Tacurong


Tacurong, officially the City of Tacurong, is a component city in the province of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 109,319 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 had an estimated area of 40,000 hectares and 14 barangays. In 1961, the southern portion of Tacurong was separated to form the municipality of Tantangan, and in 1973, Tacurong lost some of its eastern portions when the municipality of President Quirino was created.

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, 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, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters 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 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 from General Santos, from Cotabato City and 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.
NamePSGC
Baras126511001
Buenaflor126511002
Calean126511003
Carmen126511004
D'Ledesma126511005
Gansing126511006
Kalandagan126511007
Lancheta126511023
Lower Katungal126511008
New Isabela126511010
New Lagao126511011
New Passi126511012
Poblacion126511013
Rajah Muda126511014
San Antonio126511015
San Emmanuel126511016
San Pablo126511019
San Rafael126511022
Tina126511021
Upper Katungal126511020

Climate

Demographics

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

Economy

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

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