Pigcawayan

History

Before its creation as a separate and independent Political Unit, Pigcawayan together with Alamada and Libungan were component barangays of Midsayap. Pigcawayan, however at that time was more progressive than the two mentioned.

How Pigcawayan got its name remains undocumented, however a version were given by the early settlers and passed from one generation to another. Herewith, the place now known as Pigcawayan was a battleground for the Iranuns and the Maguindanaons. Due to this fighting the inhabitants would abandon the place to be occupied by the victors. From this evolved the Maguindanaon word "Pigawaan," which meant an abandoned place.

Partial inclusion to the Bangsamoro

In 2019, twelve barangays were among the 63 in North Cotabato 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. Eight 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 the other four were 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. Those barangays were organized into Pahamuddin (Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 41) following ratification in a plebiscite on April 13, 2024.

Founding anniversary

Through Presidential Proclamation 692, October 21, 2024 was declared a special non-working day for the commemoration of the municipality's 71st founding anniversary on October 20, which falls on a Sunday.

Geography

Pigcawayan is the last municipality of Cotabato Province coming from Davao City to Cotabato City. It is 26 km from Cotabato City, 32 km from Cotabato Airport and 30 km from the nearest seaport which is the Polloc Port of Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.

Barangays

Pigcawayan is politically subdivided into 28 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

• Anick (Upper Balogo)
• Upper Baguer (Baguer)
• Balogo
• Banucagon
• Bulucaon
• Buluan
• Cabpangi
• Capayuran
• Central Panatan
• Kimarayag
• Malagakit
• Maluao
• North Manuangan
• Midpapan I
• Midpapan II
• Mulok
• New Culasi
• New Igbaras
• New Panay
• Payong-payong
• Poblacion I
• Poblacion II
• Poblacion III
• Presbitero
• Renibon
• South Manuangan
• Tigbawan
• Tubon

Climate

| access-date = January 30, 2020 }}

Demographics

2020 Census count was revised as per PSA Board Resolution No. 13 Series of 2021 adopted on November 9, 2021.

In the 2020 census, the population of Pigcawayan was 52,744 people, with a density of {{sigfig|52,744/340.11|2}} PD/km2.

Economy

The municipality is primarily an agricultural area. Common industrial activities are rice and corn mills. There are rice mills found in Poblacion (2), Tubon (4), North and South Manuangan (2), Upper Baguer (10), Balogo (1), and Capayuran (1). Aside from these, there are also 2 Baby Cono/Kiskisan that can be found in 13 barangays.

Processed milled rice by rice mills are usually exported to Cotabato City, Davao City and in some parts of South Cotabato. Milled rice produced by "Kiskisan/Baby Cono" were usually for households consumption by residents of barangays.

Cottage industries include furniture shops that use wood, bamboo and rattan, as well as rice grinder, mini sawmill and machine shops.

, the gross domestic product (GDP) of Pigcawayan is .

Tourism

Landmarks:

• Spanish Tower located at Libungan-Torreta, Pigcawayan. It is a historical place.
• Saljay Integrated Farm located at Presbitero, Pigcawayan; farming and agricultural trips.
• The Shrine of Virgin Mary, located at Rogonan, New Panay, Pigcawayan.
• Payong-Payong Cave, located at Payong-Payong, Pigcawayan; caving.
• Bual Spring, located at Kimarayag, Pigcawayan; swimming.
• Payong-Payong Falls located at Auxiliary, Payong-Payong, Pigcawayan. The waterfalls drop from 8–12 meters high with its source coming from a wide river.
• Agustin Swimming Pool Resort located at Tigbawan, Pigcawayan; camping, swimming and picnic sites.
• Kagiringan Falls located at Kimarayag, Pigcawayan; camping and trekking.
• Rapu-Rapu Falls located at Anick, Pigcawayan. The falls drop into a natural round pool called "kawa-kawa" with an estimated 3 meters in diameter.
• Malagakit Lake Resort Malagakit, Pigcawayan. The lake was judged as the cleanest and greenest inland body of water in the Philippines in 1995.
• Lampaki Cave located at Kimarayag, Pigcawayan. The entrance is 3 meters in height with formations of stalactites and stalagmites inside as well as scattered thick guano. There is a small hole on the top through which the rays of the sun pass.
• Kimarayag Cave located at Campo 1, Kimarayag, Pigcawayan. The cave has stalactites and stalagmites formed like a teeth of a whale.
• Belle's Farm & Resort located at Midpapan I, Pigcawayan; swimming, events (weddings, family reunions, birthdays, etc.)

Notable Personalities

• Super Tekla – Actor, Comedian and Television Host

References

References

1. (September 18, 2024). "Declaring Monday, October 21, 2024, as a Special (Non-Working) Day in the Municipality of Pigcawayan, Province of North Cotabato.".
2. {{DILG detail
3. Cabrera, Ferdinandh. (November 21, 2019). "NorthCot turns over 63 barangays to Bangsamoro region". [[MindaNews]].
4. Fonbuena, Carmela. (February 8, 2019). "63 out of 67 barangays in Cotabato to join Bangsamoro region". [[Rappler]].
5. (January 21, 2019). "Proclamation No. 656, s. 2019". [[Senate of the Philippines]].
6. Arguillas, Carolyn. (January 14, 2019). "67 villages in 7 North Cot towns will vote in Feb. 6 Bangsamoro plebiscite". [[MindaNews]].
7. (July 27, 2018). "Republic Act No. 11054". [[Senate of the Philippines]].
8. Fernandez, Edwin. (August 18, 2023). "BARMM approves creation of 8 new towns". [[Philippine News Agency]].
9. Patinio, Ferdinand. (March 4, 2024). "Nearly 90K voters to join plebiscite on creation of 8 Cotabato towns". [[Philippine News Agency]].
10. Medenilla, Samuel. (April 10, 2024). "Plebiscite for SGA in BARMM set April 13". [[BusinessMirror]].
11. (April 14, 2024). "North Cotabato residents ratify creation of 8 new municipalities in BARMM". [[GMA News Online]].
12. (September 23, 2024). "Palace declares special holidays in 5 areas". [[The Philippine Star]].
13. "Pigcawayan".
14. (March 23, 2022). "Total Population, Household Population, Number of Households, and Average Household Size by Region, Province, and City/Municipality: Philippines, 2020". [[Philippine Statistics Authority.
15. (2021). "PSA Board Resolution No. 13, Series of 2021: Approving and Adopting the Third Quarter 2021 Philippine Standard Geographic Code Updates to Include the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) and Correct the Names of 37 Barangays". Philippine Statistics Authority.