Tacurong

Tacurong
Component city
City of Tacurong
Other transcription(s)
 • Jawiتكروڠ
Tacurong Road to Isulan
Tacurong Road to Isulan
Flag of Tacurong
Flag
Official seal of Tacurong
Seal
Nickname: 
City of Goodwill
Motto: 
Uswag Tacurong! (Progress Tacurong!)
Map of Sultan Kudarat with Tacurong highlighted
Map of Sultan Kudarat with Tacurong highlighted
Interactive map of Tacurong
Tacurong is located in Philippines
Tacurong
Tacurong
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°41′18″N 124°40′43″E / 6.688436°N 124.678689°E / 6.688436; 124.678689
CountryPhilippines
RegionSoccsksargen
ProvinceSultan Kudarat
District 1st district
FoundedAugust 3, 1951
CityhoodAugust 16, 2000
Barangays20 (see Barangays)
Government
 
 • TypeSangguniang Panlungsod
 • MayorLina O. Montilla, Ph.D.
 • Vice MayorRalen C. Tabusares - Bernardo
 • RepresentativeRuth M. Sakaluran
 • City Council
Members
  • Ralen T. Bernardo
  • Lalaine J. Montilla
  • Jose A. Lim V
  • Harvey P. Legas
  • Carlos Borromeo P. Segura Jr.
  • Geronimo P. Arzagon
  • Bernardino L. Umadhay Jr.
  • Geraldine L. Collado
  • Nestor D. Casador
  • Remo Y. Flores
 • Electorate61,843 voters (2025)
Area
 • Total
153.40 km2 (59.23 sq mi)
Elevation
71 m (233 ft)
Highest elevation
1,663 m (5,456 ft)
Lowest elevation
7 m (23 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)
 • Total
116,945
 • Density762.35/km2 (1,974.5/sq mi)
 • Households
25,261
Demonym(s)Tacurongnon
Takurungen
Takur
Economy
 • Income class3rd city income class
 • Poverty incidence
15.32
% (2023)
 • Revenue₱ 1,012 million (2024)
 • Assets₱ 2,685 million (2024)
 • Expenditure₱ 926.5 million (2024)
 • Liabilities₱ 443.5 million (2024)
Service provider
 • ElectricitySultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative (SUKELCO)
 • WaterSultan Kudarat Water District (SKWD)
 • Cable TVSultan Cable System Inc. (SULCASI)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
9800
PSGC
126511000
IDD : area code +63 (0)64
Native languagesMaguindanao
Hiligaynon
Tagalog
Websitewww.tacurong.gov.ph

Tacurong (/ˈtækʊrɒŋ/), officially the City of Tacurong (Hiligaynon: Dakbanwa sang Tacurong; Maguindanaon: Kuta nu Takurung, Jawi: كوت نو تكروڠ; Filipino: Lungsod ng Tacurong), is a component city in the province of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 116,945 people.

Tacurong has a total land area of 15,340 hectares, the smallest in land area among the province's 12 municipalities but the most populous. Tacurong became a component city of Sultan Kudarat in 2000 by virtue of Republic Act No. 8805 in September 2000.

History

Tacurong was originally a barangay of the Municipality of Buluan. On August 3, 1951, it was created into a municipality by Executive Order Number 462 signed by the President Elpidio Quirino. At that time Tacurong covered an estimated area of 40,000 hectares and consisted of 14 barangays. In 1961, its southern portion was separated to form the Tantangan, and in 1973, some of its eastern areas were ceded with the creation of President Quirino.

Cityhood

Following the efforts of Angelo O. Montilla, the Congressman of the Legislative District of Sultan Kudarat, Tacurong was made the first component city in the Province of Sultan Kudarat in 2000 by virtue of House Bill No. 6497 and Republic Act 8805. This was confirmed by the “Takurs” in a plebiscite held on September 18, 2000.

Security incidents

Tacurong City has the most number of bombing incidents in Southern Philippines since 2000,[citation needed] as the city reportedly has the presence of different extortion and terrorist groups like Abu Sayyaf, BIFF and NPA.

New Year's Eve bombing
December 31, 2017, 11:05 PM, 2 casualties and 17 hurt during the Improvised Explosive Device blast in Villa Garde KTV Bar National Highway, Barangay Buenaflor.
April 3, 2017 bombing
Eight persons, mostly workers of an electric cooperative, were injured after an improvised bomb went off along the national highway in Tacurong City on Monday morning (Apr. 3), Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) is the suspected group who is responsible for the terrorist attack.
Twin bombing
Seven people were hurt after two explosions rocked Tacurong City on April 17, 2017, the first explosion took place at 6:40 p.m. on the rooftop of Dragon Gas Station along National Highway in Barangay Isabela. Minutes later, or at 7:10 p.m., another explosion occurred, this time at the gas station's compound.
February 2, 2016 bombing
Improvise explosive device (IED) rocked Tacurong City two hours after the convoy of vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo left the city on Tuesday afternoon. The bomb exploded around 2 p.m. near the national highway along Jose Abad Santos Street in Tacurong City. Three people were reportedly wounded.
Yellow bus bombing attempt
The powerful bomb fashioned from two 60 mm mortars as main charge and mobile phone as trigger mechanism was found at 10:50 a.m. April 2015 inside Yellow Bus Line unit with body number 9208 at a police checkpoint in Barangay Dos along the Tacurong-Isulan highway. The bus was heading toward Isulan from Tacurong City when subjected to inspection by police after Army and policemen received a report about the suspected bomb inside the bus.
November 6, 2022 bombing
A homemade bomb went off in a bus as it was approaching a transport terminal in Tacurong City. The explosion killed a passenger and wounded 10 others.

