Maguindanao del Sur (Maguindanaon: Dairat nu Pagabagatan Magindanaw, Jawi:دايرت نو ڤاڬابڬتنن ماڬينداناو ) is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao 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.

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Maguindanao del Sur Pagabagatan Magindanaw ڤاڬابڬتن ماڬينداناو
Province
Province of Maguindanao del Sur
Provincial capitol at Buluan
Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 06°55′N 124°34′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Bangsamoro
Plebiscite	September 17, 2022
Transition period	September 18, 2022 - present
Capital and largest municipality	Buluan
Government
• Governor	Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu
• Vice Governor	Datu Nathaniel S. Midtimbang
• Representative	Mohamad P. Paglas Sr.
Area
• Total	4,973.48 km2 (1,920.27 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	723,758
• Density	1,369/km2 (3,550/sq mi)
Demonym	Maguindanaon
Divisions
• Independent cities	0
• Component cities	0
• Municipalities	24 Ampatuan Buluan Datu Abdullah Sangki Datu Anggal Midtimbang Datu Hoffer Ampatuan Datu Montawal Datu Paglas Datu Piang Datu Salibo Datu Saudi Ampatuan Datu Unsay General Salipada K. Pendatun Guindulungan Mamasapano Mangudadatu Pagalungan Paglat Pandag Rajah Buayan Shariff Aguak Shariff Saydona Mustapha South Upi Sultan sa Barongis Talayan
• Districts	Legislative districts of Maguindanao del Sur
Time zone	UTC+8 (PHT)
Spoken languages	Maguindanaon Tiruray Tagalog English

History

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.[1][2] 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.[3] This led to the Commission on Elections to come up with a legal opinion.[4][5] The position was issued on September 28, 2022, where the election body conclude that only the Department of Interior and Local Government could appoint the first officials of the province.[3]

Mangudadatu would assume the position and take oath as governor of the new province in October 13, 2022. Nathaniel Midtimbang, board member of Maguindanao's Provincial Board, became her vice governor.[6]

Geography

Maguindanao del Sur is composed of 24 municipalities and 1 legislative districts.

• Ampatuan
• Buluan (capital, seat of government)
• Datu Abdullah Sangki
• Datu Anggal Midtimbang
• Datu Hoffer Ampatuan
• Datu Montawal
• Datu Paglas
• Datu Piang
• Datu Salibo
• Datu Saudi Ampatuan
• Datu Unsay
• General Salipada K. Pendatun
• Guindulungan
• Mamasapano
• Mangudadatu
• Pagalungan
• Paglat
• Pandag
• Rajah Buayan
• Shariff Aguak
• Shariff Saydona Mustapha
• South Upi
• Sultan sa Barongis
• Talayan

Demographics

References