# Maguindanao del Sur

Maguindanao del Sur, officially the Province of Maguindanao del Sur (Maguindanaon: Dairat nu Salatan Magindanaw, Jawi:دايرت نو سلاتان مڬیندانو ), is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro region in Mindanao. Its capital is the municipality of Buluan near the city of Tacurong in the neighboring province of Sultan Kudarat. It borders Cotabato province to the east, Maguindanao del Norte to the west, and Sultan Kudarat to the south.

## History

   Spain 1521–1898 United States of America 1898–1942 Japan 1942–1945 Philippines 1946–present

### Foundation

Maguindanao del Sur was formed when Maguindanao province was split into two provinces; the other province being Maguindanao del Norte. The division occurred following a plebiscite on September 17, 2022 which ratified Republic Act 11550 which proposed the partitioning of the province. As per law former Maguindanao Governor Mariam Mangudadatu was expected to become the governor of the newly formed Maguindanao del Sur province. However an issue arose since the determination of the first set of officials of the province presumes that the plebiscite was held prior to the 2022 national and local elections. However the plebiscite was postponed to a date after the elections. This led to the Commission on Elections to come up with a legal opinion. The position was issued on September 28, 2022, where the election body conclude that only the Department of the Interior and Local Government could appoint the first officials of the province.
Mangudadatu would assume the position and take oath as governor of the new province in October 13, 2022. Nathaniel Midtimbang, a member of the Maguindanao Provincial Board, became her vice governor. A transition period would take place until January 9, 2023.

