M'lang

M'lang
Municipality
Municipality of M'lang
Flag of M'lang
Flag
Official seal of M'lang
Seal
Etymology: Tamlang (bamboo)
Motto(s): 
Dum Vivimus Vivāmus (While We Live, Let Us Live)
Map of Cotabato with M'lang highlighted
Map of Cotabato with M'lang highlighted
Interactive map of M'lang
M'lang is located in Philippines
M'lang
M'lang
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°56′48″N 124°52′45″E / 6.946758°N 124.879269°E / 6.946758; 124.879269
CountryPhilippines
RegionSoccsksargen
ProvinceCotabato
District 3rd district
FoundedAugust 3, 1951
Barangays37 (see Barangays)
Government
 
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorRussel M. Abonado
 • Vice MayorJoselito F. Piñol
 • RepresentativeMa. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos
Area
 • Total
312.13 km2 (120.51 sq mi)
Elevation
26 m (85 ft)
Highest elevation
70 m (230 ft)
Lowest elevation
10 m (33 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)
 • Total
98,195
 • Density314.60/km2 (814.80/sq mi)
 • Households
24,208
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
22.02
% (2023)
 • Revenue₱ 238.4 million (2024)
 • Assets₱ 975.8 million (2024)
 • Expenditure₱ 183.3 million (2024)
 • Liabilities₱ 293.9 million (2024)
Service provider
 • ElectricityCotabato Electric Cooperative (COTELCO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
9402
PSGC
1204710000
IDD : area code +63 (0)64
Native languagesMaguindanao
Hiligaynon
Cebuano
Ilianen
Tagalog
Websitewww.mlang.gov.ph

M'lang, officially the Municipality of M'lang (Hiligaynon: Banwa sang M'lang; Maguindanaon: Inged nu Melang, Jawi: ايڠايد نو ملڠ; Cebuano: Lungsod sa M'lang; Filipino: Bayan ng M'lang), is a municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 98,646 people.

Etymology

The name M'lang was derived from a Maguindanaon word Tamlang/Tamelang which means "bamboo".

History

In 1930s, migrants mostly from the islands of Panay and Negros in Western Visayas and some parts of Luzon settled in M'lang. Jacinto Paclibar, who was in search for more fertile lands and vast settlement was the first Christian who settled in M'lang. In the Second World War, he was appointed Chairman of the Civil Emergency Administration under the 118th Infantry Regiment of Wendell Fertig's 10th Military Division, assuming his position in M'lang. After the war ended, he was appointed as Deputy Governor of the undivided Cotabato until 1949. He had in mind a government assisted subdivision project so that landless settlers may have their share to utilize fertile lands for farming and settlement.

M'lang is one of the five daughter municipalities of Kidapawan. After the Second World War, in 1947, the municipal district of Kidapawan was converted into a municipality, with merging of then-forested M'lang-Tulunan area. This was due to the closeness of the Manobo with the Maguindanaons, along with the increase of Ilonggo settlers with relatives in the municipal districts into a then-mostly Maguindanaon territory.

M'lang was the first to separate from Kidapawan, being created as a regular municipality on August 3, 1951, by virtue of Executive Order (EO) No. 462, issued by President Elpidio Quirino. Domingo Lim, a former Kidapawan police chief, was appointed as mayor.

The municipality reduced its territory in 1961; first, through EO No. 441 when 28 barrios and sitios were separated to create Tulunan. With the establishment of M'lang and Tulunan, Kidapawan's direct access to the Ligawasan Marsh was cut off. Later that year, a portion of M'lang, along with parts of western Kidapawan and of Kabacan, were merged to from Matalam, through EO No. 461; thus, Kidapawan and Kabacan, neighbored since precolonial era, were cut off as well.

Geography

Barangays

M'lang is politically subdivided into 37 Barangays.  Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

  • Poblacion A
  • Poblacion B
  • Bagontapay
  • Bialong
  • Buayan
  • Calunasan
  • Dalipe
  • Dugong
  • Dungo-an
  • Gaunan
  • Inas
  • Katipunan
  • La Fortuna
  • La Suerte
  • Langkong
  • Lepaga
  • Liboo
  • Lika
  • Luz Village
  • Magallon
  • Malayan
  • New Antique
  • New Barbaza
  • New Kalibo
  • New Consolacion
  • New Esperanza
  • New Janiuay
  • New Lawa-an
  • New Rizal
  • Nueva Vida
  • Pag-asa
  • Pulang-lupa
  • Sangat
  • Tawantawan
  • Tibao
  • Ugpay
  • Palma-Perez

Climate

Climate data for M'lang, Cotabato
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(89)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 22
(72)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 19
(0.7)		 14
(0.6)		 15
(0.6)		 18
(0.7)		 33
(1.3)		 42
(1.7)		 44
(1.7)		 42
(1.7)		 30
(1.2)		 31
(1.2)		 28
(1.1)		 17
(0.7)		 333
(13.2)
Average rainy days 6.9 5.6 6.9 8.1 15.1 17.5 17.8 18.5 14.9 14.9 12.4 8.0 146.6
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)

Demographics

Population census of M'lang
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 42,085—    
1970 44,844+0.64%
1975 51,596+2.85%
1980 57,059+2.03%
1990 68,971+1.91%
1995 71,846+0.77%
2000 78,170+1.82%
2007 86,321+1.38%
2010 87,749+0.60%
2015 95,070+1.54%
2020 98,195+0.68%
2024 98,646+0.11%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

In the 2024 census, the population of M'lang was 98,646 people, with a density of 320 inhabitants per square kilometre or 830 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of M'lang (%)

10
20
30
40
50
60
2000
53.32
2003
28.34
2006
32.00
2009
34.53
2012
38.25
2015
31.62
2018
20.60
2021
28.29
2023
22.02

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Transportation

The Central Mindanao Airport, in Barangay Tawan-tawan, is intended to serve as the primary air transport hub for agricultural produce of Cotabato and those coming from central Mindanao. It has a 1.2 kilometer runway with a capability for commercial flights, but there are no scheduled flights. Central Mindanao project is designed to provide capacity of 3.5 million passengers p/a.

Notable personalities

Education

References

  1. ↑  Municipality of M'lang | (DILG)
  2. ↑ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  4. ↑ "881 Cities and Municipalities Recorded Poverty Incidence of 20 Percent or Lower in 2023". Philippine Statistics Authority. February 6, 2026. Archived from the original on June 3, 2026. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  5. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Kidapawan of the Past". www.facebook.com.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 David, Karlo Antonio (January 3, 2024). "Moppiyon Kahi Diid Patoy: The Greater Kidapawan Area". MindaNews. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Executive Order No. 441". The Lawphil Project. Arellano Law Foundation. August 6, 1961. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Province:". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  10. ↑ "M'lang: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  11. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  12. ↑ Census of Population (2015). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  13. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  14. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  15. ↑ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  16. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  19. ↑ "2003 Small Area Estimates of Poverty (Full Report)" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 11, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 21, 2025. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  20. ↑ "2006 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012. Archived from the original on May 21, 2025. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  21. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  22. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  23. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  24. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  25. ↑ "881 Cities and Municipalities Recorded Poverty Incidence of 20 Percent or Lower in 2023". Philippine Statistics Authority. February 6, 2026. Archived from the original on June 3, 2026. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  26. ↑ Arguillas, Carolyn O. (February 20, 2016). "M'lang airport's first use: to fly a plane seeding clouds". MindaNews. Retrieved January 9, 2017.