Welcome to North Cotabato: "The Fastest Growing Economy in Central Mindanao"

Infrastructure and Utilities

Road Network

Cotabato Province is strategically linked to the major "Arterial Road System" that traversed and connects the province to Davao City - SOCSKSARGEN - Cotabato Corridor and the Cotabato via Kabacan - Maramag - Kibawe, Bukidnon (Cagayan de Oro/Iligan City Corridor) Sayre Highway.

The Province of Cotabato has registered a total length of 5,251.319 kilometers of roads as of 1998. Given the province's road length, the road density in relation to the province's land area was 0.80 kilometer per square kilometer.

The Cotabato - Davao highway is made up of concrete and asphalt road, Cotabato - General Santos via Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat and Koronadal, South Cotabato, fully concrete road, and Kabacan - Bukidnon, concrete and earth road.

Power

Power utility in the province is generally dependent on two energy sources - the NAPOCOR Agus Grid in Iligan transmitted through its Tacurong Substations and the Mindanao 1 Geothermal Power Plant at the foot of Mt. Apo in Ilomavis, Kidapawan City. Electricity were distributed by two electric cooperatives, the Maguindanao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MAGELCO) and Cotabato Electric

Cooperative, Inc. (COTELCO). The former served the western part of the province while the later, the eastern and southern part.

Telecommunications

Telegraph Stations - 33 telegraph stations are operating in the province. These include two (2) national commercial networks, RCPI and PT&T and the Government-owned Bureau of Telecommunications of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).

Telephone Operations - Long distance telephone calls, both domestic and overseas are serviced by the PLDT, Pilipino Telephone Corporation (PILTEL), RCPI/BayanTel, Globelines, PT&T and Philcom through direct dialing or operator-assisted calls. Telephone callers in the province are not only serviced by above-mentioned companies but by cellular phone companies as well, such as Smart, Talk & Text, Globe Handyphone, Touch Mobile and soon to operate Sun Cellular.

Postal Services

There are 20 postal offices in the province located in 17 municipalities and 1 city.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

USM-ISCOM, Globe Broadband, Bayantel DSL, Philcom/Metrophone DSL and the E1 Line from Philippine Research, Education & Government Information Network (TelOf-PREGINET).

Radio Stations

Four commercial radio stations are operating in the province - the DXND-AM, DXDM-FM, DXCA Charm Radio FM and MBC "Radio Natin" FM. Amateur radio stations (HF/VHF/UHF) are also being used to reach far flung areas.

Cable Television Stations

Eight cable television are operating in seven municipalities and one city.

Print Communications

National dailies like Philippine Daily Inquirer, Malaya, Philippine Star, The Manila Bulletin and Tempo are among the daily newspapers circulating in the province. Local Newspapers are also circulated such as The Mindanao Cross, The Gold Star Daily, The Mindanao Express and the Headliner.

Water Facilities

There is an abundant supply of water in the Province of Cotabato. Three levels of water works served the residential and commercial areas. Level I system such as jetmatic pumps, wells, and springs serviced the rural areas where houses are scattered. Level II or communal faucet system served rural areas where houses are clustered densely to justify a pipe distribution system. Level III or individual household connection system (Water District) is generally installed in urban areas. Based on the 1996, 1997 & 1998 MBN-WATSAN data, there are 11,393 level 1 serving 61,574 households in the province. Level II has 223 units serving 19,132 households while Level III serves 20,675 households.