## Geography

Maguindanao del Sur is composed of 24 municipalities and 2 legislative districts. It has a total area of 4,973.48 square meters (53,534.1 sq ft). Being landlocked, it is bounded by Maguindanao del Norte to the west, Cotabato to the north and east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south
* † Capital municipality
* Municipality
| City or municipality | City or municipality | DistrictPSGC unknown | Population | Population | Population | ±% p.a. | AreaPSGC unknown | AreaPSGC unknown | Density | Density | Barangay | Coordinates |
| | | | (2015) | (2015) | (2010) | | km$^2$ | sq mi | /km$^2$ | /sq mi | | |
| Ampatuan | Ampatuan | 1st | 2.1% | 24,801 | 17,800 | 6.52% | 255.40 | 98.61 | 97 | 250 | 11 | 6°49′58″N 124°27′34″E﻿ / ﻿6.8327°N 124.4594°E﻿ / 6.8327; 124.4594﻿ (Ampatuan) |
| Buluan | † | 2nd | 4.3% | 50,008 | 38,106 | 5.31% | 699.50 | 270.08 | 71 | 180 | 7 | 6°43′09″N 124°47′32″E﻿ / ﻿6.7193°N 124.7921°E﻿ / 6.7193; 124.7921﻿ (Buluan) |
| Datu Abdullah Sangki | Datu Abdullah Sangki | 1st | 2.0% | 23,878 | 17,079 | 6.59% | 220.00 | 84.94 | 110 | 280 | 10 | 6°46′43″N 124°28′36″E﻿ / ﻿6.7787°N 124.4768°E﻿ / 6.7787; 124.4768﻿ (Datu Abdullah Sangki) |
| Datu Anggal Midtimbang | Datu Anggal Midtimbang | 1st | 2.1% | 25,016 | 13,339 | 12.72% | 85.43 | 32.98 | 290 | 750 | 7 | 7°00′35″N 124°19′40″E﻿ / ﻿7.0096°N 124.3277°E﻿ / 7.0096; 124.3277﻿ (Datu Anggal Midtimbang) |
| Datu Hoffer Ampatuan | Datu Hoffer Ampatuan | 1st | 2.1% | 25,012 | 16,295 | 8.50% | 193.45 | 74.69 | 130 | 340 | 11 | 6°51′05″N 124°25′48″E﻿ / ﻿6.8514°N 124.4300°E﻿ / 6.8514; 124.4300﻿ (Datu Hoffer Ampatuan) |
| Datu Montawal | Datu Montawal | 2nd | 3.0% | 34,820 | 31,265 | 2.07% | 31.74 | 12.25 | 1,100 | 2,800 | 11 | 7°04′40″N 124°44′55″E﻿ / ﻿7.0777°N 124.7487°E﻿ / 7.0777; 124.7487﻿ (Datu Montawal (Pagagawan)) |
| Datu Paglas | Datu Paglas | 2nd | 2.4% | 28,387 | 20,290 | 6.60% | 132.10 | 51.00 | 210 | 540 | 23 | 6°44′47″N 124°52′20″E﻿ / ﻿6.7465°N 124.8722°E﻿ / 6.7465; 124.8722﻿ (Datu Paglas) |
| Datu Piang | Datu Piang | 1st | 2.2% | 25,600 | 28,492 | −2.02% | 302.97 | 116.98 | 84 | 220 | 16 | 7°01′44″N 124°29′58″E﻿ / ﻿7.0289°N 124.4995°E﻿ / 7.0289; 124.4995﻿ (Datu Piang (Dulawan)) |
| Datu Salibo | Datu Salibo | 1st | 1.3% | 14,947 | 15,062 | −0.15% | 150.62 | 58.15 | 99 | 260 | 17 | 7°01′10″N 124°28′25″E﻿ / ﻿7.0195°N 124.4737°E﻿ / 7.0195; 124.4737﻿ (Datu Salibo) |
| Datu Saudi-Ampatuan | Datu Saudi-Ampatuan | 1st | 2.3% | 26,427 | 20,330 | 5.12% | 60.16 | 23.23 | 440 | 1,100 | 8 | 6°55′34″N 124°24′50″E﻿ / ﻿6.9262°N 124.4140°E﻿ / 6.9262; 124.4140﻿ (Datu Saudi-Ampatuan) |
| Datu Unsay | Datu Unsay | 1st | 1.0% | 11,813 | 12,490 | −1.06% | 95.39 | 36.83 | 120 | 310 | 8 | 6°53′25″N 124°25′57″E﻿ / ﻿6.8902°N 124.4325°E﻿ / 6.8902; 124.4325﻿ (Datu Unsay) |
| General Salipada K. Pendatun | General Salipada K. Pendatun | 2nd | 2.4% | 28,103 | 24,004 | 3.05% | 189.37 | 73.12 | 150 | 390 | 19 | 6°49′34″N 124°45′13″E﻿ / ﻿6.8260°N 124.7537°E﻿ / 6.8260; 124.7537﻿ (Gen. S. K. Pendatun) |
| Guindulungan | Guindulungan | 1st | 1.7% | 19,911 | 16,071 | 4.16% | 130.68 | 50.46 | 150 | 390 | 11 | 6°57′22″N 124°23′51″E﻿ / ﻿6.9562°N 124.3976°E﻿ / 6.9562; 124.3976﻿ (Guindulungan) |
| Mamasapano | Mamasapano | 1st | 2.1% | 24,800 | 22,354 | 2.00% | 85.31 | 32.94 | 290 | 750 | 14 | 6°53′42″N 124°30′17″E﻿ / ﻿6.8949°N 124.5047°E﻿ / 6.8949; 124.5047﻿ (Mamasapano) |
| Mangudadatu | Mangudadatu | 2nd | 2.1% | 25,046 | 14,864 | 10.44% | 98.16 | 37.90 | 260 | 670 | 8 | 6°41′28″N 124°48′05″E﻿ / ﻿6.6910°N 124.8015°E﻿ / 6.6910; 124.8015﻿ (Mangudadatu) |
| Pagalungan | Pagalungan | 2nd | 3.4% | 39,653 | 31,891 | 4.24% | 898.76 | 347.01 | 44 | 110 | 12 | 7°03′18″N 124°42′00″E﻿ / ﻿7.0549°N 124.7001°E﻿ / 7.0549; 124.7001﻿ (Pagalungan) |
| Paglat | Paglat | 2nd | 1.4% | 15,920 | 11,207 | 6.91% | 177.74 | 68.63 | 90 | 230 | 8 | 6°48′36″N 124°46′58″E﻿ / ﻿6.8100°N 124.7827°E﻿ / 6.8100; 124.7827﻿ (Paglat) |
| Pandag | Pandag | 2nd | 2.1% | 25,057 | 13,795 | 12.04% | 85.31 | 32.94 | 290 | 750 | 8 | 6°45′22″N 124°47′20″E﻿ / ﻿6.7561°N 124.7889°E﻿ / 6.7561; 124.7889﻿ (Pandag) |
| Rajah Buayan | Rajah Buayan | 2nd | 2.0% | 23,652 | 17,423 | 5.99% | 71.98 | 27.79 | 330 | 850 | 11 | 6°54′28″N 124°33′02″E﻿ / ﻿6.9079°N 124.5506°E﻿ / 6.9079; 124.5506﻿ (Rajah Buayan) |
| Shariff Aguak | Shariff Aguak | 1st | 2.7% | 31,692 | 34,376 | −1.54% | 392.70 | 151.62 | 81 | 210 | 13 | 6°51′40″N 124°26′41″E﻿ / ﻿6.8611°N 124.4446°E﻿ / 6.8611; 124.4446﻿ (Shariff Aguak (Maganoy)) |
| Shariff Saydona Mustapha | Shariff Saydona Mustapha | 1st | 1.7% | 19,855 | 16,442 | 3.66% | 164.42 | 63.48 | 120 | 310 | 16 | 6°58′34″N 124°28′56″E﻿ / ﻿6.9762°N 124.4821°E﻿ / 6.9762; 124.4821﻿ (Shariff Saydona Mustapha) |
| South Upi | South Upi | 1st | 3.4% | 40,178 | 35,990 | 2.12% | 184.80 | 71.35 | 220 | 570 | 11 | 6°51′18″N 124°08′36″E﻿ / ﻿6.8549°N 124.1434°E﻿ / 6.8549; 124.1434﻿ (South Upi) |
| Sultan sa Barongis | Sultan sa Barongis | 2nd | 1.9% | 22,425 | 22,547 | −0.10% | 291.30 | 112.47 | 77 | 200 | 12 | 6°52′56″N 124°36′01″E﻿ / ﻿6.8822°N 124.6004°E﻿ / 6.8822; 124.6004﻿ (Sultan sa Barongis (Lambayong)) |
| Talayan | Talayan | 1st | 2.6% | 30,032 | 16,042 | 12.68% | 143.84 | 55.54 | 210 | 540 | 15 | 6°59′04″N 124°21′21″E﻿ / ﻿6.9845°N 124.3559°E﻿ / 6.9845; 124.3559﻿ (Talayan) |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 637,033 | 507,554 | 4.42% | — | — | — | — | 287 | (see GeoGroup box) |
| $^^$ Coordinates are sortable by latitude. (Italicized entries indicate the generic location. Otherwise, they mark the city or town center).Dashes (—) in cells indicate unavailable information. ||||||||||||

