Makilala, officially the Municipality of Makilala (; ; ), is a municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 88,522 people.

History

Makilala is one of the five daughter municipalities of Kidapawan. It was the second to separate, created through Executive Order No. 63, issued by President Ramon Magsaysay on September 8, 1954. Incumbent Kidapawan councilor Ireneo Castro was appointed as its first mayor. Following the separation, Kidapawan lost its southern border with the then-undivided Davao. The village of Indangan split in two as a result. A few years later, the councilors petitioned to change the border, situated at Saguing River, to the Malaang River, but they were ignored by the national government.

The municipality was a village with a name of "Lamitan".

The name Makilala is a portmanteau of the names of the early barangays of the area, namely: Malasila, Kisante, and Lamitan. An additional "la" was added to match the Hiligaynon word which means "to be known".

On December 29, 1985, members of the Pacot family were gunned down by armed men, allegedly from the Integrated Civil Home Defense Force, leaving two dead and six wounded.

| date = January 30, 2020

Makilala's climatic condition is characterized by rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year, thus, the springs kept flowing, rivers are alive and farms are productive. The slopes of Mt. Apo, Mt. Libadan, Mt. Gap and Mt. Naponggis serve as rain generators that provide reliable rainfall pattern and cool climate.

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Makilala was 88,522 people, with a density of .

Economy

Industries in Makilala are the rubber Industry, woodworks and agri-industrial products.

Major firms are STANFILCO-DOLE, engaged in cavendish production and rubber processing companies like STANDECO, FARMA, MRDI, PIONEER, LASRI, MRI, and DAVCO. Major wood processing company is RNF Summit. Makilala has a radio station called First Community Radio.

Agricultural land is mostly planted with rubber, rice, coconut, coffee, banana, vegetables and fruits such as durian, marang, rambutan and mangosteen.

Tourism

  • The foothills of Mount Apo, especially the area of Mt. Apo National Park which falls within Barangay Batasan, also contain several waterfalls, most of them hidden away in the old-growth forest within the National Park, while two of the tallest falls, Matibago and Padalagi, are visible from the National Highway. As of now there are no tourist-friendly access to these waterfalls, with them being several hours of hard trekking from the Barangays.
  • The Barangay of New Israel is situated on the periphery of Mount Apo National Park at an elevation of 1,600 feet above sea level. New Israel was established by the Moncadistas, a religious sect. Aside from being a starting point for hikes up Mt. Apo, it is also home to a troop of monkeys, which are used to interact with humans, and New Israel Eco Park, with Asia's longest zip-line.
  • Sang'ngawan Falls is found in the neighboring Barangay of Batasan. It is a collection of cold & hot natural pools, found beside the Malasila river. Its hot sulfuric pools are reputed to have healing effects.
  • Le Reve Resort is located along National Highway, Makilala, Cotabato. It is an inland resort known for its use of unchlorinated spring water piped from the foothills of Mt. Apo
  • Don Bosco Youth Camp, also located in Batasan, is a favorite venue for events like seminars, conferences, & weddings.
  • Camps Cajelo and Aurora are found along the National Highway in Barangay Bulatukan. It is known as the venue for yearly Scouting events in the province.
  • The access roads to the many barangays of Makilala also make for good mountain biking, with varying degrees of difficulty.

References

  • Makilala Profile at the DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index
  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]