HISTORY

Midsayap was derived from a native term which means (Mid) Center and (Sayap) Hat. Midsayap means a hat at the center – just like a hill centrally located at the Municipality which slopes through the plains in a shape of a hat.  Other version relates that Midsayap came from a Muslim term which means “person wearing a hat.” From 1912 to 1926, Midsayap was then a district of Dulawan and Pikit. That is why we see in the land Titles “Dulawan Cadastre.” Originally, Midsayap was inhabited by Muslims from the descendants of Sultan Mohamad Bayao from the lineage of the great Sultan Moh. The seat of their Sultanate was established at Libungan Toreta (now part of Pigcawayan) at the residence of Datu Guiambangan Bayao the eldest son of Sultan Moh Bayao.

In 1927, a Philippine Constabulary (PC) Commander assigned in the area, 1st Lt. Catalino Javier, initiated the development of some portions of this Municipality. Later, he invited settlers from Luzon and Visayas to migrate in this yet undeveloped vast lands. The first wave of settlers who dared develop the wilderness was the late Antonio Labasan from Zambales. Among his companions were the Dumlaos, Flautas, Fernandezes and Documos who settled at Sitio Salunayan in 1919. The following years, Visayan settlers from Pikit came to settle at Bual - The place of Datu Dilangalen Guiambangan Bayao. The Visayan migrants were headed by Gregorio Bingil, Julio Anito, Tomas Cantoy, Old Catulong, Jesus Yerno and Jalandoni families.

The sons of Datu Dilangalen where among the Philippine Army who fought against the Japanese Imperial. They are Datu Mantil, Datu Alamanza and the youngest was Datu Midpantao by the time he was only 1st Lt of Philippine Army.

The concept making Midsayap a separate political district from mother municipalities of Dulawan and Pikit was envisioned in 1930 by a group of Christian P.C. enlisted men who were assigned at Camp Ward. Their efforts together with the support pf the Deputy Governor and Military Governor was only realized in 1936.

Pursuant to EXECUTIVE Order No. 66 November 25, 1936, Midsayap was created as a separate Municipality. On January 1, 1937, it was inaugurated the first appointed Municipal Mayor Lorenzo Gonzalez.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

Midsayap is geographically located on the Southwestern portion of Cotabato Province. It lies on 124"32' East longitude and 7"11.5' North latitude.

It is bounded on the North by the Municipality of Libungan; on the South by the Rio Grande de Mindanao; on the
East by the municipalities of Aleosan and Pikit; and on the West by the Municipality of Kabuntalan.

Midsayap is approximately 47 kilometers away from Cotabato City and some 174 kilometers from Davao City, two of the major urban centers in Mindanao. It is about 64 kilometers away from Kidapawan City, the seat of the Provincial Government.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT MIDSAYAP

CLIMATE

The province is situated between 5 and 8 degrees latitude thus Midsayap and all areas within its jurisdiction is less affected by typhoon. The municipality falls under the fourth type of climate which is characterized by more or less even distribution of rainfall throughout the year.


LAND CAPABILITY

The highest portion of municipal land area (12,397.5 hectares) is classified as good land. These are the land centrally located in the municipality. These lands are nearly level lands and can be cultivate safely. However, protection from occasional overflow is required. The 10,651.2869 hectares which are Hydrosol type are wetlands and are suitable for fishpond or recreation purposes. Most of these lands are along the Rio Grande de Mindanao. The Center type of land are moderately good land, moderately sloping so that cultivation requires carefully planned erosion control measures. These lands are on the Northeastern barangays and a portion of Nabalawag and Kadingilan with an area of 8,010.0 hectares.


SOIL TYPE

There are four (4) types of soil in this municipality. These are: Kabacan Clay, Kudarangan Clay, San Manuel Silty Clay Loam and Hydrosol. Kabacan Clay Loam is about 12,397.500 hectares or 37.52 % of the municipal land area.

This are the soils at the central portion or at the heart of the municipality. Kudarangan Clay Loam is found in slightly rolling to hilly terrain or at the northeastern barangays. This soil type occupies the 24.24 percent of the municipal area or 8,010.00 hectares. San Manuel Silty Clay Loam is located at barangays Upper Labas, Nalin and portions of barangay Villarica. This occupies an area of 1,980 hectares. Hydrosol type has an area of 10,651.2869 hectares or 33.24 percent of the municipal area.

SLOPE

Of the total land area of the municipality, 73.79 percent or 24,376.2869 hectares has a slope of 0-3 percent. These areas are located at the Western and Southern part of the municipality. These are mostly the irrigable rice lands.

The Northeastern barangays, a portion of Central Bulanan are hilly with slopes with 3-8% with a total area of 6,525.0 hectares. Highest slopes of 8-18% percent are situated at the boundary of barangays Nabalawag and Kadingilan and a portion of Central Bulanan. This has a total land area of 2,137.5 hectares.


