Pikit, Cotabato

Pikit, officially the Municipality of Pikit (Maguindanaon: Ingud nu Pikit; Iranun: Inged a Pikit; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Pikit; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Pikit; Tagalog: Bayan ng Pikit) is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 154,441 people.[3]

Pikit
Municipality
Municipality of Pikit
Seal
Map of Cotabato with Pikit highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Pikit
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 7°03′N 124°40′E
Country Philippines
RegionSoccsksargen (Region XII)
ProvinceCotabato
District1st District
FoundedJune 17, 1913
CharteredSeptember 29, 1949
Barangays42 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorSumulong K. Sultan
 • Vice MayorMuhyryn D. Sultan-Casi
 • CongressmanJoselito S. Sacdalan
 • Electorate55,999 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total604.61 km2 (233.44 sq mi)
Population
 (2015 census)[3]
 • Total154,441
 • Density260/km2 (660/sq mi)
 • Households
35,507
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence58.8% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue (₱)260,178,495.26 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
9409
PSGC
124712000
IDD : area code +63 (0)64
Climate typetropical rainforest climate
Native languagesMaguindanao
Hiligaynon
Cebuano
Ilianen language
Tagalog
Websitewww.pikit-cotabatoprov.gov.ph

It is the most populous municipality and local government unit in the province.

The so-called Pikit War between Muslim separatists and the Philippines army took place there in early 2003.

Geography

The municipality is bounded on the north by the Municipality of Aleosan, on the south by Pagalungan, Maguindanao, on the west by the Municipality of Midsayap and the Liguasan marsh and on the east by the Municipality of Datu Montawal.

Barangays

Pikit is politically subdivided into 42 barangays. [2]

Note
  1. - 22 barangays in Pikit forms part of the Special Geographic Area of Bangsamoro region despite Cotabato and Pikit not being under the administrative jurisdiction of the autonomous region. It was partitioned from Soccsksargen following the two-part plebiscite held in January and February 2019. The Bangsamoro's Development Coordinating Office (DCO) oversees the barangays' affairs.[5][6]

Climate
Climate data for Pikit, Cotabato
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 32
(90)		 32
(90)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 32
(89)
Average low °C (°F) 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 22
(72)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 19
(0.7)		 14
(0.6)		 15
(0.6)		 18
(0.7)		 33
(1.3)		 42
(1.7)		 44
(1.7)		 42
(1.7)		 30
(1.2)		 31
(1.2)		 28
(1.1)		 17
(0.7)		 333
(13.2)
Average rainy days 6.9 5.6 6.9 15.2 15.1 17.5 17.8 18.5 14.9 14.9 12.4 8.0 153.7
Source: Meteoblue [7]

History

Pikit was the oldest settlement ever founded in Cotabato province. The landmark which eventually became the town's namesake, Fort Pikit, was established in 1893 by the Spaniards who have by then just recently conquered what is now the province of Cotabato from the Sultanate of Maguindanao. The name "Pikit" was given to the place by the Spaniards.[8] It was formerly called by the natives "Malasiquit" because it was situated within the shadows of hills situated to each other. The fort was built to consolidate their hold in the region.

The Spaniards abandoned Fort Pikit at the end of the 19th century, which paved the way for the eventual American occupation in 1902.

Under the Osmeña Colony Act of 1912, Pikit was founded on June 17, 1913 by the first Christian Filipino colonists from the Province of Cebu. About one hundred twenty Cebuanos came under the Colony Agent, Vicente Lozada. The first batch of colonists from Cebu arrived at Fort Pikit after two days of sailing on board a river boat called "Hall", followed the Rio Grande de Mindanao.

The Rio Grande where the colonists landed is now a corn field. It became dry land due to the cut-off river found in Kulanguan, Tunggol, Pagalungan, Maguindanao.

The first batch of colonists were distributed at Ladtingan, Calawag, Ginatilan, Panicupan, Manding and Inug-ug .They belonged to Colony No. 1, while other colonists followed in 1914 up to 1915 and they were assigned in the following colonies, Colony No. 2 (Paidu Pulangi) Colony no. 3 (Silik) Colony No. 4 (Makasendeg) Colony No. 5 (Pagalungan) and Colony No.7 (Talitay).

Those who came in 1918 from the Visayas and Luzon were called homeseekers, immigrants, and settlers because the government did not give them anymore free transportation and ration in their coming.