## Demographics

According to the 2020 census conducted before the province's creation, Maguindanao del Sur has a population of 741,221 people, with a population density of 160 inhabitants per square kilometer or 410 inhabitants per square mile. The predominant ethnic group is the Maguindanaon.
* Population percentage (2020 Census)
* Ampatuan: 24,801 (3.8%)
* Buluan: 50,008 (7.6%)
* Datu Abdullah Sangki: 23,878 (3.6%)
* Datu Anggal Midtimbang: 25,016 (3.8%)
* Datu Hoffer Ampatuan: 25,012 (3.8%)
* Datu Montawal: 34,820 (5.3%)
* Datu Paglas: 28,387 (4.3%)
* Datu Piang: 25,600 (3.9%)
* Datu Salibo: 14,947 (2.3%)
* Datu Saudi Ampatuan: 26,427 (4.0%)
* Datu Unsay: 11,813 (1.8%)
* General Salipada K. Pendatun: 28,103 (4.3%)
* Guindulungan: 19,911 (3.0%)
* Mamasapano: 24,800 (3.8%)
* Mangudadatu: 25,046 (3.8%)
* Pagalungan: 39,653 (6.1%)
* Paglat: 15,920 (2.4%)
* Pandag: 25,057 (3.8%)
* Rajah Buayan: 23,652 (3.6%)
* Shariff Aguak: 31,692 (4.8%)
* Shariff Saydona Mustapha: 19,855 (3.0%)
* South Upi: 40,178 (6.1%)
* Sultan sa Barongis: 22,425 (3.4%)
* Sultan Sumagka: 17,463 (2.7%)
* Talayan: 30,032 (4.6%)
* Total population: 741,221

## Economy

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, registered economic growth of the province had decelerated from 10.2 percent (before its establishment) to 6.7 percent in 2022.
Agricultural growth from forestry and fishery had a growth declined to 5.2 percent. However, economic growth from services grew by 8.9 percent. Among services, accommodation and food services accounted for 31.7 percent.

## Notable people

* Lav Diaz – filmmaker