Midsayap, officially the Municipality of Midsayap (Maguindanaon: Inged nu Midsayap, Jawi: ايڠد نو ميدسايڤ; Iranun: Inged a Midsayap, ايڠد نو ميدسايۏ; ; ; ), is a municipality in the Province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 115,735 people.
History Midsayap was derived from a Maguindanaon term which means (Mid) Center and (Sayap) Straw Hat. Midsayap means a straw hat at the center – just like a hill centrally located at the Municipality which slopes through the plains in a shape of a hat. Other version relates that Midsayap came from a Maguindanaon term which means "person wore a straw hat". From 1912 to 1926, Midsayap was then a district of Dulawan and Pikit. Originally, Midsayap was inhabited by Muslims from the descendants of Sultan Ali Bayao from the lineage of Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat I. The seat of their sultanate was established at Libungan Torreta (now part of Pigcawayan).
In 1927, a Philippine Constabulary (PC) Commander assigned in the area, Ist Lt. Catalino Javier, initiated the development of some portions of the municipality. Seeing the natural bounty of the area, he invited settlers from Luzon and Visayas to migrate in the area. The first wave of settlers who dared develop the wilderness was the late Antonio Labasan from Zambales. Among his companions were 23 interrelated families, the Rosete, Almazan, Dumlaos, Flautas, Fernandezes, Quiñoneses, Fermils, Fantones and Documos who settled at Sitio Salunayan and Bual. Visayan settlers from Pikit also came to settle at Bual - the place of Datu Guiambangan Dilangalen. The Visayan migrants were headed by Gregorio Bingil, Julio Anito and Tomas Cantoy. The idea of making Midsayap as a separate political district from the mother municipalities of Dulawan and Pikit was envisioned in 1930 by a group of Christian PC enlisted men who were assigned at Camp Ward. Their efforts, through the support of the deputy governor and military governor was realized in 1936.
Pursuant to Executive Order No. 66 dated November 25, 1936, Midsayap was created as a separate municipality. On January 1, 1937, it was inaugurated with Lorenzo Gonzales as its first appointed municipal mayor. In 1939, Juan Jaranilla became the first elected mayor of the municipality and served in that position until 1941.
Midsayap started with 71 barangays. Later, it was trimmed down to 42 when Libungan was separated from Midsayap in 1936. At present, Midsayap has 44 barangays. Population settlements were concentrated on the barangays of Sinawingan, Salunayan, Bual, Kapayawi, Barongis, Kimagango, Kiwanan, Katingawan, Ulamian, Baguer, Kapinpilan, Olandang, San Mateo, and Baliki. The following years showed the growth of the newly formed town. Gradually, new towns has been created. These are Pigcawayan (Pigkawayan), Libungan, Alamada, and lastly in 1982, Aleosan.
Before the creation of the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area in 2019, Midsayap was the most populous settlement in the province of North Cotabato. With the creation of the aforementioned area, several of its barangays were carved out from the municipality and were thus duly turned over to the Bangsamoro government, creating special governance clusters in their place, thus its area of jurisdiction as well as its population and number of barangays was reduced to its current status. While still a large town despite the reduction, it is one of the oldest settlements of migrants from Luzon and the Visayas, thereby giving its reputation as the highly heterogeneous society in this once Muslim-dominated place of Mindanaon.
Partial inclusion to the Bangsamoro In 2019, thirteen barangays were among the 63 in the province which became part of the Special Geographic Area of the newly created Bangsamoro, after having the affirmative vote won to join the autonomous region in a plebiscite held on February 6. Twelve of them were among the 39 in the province that unsuccessfully voted for the inclusion in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2001, while Tumbras was proposed to be part of the Bangsamoro, which replaced ARMM by virtue of Republic Act No. 11054.
In 2023, the Bangsamoro Parliament approved the creation of eight new municipalities in the area. Seven of those barangays were organized into Kadayangan (Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 42); the rest, along with Dunguan in Aleosan, became part of Nabalawag (BAA No. 43); following ratification in a plebiscite on April 13, 2024.
Geography Midsayap is geographically located at the Southwestern portion of Cotabato. It is bounded on the north by the Municipality of Libungan; on the south by the Rio Grande de Mindanao; on the east by the municipalities of Aleosan and Pikit; and on the west by the Municipality of Kabuntalan.
Midsayap is approximately away from Cotabato City and some from Davao City, two of the major urban centers in Mindanao. It is about away from Kidapawan City, the seat of the Provincial Government.
Midsayap has a total land area of 29,042 hectares comprising 57 barangays which is 5.03% of the total land area of Cotabato. Some of the barangays (Southern and Western part) are along the big bodies of water, thus making it accessible by water transportation. However, due to the construction of a concrete bridge at Dulawan towards the province of Sultan Kudarat and some municipalities of Maguindanao del Sur, land transportation is now feasible. The town is traversed by the Davao-Cotabato and the Midsayap-Makar national highways (General Santos).