During the Colony days the Colonies had a special government under the administration of the Colony Superintendent; Mr. Maximo Abad was then appointed. Mr. Miguel Jacosalem, Asst. Supt. for Colony No. 3, Datu Abdula Piang, Asst. Supt. for Colony No. 3, Mr. Tuan Afdal, Asst. Supt. for Colony No. 4, Mr. Ruperto Gemarino, Asst. Supt. for Colony No. 5 and Mr. Primo Curo, Astt. Supt. for Colony No. 7.

Schools were opened in the Colonies. The first school opened was Ladtingan which James E. McCall was assigned as Supervisor. The first teachers were Frucosa Lucero and Ponciana Lucero.

In 1924, the colonists began to fight for the townsite and local autonomy, for the creation of Pikit into a regular municipality.

In 1928, the Colony Administration was turned over to the Bureau of Lands. Pikit was created a Municipal District, including the new municipality of Pagalungan.

In 1935, the construction of the Cotabato-Davao national Highway helped enhance the progress of this town. This road passes through the heart of Pikit. It afforded a faster and more convenient means of transportation and shipment of farm products.

In the early part of 1947 this Municipal District was created into a regular municipality, as the Municipality of Pagalungan and Pikit as a barrio, Mr. Gorgonio P. Initan was the first appointed mayor who was also the first elected mayor because this year was also the election of the municipal officials. The seat of Government was in Pagalungan.

On May 9, 1948, the Barrio Planning Personnel accompanied by Atty. Sergio F. Tocao, came to Pikit. This marked the triumph of the colonists for the establishment of Manding as a townsite.

In Sept. 29, 1949, Pikit was created a regular municipality by Executive Proclamation with Manding as the seat of the municipal government. This ended the struggle of the colonists and marked the fulfillment of their aspirations. Pikit was created out of the municipality of Pagalungan.

Pikit was proclaimed into a regular municipality thru the efforts of then Congressman Gumbay Piang and Governor Duma Sinsuat by virtue of Executive Order No. 270 with its townsite at Manding.

Demographics
Population census of Pikit
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 34,150—    
1970 55,423+4.96%
1975 45,220−4.00%
1980 53,804+3.54%
1990 51,421−0.45%
1995 57,909+2.25%
2000 68,455+3.65%
2007 96,372+4.83%
2010 113,014+5.97%
2015 154,441+6.13%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][9][10][11]

In the 2015 census, the population of Pikit, Cotabato, was 154,441 people,[3] with a density of 260 inhabitants per square kilometre or 670 inhabitants per square mile.

Population comparisons

In 2015, Pikit reached a population of 154,441 people, up from 113,014 people in 2010. This high trend of population growth of Pikit made it take over the position of Midsayap as the most populous municipality in Cotabato province. Midsayap registered a population of 134,170 people in 2010;[9] second only to Pikit.

It also surpassed the provincial capital city of Kidapawan, which has 125,447 people in 2010; its population climbed up to 140,195 in 2015, third from Pikit and the overall population ranking in the list of local government units in Cotabato province.

Economy

A major producer of corn with area planted of 5,074 hectares and production of 13,310 tons per year. The municipality is also a major producer of coconut and freshwater fish. Coconut meat or copra is made from mature coconut nuts. It is done by splitting the nut and drying the coconut meat by solar drying or by the use of dryers. Upon reaching a moisture content of about 14 to 16%, it is packed in PE sacks of 50 to 60 kg in weight. Copra is the major raw material used in production of refined edible cooking oil and other coconut based products.

Tourist attractions
  • Fort Pikit, approximately 1 km from the National Highway and the main back-drop of the Pikit Municipal Hall. One of the remnants of an Old Spanish Fort in Mindanao.
  • Pikit Municipal Hall located at Pikit town proper. Sprawled on the slopes of a hill with steps leading to it.

Incidents
  • UCCP Pikit Church bombing in October 8, 2014, 2 survivors and 3 dead.
gollark: Or at least justifying it that way.
gollark: Apparently, palaiologos is banning invites because something something competition and because other servers do.
gollark: Apart from the various ways in which lyric bad, lyric was fine.
gollark: Hmm.
gollark: This unironically reads vaguely like some sort of abusive relationship thing.

References
  1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. "Province: North Cotabato". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  5. Arguilas, Carolyn (February 8, 2019). "Pikit's fate: 20 barangays remain with North Cotabato, 22 joining BARMM". MindaNews. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  6. "BARMM creates office to administer 63 barangays in North Cotabato". bangsamoro.gov.ph. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  7. "Pikit: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  8. http://www.cotabatoprov.gov.ph/lgus/pikit
  9. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  10. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  11. "Province of North Cotabato". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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