Geography

Tacurong is in South Central Mindanao and the only city in the province of Sultan Kudarat. It is 92 kilometres (57 mi) from General Santos, 96 kilometres (60 mi) from Cotabato City and 178 kilometres (111 mi) from Davao City. It is situated at the crossroads of Davao-GenSan-Cotabato highways.

Barangays

Tacurong is politically subdivided into 20 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

In 1951, the barrio of Katungal was divided into Upper Katungal and Tad-an, which was later on renamed as Lower Katungal. In 1990, Lower Katungal was renamed as Enrique J.C. Montilla.

Barangay Virginia Griño was formerly known as Gansing.

NamePSGCPopulation (2024)
Baras1265110013,815
Buenaflor1265110027,199
Calean1265110033,953
Carmen1265110044,109
D'Ledesma1265110051,564
Enrique J.C. Montilla1265110087,831
Kalandagan1265110073,279
Lancheta1265110231,475
New Isabela1265110103,2361
New Lagao1265110114,055
New Passi1265110123,123
Poblacion12651101315,969
Rajah Muda Mopak1265110143,947
San Antonio1265110151,507
San Emmanuel1265110168,462
San Pablo12651101920,1457
San Rafael1265110221,176
Tina1265110213,622
Upper Katungal1265110206,7676
Virginia Griño1265110069,676575

Climate

Climate data for Tacurong
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 31
(87)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 64
(2.5)		 45
(1.8)		 59
(2.3)		 71
(2.8)		 140
(5.5)		 179
(7.0)		 192
(7.6)		 198
(7.8)		 163
(6.4)		 147
(5.8)		 113
(4.4)		 66
(2.6)		 1,437
(56.5)
Average rainy days 12.2 10.3 12.7 15.7 26.0 27.4 28.1 28.2 26.0 26.7 22.9 16.6 252.8
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)

Demographics

Maguindanaons are the native inhabitants of Tacurong city while Hiligaynons are originally from Iloilo in Visayas.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Tacurong (%)

10
20
30
40
2000
33.05
2003
15.89
2006
19.60
2009
18.47
2012
22.15
2015
16.35
2018
10.30
2021
15.40
2023
15.32

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Tacurong City is the commercial hub of the province of Sultan Kudarat, catering the needs of nearby municipalities and the province of Maguindanao del Sur.

Culture

Baras Bird Sanctuary

Tacurong held the 8th "Sultan Kudarat Bird Festival" at the 2.5-hectare Baras Bird Sanctuary, the largest nesting site of 20,000 bird species, especially egrets and herons, on May 10–11, 2024.

Education

Tacurong is the site of the Sultan Kudarat State University

Notable personalities

Sister cities

References

  1. ↑  City of Tacurong | (DILG)
  2. ↑ "2022 Election Results:City of Tacurong". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  7. ↑ NSCB - 2001 Factsheet - 12 New Cities Created, July–December 2000.
  8. ↑ "Executive Order No. 462, s. 1951 - Creating the Municipalities of Tacurong and M'lang in the Province of Cotabato". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Tacurong City Profile" (PDF). sultankudaratprovince.gov.ph. Province of Sultan Kudarat. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Republic Act No. 8805 - An Act Converting the Municipality of Tacurong into a Component City of the Province of Sultan Kudarat, To Be Known as the City of Tacurong". www.chanrobles.com. Chan Robles Virtual Law Library > Philippine Laws, Statutes & Codes. August 16, 2000. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  11. ↑ url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/956620/news-mindanao-bomb-blast-tacurong-city-sultan-kudarat-new-year
  12. ↑ Fernandez, Edwin O. "8 hurt in Tacurong City blast". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  13. ↑ "7 hurt as twin blasts rock Tacurong City | News". GMA News. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  14. ↑ Karlo Paolo R. Pates (February 2, 2016). "Bomb explodes in Tacurong City". SunStar. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Mindanao Daily News – Army, PNP foil bus bombing in Tacurong City". www.mindanaodailynews.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Bus bomb kills 1, wounds 10 others in southern Philippines". AP. November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Profile | Tacurong City". Tacurong.gov.ph. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  18. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Tacurong: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  20. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  21. ↑ Census of Population (2015). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  22. ↑ 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.
  23. ↑ 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.
  24. ↑ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  25. ↑ "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.
  26. ↑ "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.
  27. ↑ "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.
  28. ↑ "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.
  29. ↑ "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.
  30. ↑ "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.
  31. ↑ "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.
  32. ↑ "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.
  33. ↑ Bacungcco, Keith (May 3, 2024). "Tacurong City hosts 2-day Bird Festival". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  34. ↑ Tayona, Glenda; Silubrico, Ruby (August 25, 2018). "Iloilo to showcase culture to 'sister cities' tonight". Panay News. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Resolution Sisterhood Cities in Region12". Facebook. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022.