TOPOGRAPHY

Midsayap is characterized as plain to hilly terrain. Gently rolling to hilly areas are located on the Northeastern portion specifically at barangays - Kiwanan, Kimagango, Anonang, Malamote, Upper Bulanan and Milaya. A portion of Kadingilan and Nabalawag has a hilly portion at their boundaries. All barangays on the western portion which is cut by the  National Highway from Poblacion to Dulawan is plain and is presently planted with irrigated
rice and other crops. The southern most barangays are marshy being located along the Rio Grande de Mindanao.


DEMOGRAPHY

The 2000 Census of Population and Housing of the National Statistics Office recorded the population of Midsayap at 105,760 with 21,349 households. It is the most populous among the municipalities of the province with a density of 453 persons per square kilometer.

Growing at the pace of 1.92 percent for the past five years, the town is  expected to double its population within 36 years.


ECONOMY

Characterized to have a clay type of soil that is best suited for agricultural use, most (42.03 percent) of the town's land area are devoted to agricultural production. The lowland areas were planted with rice and other seasonal crops while the upland areas were planted with permanent crops. Agricultural products of the town include rice, corn, mango, coffee, coconut, banana, vegetables and root crops.

Aside from the thriving agriculture industry, Midsayap also boasts of its other industries such as cut flowers and ornamental plants, livestock and poultry, furnitures and decorative crafts and telecommunications. It is also a potential area for putting up other industries such as fruit and meat processing as well as oil palm plantation and processing.

Strategically located, Midsayap serves as a major commercial and trading center of the province where farmers from neighboring municipalities bring their agricultural products to be sold/traded

TOURISM

Annually, the people of Midsayap prepares for the grand celebration of the town fiesta popularly known as Halad sa Sto. Niño Festival which is held every third Sunday of January. The Halad Festival, celebrated in honor of the town's patron saint Sr. Sto. Niño, is highlighted by the colorful street dancing and parade competition.

Groups from various towns in Cotabato Province as well as from Cotabato City and neighboring towns of Maguindanao Province troop annually to Midsayap to participate in the contest and try their luck to win the top prize.        

The festival gained national recognition when the 2003 Halad champions, all students of Alamada National High School, represented Region XII in the national street dancing competition and won the P1 million grand prize in the Aliwan Fiesta held in May 2003 in Intramuros, Manila. Inspired by their back-to-back wins, the group participated again in the Pamaskong Aliwan Festival in December of that same year and won the P1 million grand prize. Both festivals were part of the Visit Philippines 2003 program of the Department of Tourism.        


PROPOSED CREATION OF NEW MUNICIPALITY OUT OF MIDSAYAP

A proposal of creating a new municipality to be carved out of Midsayap has been officially filed to the House of Representatives by the Hon. Mujiv S. Hataman of the Party-list ANAK MINDANAO (AMIN). It bears the name of House Bill No. 5752 otherwise known as "AN ACT CREATING THE MUNICIPALITY OF SULTAN TAMBILAWAN BAYAO IN THE PROVINCE OF NORTH COTABATO". Records showed it was filed last September 5, 2006.        

The said proposal is, according to the bill, manifested by the significant desire of barangay officials in those area through Resolutions of their respective Sangguniang Barangays. The name of the proposed municipality will be Sultan Tambilawan Bayao,"as tribute to the legacy of the Sultan of Rajah Buayan sa Kudarangan covering the so-called empire province of Cotabato where he reigned as a SULTAN.        

The proposed Municipality will be composed of seventeen (17) Muslim Barangays from the Municipality of Midsayap, namely; DAMATULAN, KADINGILAN, KADIGASAN, KAPINPILAN, KUDARANGAN, CENTRAL LABAS, UPPER LABAS, LOMOPOG, MACASENDEG, MALINGAO, MUDSENG, NABALAWAG, OLANDANG, RANGABAN, SAMBULAWAN, TUGAL AND TUMBRAS. The seventeen (17) barangays of 5,586 household, and a population of 28,164 has an annual income of P10,611,214.53 and P11,180,639.23 in 2004 and 2005.        

The integrated income, population, and land area of the said barangays constituting the Municipality of Sultan Tambilawan Bayao conform to the minimum requirements set under the Local Government Code for the creation of a Municipality. Further, the creation of said Municipality does not reduce the income, population, and land area of the Municipality of Midsayap to less than the prescribed minimum requirements provided by law.        

The seat of government of the new Municipality of Sultan Tambilawan Bayao shall be in barangay Nabalawag.        

The creation of said Municipality will afford additional government machinery which could certainly facilitate the economic development of the seventeen (17) barangays and will uplift the lives of the people in North Cotabato. Its creation will allow the subject barangays to enjoy the blessings of self-governance, empowerment and better delivery of basic services to their people."        

However, the said proposal has never been progressing since majority of the people are not willing to the idea of dividing Midsayap into two. As a requirement a plebiscite shall be called once this could be approved in Congress. As an expected result, many Midsayapenos believed this will come into a failure as people here, despite that different tribal origins consider themselves as one, strong and united inhabitant of the great boom town of North Cotabato.

MUNICIPAL  OFFICIALS