Polomolokngayon

Polomolok, South Cotabato

Polomolok is an Agro-Industrial Sub-Urban Municipality of South Cotabato,Philippines. Situated between General Santos City and Tupi, it has a population as of 2007 census of 131,436 people in 22,492 households. It ranked 2nd largest population next to Koronadal City in the Province of South Cotabato. Polomolok is home to Dole Philippines, the biggest pineapple plantation in the world. Polomolok is also the fastest growing Municipality leading for applying its cityhood. Its other rival 1st class Municipality in the province is Surallah.

Map of South Cotabato showing the location of Municipality of Polomolok.
Coordinates: 6°13′N 125°4′ECoordinates: 6°13′N 125°4′E
Country	Philippines
Region	SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
Province	South Cotabato
Districts	1st District of South Cotabato
Barangays	23
Incorporated (Town)	1948
Government
- Type	Mayor-Council
- District Representative	Pedro Acharon Jr. (AIM) (2010-present)
- Mayor	Isidro D. Lumayag (Lakas Kampi) (2010-present)
- Vice Mayor	Eliazar G. Jovero (Lakas Kampi) (2010-present)
- Municipal Council	Councilors[show]
Area
- Municipality	339.97 km2 (131.3 sq mi)
Elevation	300 m (984 ft)
Population (2007)
- Municipality	131,436
- Density	386.6/km2 (1,001.3/sq mi)
- Urban	61,560
Demonym	South Cotabateños Polomolokeños
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
- Summer (DST)	+8 (UTC+8)
ZIP Code	9504
Area code(s)	083
Climate(s)	18°C-30°C (Summer) 18°C-25°C (Normal)
Language(s)	Bisaya, Tagalog, English, Ilonggo
Income class	1st Class[1

History:

Home of the biggest pineapple plantation in the country, DOLE Philippines, a 12,000 hectare pineapple plantation, Polomolok is gaining the title of being the agro-industrial center and sub-urban residential development center.

Located at the southern part of South Cotabato, Polomolok is nestled at the base of the most prominent scenic spot Mt. Matutum. It is cone-shaped and looms over the provinces at 2,286 meters high, a unique challenge to mountaineers. It is perhaps the provinces most imposing landmark.

Natural hot and cold spring abound at its foot. Natural springs are abundant within this area and provide free flowing water. Two of these springs have developed into natural resorts.It is splendidly gifted with pineapple products and processing, livestock resources (cattle, piggeries, meat packaging) furniture, asparagus and cut flowers, cotton ginnery, corn, vegetable and fruits.

Polomolok is currently pursuing major residential development as rapid economic activities are established that further stabilizes the ever growing economy.

Major products

Agricultural products

Pineapple harvesting near Dole Station 3 at barangay Palkan

• Dole Philippines Incorporated is the largest industrial firm involved in growing, processing and exporting of fresh and canned pineapple. As of 2004, the area planted to pineapple is 15,507.872 hectares with an average production volume of 31.94 metric tons per hectare. This industry, which is situated at Barangay Cannery Site, generates about 6,000 jobs at present. It is considered as the biggest taxpayer in the municipality.

• Corn is the second most grown crop in the municipality. Data from the Agriculture Office revealed that for the year 2003 there are 3,931 hectares or 13.46% of the total cultivated land agricultural lands were devoted to corn. About 1,236 hectares of which are planted to traditional corn seeds at average production of 3.20 MT/hectare and 2,695 hectares are planted to hybrid corn at average production of 4.0 MT/ hectare. The major producers are Barangay Klinan 6, Glamang, Landan, Silway 8 and Upper Klinan. About 30% of populace adopt corn as their staple food. Table 16 shows the Area Planted and Production of Corn by Barangay...

• Rice is also one of the major crops. 99% of the total population has rice as their staple food. Office of the Agriculturist reported that for the year 2006, 445 hectares were utilized for rice production, of which only 300 hectares are irrigated, 45 are lowland, and 100 are upland. Irrigated areas are planted 2.5 time a year while rainfed and upland are planted only once. “Gintoang Masaganang Ani Program” Program targets for the average production of rice at about 4.5 MT, for irrigated, 3 MT for lowland and 1.5 MT for upland. This target was met by the farmers this year because of rice diseases and pest infestation.

• The record of the Department of Agriculture shows that as of 2006, the total area planted with asparagus is 1,435.52 hectares. Plantations of this crop are in Barangay Sulit, Sumbakil, Crossing Palkan, Bentung, Lapu, Pagalungan, Lumakil, Rubber and Magsaysay. Farmer growers have access to the export market due to contract agreement with Marsman-Drysdale Agri-Ventures and Tropifresh. The surplus are sold in the local market and diversifically used as supplements for cattle fattening.

• Vegetables grow well in Barangay Palkan, Kinilis, Maligo, Sumbakil and Koronadal Proper where the climate is cool and the soil is fertile. However, the farmers cannot really produce in large volume due to financial constraints and unstable prevailing market prices of vegetables.

Livestock and Poultry Production

The Polomolok Public Market

• Livestock and poultry production has increased tremendously in the past years. This is partly due to the municipality’s climate and terrain which is ideal for livestock and poultry production. The land area devoted for agri-livestock production is 80 hectares or 0.27 percent of the total agricultural land.

• For the year 2006, the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist reported that there are 322,628 heads of livestocks and poultry raised in the municipality. Poultry has the most number of heads at 271,420 where 3,639 are layers, 17,852 are backyard, and 249,929 are commercial under contract growers scheme with different Agri-business firms such as RFM, Vitarich, and Swift followed by swine with 23,719 heads which 10,970 are backyard and a total of 15,113 are raised commercially, and cattle with 24,491 heads where 2,065 are backyard and a total of 22,426 heads fattened in the cattle farms of Montery and DEALCO.

• Supply of livestock in the municipality is insufficient due to shipment of livestock which are raised commercially to other parts of the country leaving the backyard raisers to support the local market. The municipality still depend on supplies coming from other areas in the province.

Education

Polomolok houses several educational institutions, just like San Lorenzo Ruiz Academy of Polomolok and Notre Dame-Siena College of Polomolok.

Religion

There are various religions among the locality, most of them were mainly Roman Catholics.

Division

Polomolok Census as of Aug. 1, 2007[2]
Barangay	Urban/Rural	Population
Bentung	Rural	1166
Cannery Site	Urban	20321
Crossing Palkan	Rural	1719
Glamang	Rural	5788
Kinilis	Rural	1351
Klinan 6	Rural	3129
Koronadal Proper	Rural	3862
Lam-Caliaf	Rural	1049
Landan	Rural	5400
Lapu	Rural	1859
Lumakil	Rural	2839
Magsaysay	Rural	9904
Maligo	Rural	3144
Pagalungan	Rural	2691
Palkan	Rural	3067
Poblacion	Urban	41239
Polo	Rural	2647
Rubber	Rural	2406
Silway 7	Rural	1450
Silway 8	Rural	7105
Sulit	Rural	4346
Sumbakil	Rural	1639
Upper Klinan	Rural	3315

Festivals

The Polomolok celebrates the two festivals:

• Pinyahan Festival at Brgy. Cannery, Polomolok
• FlomLok Festival whole Polomolok

References

1. ^ "Active Stats". National Statistical Coordination Board v3.0. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
2. ^ "Polomolok Census of 2007". National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 2007-08-01.