Arakan is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

. According to LGPMS (as of 2009), it has a population of 46,410 people in 9,282 households.

Tourist Attraction

• The 3-km. long Epol River, in Brgy. Gambodes, has 6 series of waterfalls and river pools.
• The 100-m. high Matigol Falls, at Inamong, Brgy. Datu Ladayon, has a cave beside it.
• The 4-hectare Lake Luningning, in Brgy. Ganatan,has a depth of 30 m. and an underground spring.
• The Tinanan River, at Valencia, Sto. Niño, has 6 springs and two unexplored caves.
• The church-like Gaem Cave, in Bagong Silang, Brgy. Gambodes, has an area of 900 sq. m. and a height of 10 m..
• Cave and Park View, at Bukatol, Brgy. Kinawayan, is located between the boundaries of Cotabato and Bukidnon and Davao City. At its top, Mt. * * Sinaka and the Arakan Valley Complex can be viewed.
• The 500-hectare Forest Wildlife Park, at Sinai, Brgy. Salasang, is nestled with old trees and wild animals such as the Philippine Eagle, * * Kalaw, etc.
• The 50-ft. high, 5-tier Bokwan Falls (Upper Lombo, Brgy. Kabalantian)
• The tunnel-like Efel Cave and Cold Spring (Formon/Natubalan, Brgy. Salasang)
• The tunnel-like Nabuns Cave (Bagong Silang, Brgy. Gambodes)
• The 50-m. high Nanilungan Falls (Brgy. Gambodes)

History

The word Arakan is derived from the Manobo term “ARA” which means abundance of natural resources in the valley and “KAN” which means heroism, bravery and valor of the early Manobo leaders and settlers of the area. The word “ARAKAN” then was named referring to one of the rivers of the valley. Arakan is basically a territory of a number of ethno-linguistic groups, predominantly of the Manobo-Kulamanon and Manobo-Tinananon tribes. The names of the two (2) big rivers in Arakan were also from these ethnic groups of the Kulaman and Tinanan Rivers. The original settlers of the place are the Manobos, which were believed to have originally came from the string of islands in the Malayan Peninsula and Borneo. This assumption is based on their language structure which has Malayan roots.

Throughout the years, they maintained contacts and inter-marriages with other tribes such as Matigsalogs and other lesser Bagobo tribes. The early migrant settlers from Visayas came in as early as the 1930s. Massive clearing of the forest areas became the order of these years for agricultural and settlement purposes. Due to these activities, the Manobos were forced to settle in the inner portions away from those areas occupied by the Bisayans. They were pushed further still and they permanently inhabited the highlands of the valley to avoid social and cultural interactions with the migrant Bisayans.

Early attempts to fully develop Arakan dated back in the 70’s when the late Mayor Froilan Matas of the Municipality of Magpet (mother municipality of Arakan) unified his efforts with the Sangguniang Bayan, which was ably supported by the barangay leaders, and its populace led by Greenfield (now Poblacion) Barangay Chairman Aproniano A. Ebon, Sr. through a resolution strongly manifesting its support to the creation of a separate municipality of Arakan. In 1972, a more unified attempts to create the municipality by the provincial leadership has led the passing of House Bill No. 4805 sponsored by the then Assemblyman Salipada K. Pendatun. The declaration of martial law in the same year deterred its creation. This did not however, dampen the hope of the great leaders of Magpet. They have relentlessly pushed for their aspiration and envisioned that a separate municipality of Arakan will more likely increase, if not improve, the delivery of basic services to the far-flung barangays of Magpet and will result to a better and effective local governance.

The EDSA Revolution that took place in 1986 paved way to another attempt of the creation of a separate and new municipality through the collaborative efforts of the municipal government of Magpet spearheaded by then Vice Mayor Aproniano A. Ebon, Sr., the provincial leadership headed by then Governor Rosario P. Diaz, M.D. and the most especially by the passage of a house bill sponsored by Congressman Gregorio A. Andolana of the Second District of Cotabato Province.

After five years, the Municipality of Arakan was finally created by virtue of Republic Act No. 7152, approved by Her Excellency President Corazon C. Aquino on August 30, 1991. However, under the provision of the Act, it has to elect its new officials in the local election on May 11, 1992. The then, Vice Mayor Ebon, overwhelming got the mandate as the first Municipal Mayor while Hon. David B. Figura, Sr. was the first Vice Mayor and the Sangguniang Bayan Members were:

Councilor Emelita A. Espinosa
Councilor Rogelio A. Magluyan
Councilor Romulo M. Tapgos
Councilor Regina C. Delgado
Councilor Gerardo B. Tuble, Sr.
Councilor Amelita B. Bajar
Councilor Winnie P. Canario
Councilor Arnulfo S. Nabua
ABC President Lazaro G. Lozada, and
SKMF President Rosel S. Magbanua,

Honorable Ebon spent three terms as Municipal Mayor, the same as with Hon. David B. Figura, Sr., however the latter did not finished his last term due to unexpected death.

After 10 years of existence, a new municipal leadership exists after the 2001 election with Hon. Romulo M. Tapgos elected as the second Municipal Mayor of Arakan with its new Sanggunian members, as follows:

Vice-Mayor Wennie P. Canario,
Councilor Amelita B. Bajar,
Councilor Leonardo S. Reovoca,
Councilor Josie V. Nasiluan,
Councilor Regina C. Delgado,
Councilor Jimson D. Monteser,
Councilor Embac E. Suhat,
Councilor Gory C. Paron,
Councilor Zaidee P. Wong,
ABC President Warlito D. Beñalon,
SKMF President Rosel S. Magbanua.

At present, former Hon. Gerardo Tuble Sr. is elected as Municipal Mayor.

Vice-Mayor Rene V. Rubino,
Councilor Aproniano A.Ebon Sr.,
Councilor Jenefier A. Pangilinan,
Councilor Luis Bunsuran,
Councilor Richard A. Gayatin,
Councilor Leonardo S. Reovoca,
Councilor Sumerado Ambato,
Councilor Josie V. Nasiluan,
Councilor Winnie P. Canario.

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code