Barangays It is politically subdivided into 44 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
Agriculture Anonang Arizona Bagumba Baliki Bitoka Bual Norte Bual Sur Central Bulanan Central Glad Ilbocean Central Katingawan Kimagango Kiwanan Lagumbingan Lomopog (exclave) Lower Glad Lower Katingawan Macasendeg Malamote Milaya Nalin Nes Patindeguen Palongoguen Barangay Poblacion 1 Barangay Poblacion 2 Barangay Poblacion 3 Barangay Poblacion 4 Barangay Poblacion 5 Barangay Poblacion 6 Barangay Poblacion 7 Barangay Poblacion 8 Rangeba Sadaan Salunayan San Isidro San Pedro Santa Cruz Upper Bulanan Upper Glad I Upper Glad II Upper Labas Villarica
Climate
The province is situated between 5 and 8 degrees latitude thus Midsayap and all areas within its jurisdiction are less affected by typhoons. The municipality falls under the fourth type of climate which is characterized by more or less even distribution of rainfall throughout the year.
Land capability
The highest portion of municipal land area – – is classified as good land. These are the land centrally located in the municipality. These lands are nearly level lands and can be cultivate safely. However, protection from occasional overflow is required. The 10,651.2869 hectares which are Hydrosol type are wetlands and are suitable for fishpond or recreation purposes. Most of these lands are along the Rio Grande de Mindanao. The Center type of land are moderately good land, moderately sloping so that cultivation requires carefully planned erosion control measures. These lands are on the Northeastern barangays and a portion of Nabalawag and Kadingilan with an area of 8,010.0 hectares.
Soil type
There are four (4) types of soil in this municipality. These are: Kabacan Clay, Kudarangan Clay, San Manuel Silty Clay Loam and Hydrosol. Kabacan Clay Loam is about 12,397.500 hectares or 37.52% of the municipal land area.
These are the soils at the central portion or at the heart of the municipality. Kudarangan Clay Loam is found in slightly rolling to hilly terrain or at the north-eastern barangays. This soil type occupies the 24.24 percent of the municipal area or 8,010.00 hectares. San Manuel Silty Clay Loam is located at barangays Upper Labas, Nalin and portions of barangay Villarica. This occupies an area of 1,980 hectares. Hydrosol type has an area of 10,651.2869 hectares or 33.24 percent of the municipal area.
Slope
Of the total land area of the municipality, 73.79 percent or 24,376.2869 hectares has a slope of 0–3 percent. These areas are located at the western and southern part of the municipality. These are mostly the irrigable rice lands.
The Northeastern barangays, a portion of Central Bulanan are hilly with slopes with 3-8% with a total area of 6,525.0 hectares. Highest slopes of 8–18% percent are situated at the boundary of barangays Nabalawag and Kadingilan and a portion of Central Bulanan. This has a total land area of 2,137.5 hectares.
Topography Midsayap is characterized as plain to hilly terrain. Gently rolling to hilly areas are located on the Northeastern portion specifically at barangays - Kiwanan, Kimagango, Anonang, Malamote, Upper Bulanan and Milaya. A portion of Kadingilan and Nabalawag has a hilly portion at their boundaries. All barangays on the western portion which is cut by the National Highway from Poblacion to Dulawan is plain and is presently planted with irrigated rice and other crops. The southernmost barangays are marshy being located along the Rio Grande de Mindanao.
Demographics
In the 2024 census, the population of Midsayap was 115,735 people, with a density of .
The 2010 Census of Population and Housing of the Philippine Statistics Authority recorded the population of Midsayap at 134,170. It is the most populous among the municipalities of the province.
Growing at the pace of 1.92 percent for the past five years, the town is expected to double its population within 36 years.
Midsayap is populated mainly by Maguindanaons and as well as multi-cultural mix of peoples from the influx of migrants from Luzon and the Visayas, drawn to Mindanao's reputation as a promising haven for settlers.
Languages Cebuano and Tagalog are the widely spoken language. They are also common for people speaking different languages such as Maguindanaon, Iranun, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Manobo, Waray, among others.
Economy
Characterized to have a clay type of soil that is best suited for agricultural use, most (42.03 percent) of the town's land area are devoted to agricultural production. The lowland areas were planted with rice and other seasonal crops while the upland areas were planted with permanent crops. Agricultural products of the town include rice, corn, mango, coffee, coconut, banana, vegetables and root crops.
Aside from the thriving agriculture industry, Midsayap also boasts of its other industries such as cut flowers and ornamental plants, livestock and poultry, furnitures and decorative crafts and telecommunications. It is also a potential area for putting up other industries such as fruit and meat processing as well as oil palm plantation and processing.
Strategically located, Midsayap serves as a major commercial and trading center of the province where farmers from neighboring municipalities bring their agricultural products to be sold/traded. Recently, Midsayap evolved into an industrial place in the first district of North Cotabato especially in PPALMA area (Pigcawayan, Pikit, Alamada, Libungan, Midsayap, Aleosan) and vying to be the 2nd-tier City in the province. The prolific growth of business establishments made the town as a unique Municipality since a lot of city-based companies has already entered the town. The town is also adjudged as the 5th most competitive Municipality in the Philippines and Rank 1 in entire Mindanao in the year 2016.
Cotabato City-Kidapawan City (CK) with Midsayap Agri-industrial and Eco Tourism Corridor
Is an Agri-industrial and Eco Tourism Corridor projected by the NEDA region 12, the primary growth node in this corridor is Cotabato City with Kidapawan City and Midsayap as intermediate urban centers.