Buluan, officially the Municipality of Buluan (Maguindanaon: Inged nu Buluan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Buluan), is a 4th class municipality and capital of the province of Maguindanao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 57,406 people.[3]

Buluan
بولوان
Municipality of Buluan
Maguindanao del Sur new provincial capitol
Maguindanao del Sur new provincial capitol
Flag of Buluan
Official seal of Buluan
Map of Maguindanao del Sur with Buluan highlighted
Map of Maguindanao del Sur with Buluan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Buluan is located in Philippines
Buluan
Buluan
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°42′55″N 124°47′08″E / 6.715406°N 124.785447°E / 6.715406; 124.785447
CountryPhilippines
RegionBangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
ProvinceMaguindanao del Sur
District Lone district
FoundedAugust 8, 1947
Barangays7 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorBabydats D. Mangudadatu
 • Vice MayorRhamla M. Kadalim
 • RepresentativeMohamad P. Paglas Sr.
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate26,695 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total699.50 km2 (270.08 sq mi)
Elevation
17 m (56 ft)
Highest elevation
38 m (125 ft)
Lowest elevation
7 m (23 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total57,406
 • Density82/km2 (210/sq mi)
 • Households
8,847
Economy
 • Income class4th municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
26.85
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 188.4 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 144.9 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 212.1 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 15.66 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricitySultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative (SUKELCO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
9616
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)64
Native languagesMaguindanao
Iranun
Tagalog
Websitewww.buluan.gov.ph

The town was recognized by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the former Maguindanao province as the new (de jure) provincial capital in 2014,[5] a move seen as the solution to the decades-old issue of Maguindanao's lack of a permanent provincial capitol due to local clan politics.[6] Republic Act No. 11550 officially designated Buluan as the capital of Maguindanao del Sur.

History

Aerial view of Buluan, date unknown

Buluan used to comprise a vast area surrounding Lake Buluan when it was created as one of the municipalities of Cotabato on August 8, 1947, by Executive Order No. 82 of Pres. Manuel Roxas.[7] On August 3, 1951, the municipality of Tacurong was created out of its south-western portion.[8] In 1961, its south-eastern portion was separated to form the municipality of Columbio,[9] six years later its southern portion was made into the municipality of Lutayan.[10] It was made part of the province of Maguindanao on November 22, 1973,[11] at the same time ceding its western coast of Lake Buluan to create the municipality of President Quirino,[12] which was made part of Sultan Kudarat province. Its northern portion was made into the municipality of Gen. S. K. Pendatun on April 7, 1991.[13] Its area was further divided on December 30, 2006, when two more municipalities were created out of its territory namely: Mangudadatu and Pandag, losing 8 barangays (south and north, respectively) to each of the two new towns.[14]

In 2014, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Maguindanao passed a resolution naming Buluan the new capital of Maguindanao.[5] Pending the completion of the new capitol complex, the provincial governor Esmael Mangudadatu (a Buluan native) will continue to hold office in the town's Rajah Buayan Silongan Peace Center — originally designated as a mere satellite office of the provincial government when Mangudadatu took office in 2010,[15] but since the official designation of Buluan as provincial capital in 2014 has served as the provisional capitol building. However, the legislative branch of provincial government, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Maguindanao, continues to hold sessions in the refurbished buildings of the old provincial capitol in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, by virtue of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 78 dated May 3, 2011.[16] The old provincial capitol complex, built next to the previous governor's properties in Shariff Aguak, was converted for public use.[17]

Cityhood

In the 19th Congress of the Philippines, house bills were filed by various representatives which seeks Buluan including other capital towns of provinces with no current component cities, independent component cities or highly urbanized cities to automatically convert into cities.[18][19][20]

Geography

Barangays

Buluan is politically subdivided into 7 barangays.[21] Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

  • Digal
  • Lower Siling
  • Maslabeng
  • Poblacion
  • Popol
  • Talitay
  • Upper Siling

Climate

Climate data for Buluan, Maguindanao
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)31
(88)
31
(88)
32
(90)
32
(90)
31
(88)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
31
(88)
31
(87)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)64
(2.5)
45
(1.8)
59
(2.3)
71
(2.8)
140
(5.5)
179
(7.0)
192
(7.6)
198
(7.8)
163
(6.4)
147
(5.8)
113
(4.4)
66
(2.6)
1,437
(56.5)
Average rainy days12.210.312.715.726.027.428.128.226.026.722.916.6252.8
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[22]

Demographics

Population census of Buluan
YearPop.±% p.a.
1918 5,263—    
1939 15,317+5.22%
1948 61,934+16.79%
1960 73,201+1.40%
1970 49,158−3.90%
1975 41,357−3.41%
1980 38,313−1.52%
1990 53,143+3.33%
1995 38,695−5.77%
2000 51,098+6.14%
2007 32,310−6.13%
2010 38,106+6.19%
2015 50,008+5.31%
2020 57,406+2.75%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[23][24][25][26]

Economy

Poverty Incidence of Buluan

10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2000
61.85
2003
44.25
2006
47.30
2009
50.74
2012
71.67
2015
63.12
2018
63.91
2021
26.85

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]

References

External links