4.3%)   Datu Piang: 25,600 (3.9%)   Datu Salibo: 14,947 (2.3%)   Datu Saudi Ampatuan: 26,427 (4.0%)   Datu Unsay: 11,813 (1.8%)   General Salipada K. Pendatun: 28,103 (4.3%)   Guindulungan: 19,911 (3.0%)   Mamasapano: 24,800 (3.8%)   Mangudadatu: 25,046 (3.8%)   Pagalungan: 39,653 (6.1%)   Paglat: 15,920 (2.4%)   Pandag: 25,057 (3.8%)   Rajah Buayan: 23,652 (3.6%)   Shariff Aguak: 31,692 (4.8%)   Shariff Saydona Mustapha: 19,855 (3.0%)   South Upi: 40,178 (6.1%)   Sultan sa Barongis: 22,425 (3.4%)   Sultan Sumagka: 17,463 (2.7%)   Talayan: 30,032 (4.6%)
Total population: 741,221

Economy

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, registered economic growth of the province had decelerated from 10.2 percent (before its establishment) to 6.7 percent in 2022.^[20]

Agricultural growth from forestry and fishery had a growth declined to 5.2 percent. However, economic growth from services grew by 8.9 percent. Among services, accommodation and food services accounted for 31.7 percent.^[20]

Notable people

• Lav Diaz – filmmaker^[21]