POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS

The Province of Cotabato is composed of 17 municipalities and 1 city:  Alamada, Aleosan, Antipas, Arakan, Banisilan, Carmen, Kabacan, Libungan, Magpet, Makilala, Matalam, Midsayap, Mlang, Pigcawayan, Pikit, Pres. Roxas, Tulunan and Kidapawan City.  The seat of the Provincial Government is located at Amas, Kidapawan City.   
            

DATES OF ESTABLISHMENT AND LAWS CREATING THE CITY AND MUNICIPALITIES, (NORTH) COTABATO

CITY/MUNICIPALITY		LAW CREATING THE CITY/MUNICIPALITY	DATE OF CREATION
1	ALAMADA	Republic Act No. 5645	June 21, 1961
2	ALEOSAN	Batas Pambansa Blg. 206	April 6, 1982
3	ANTIPAS	Batas Pambansa Blg. 88	February 15, 1981
4	ARAKAN	Republic Act No. 7152	August 30, 1991
5	BANISILAN	Batas Pambansa Blg. 141	December 11, 1981
6	CARMEN	Executive Order No. 214	November 15, 1956
7	KABACAN	Executive Order No.  82	August 18, 1947
8	KIDAPAWAN CITY	Republic Act No. 8500	February 12, 1998
9	LIBUNGAN	Executive Order No. 414	January 27, 1968
10	MAGPET	Republic Act No. 3721	June 22, 1963
11	MAKILALA	Executive Order No. 63	September 8, 1954
12	MATALAM	Executive Order No. 461	December 29, 1961
13	MIDSAYAP	Executive Order No. 660	November 25, 1936
14	MLANG	Executive Order No. 462	August 3, 1951
15	PIGCAWAYAN	Executive Order No. 622	September 30, 1953
16	PIKIT	Executive Order No. 270	September 29, 1949
17	PRES. ROXAS	Republic Act No. 4869	June 23, 1967
18	TULUNAN	Executive Order No. 441	August 6, 1961

The 17 municipalities and 1 city are further subdivided into 543 barangays.  Of these, Midsayap has the most number with 57 followed by Pikit with 42 while Antipas has the least number with only 13 barangays.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

The provincial government of Cotabato is headed by the Provincial Governor whose Office provides the executive and policy direction, leadership and guidance mong the different agencies and organizations in the public and private sectors.

Hereunder are the different provincial offices of the province as mandated under Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 :

 
1.      Provincial Governor’s Office                
2.      Sangguniang Panlalawigan            
3.      Provincial Planning & Development Office        
4.      Provincial Assessor’s Office                 
5.      Provincial General Services Office        
6.      Provincial Budget Office            
7.      Provincial Accountant's Office            
8.      Provincial Treasurer's Office            
9.      Provincial Engineer’s Office    
10.    Integrated Provincial Health Office    
11.    Provincial Social Welfare & Dev't. Office
12.    Office of the Provincial Agriculturist    
13.    Provincial Veterinarian's Office    
14.    Provincial Human Resource Management Office *
15.    Provincial Legal Services Office
16.    Provincial Cooperative Development Office **

*    Optional, created by virtue of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ordinance No. 135, approved on December 23, 1997.
 **  Optional, created by virtue of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ordinance No. 210, approved on April 11, 2000.

PROVINCIAL SCHOOL BOARD

The Provincial School Board is a Local Special Body created by virtue of Republic Act 7160.  Funding for teacher positions are taken out of the Special Education Fund (SEF)

PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

The Provincial Development Council is headed by the Governor as Chair and composed of the following members:

    •  All mayors of municipalities and one component city;
    •  The Chairperson of the Committee on Budget and Appropriations of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan;
    •  The Congressmen of the 2 Districts or their representatives; and
    •  Representatives of non-government organizations operating in the province.