Matalam, officially the Municipality of Matalam (; ; , Jawi: ايڠد نو متالم; ), is a municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 81,610 people.

Etymology

The municipality takes its name from a former provincial governor Datu Udtog Matalam, which in turn, the word "Matalam" means 'weaponry or arms' in Maguindanaon.

History

The municipality of Matalam before its creation into a regular municipality was just a mere sitio of Kilada called "Crossing M'lang" within the jurisdiction of the municipality of Kabacan. Because of its strategic location coupled with the desire of the people, petitioned the provincial and national government for its creation into a regular municipality. This municipality, at that time the 32rd in Cotabato, was named after the father of the Province, Governor Datu Udtog Matalam, in acknowledgement of his untiring efforts for the development and creation of the place.

Matalam is one of the five daughter municipalities of Kidapawan. It was formed through Executive Order No. 461, issued by President Carlos P. Garcia on December 29, 1961; with the western territory of Kidapawan being taken and merged with that from M'lang, another daughter town, and Kabacan. The creation caused splitting of the village of Patadon into two. With this creation, Kidapawan and Kabacan, neighbored since precolonial era, were cut off.

The municipal council of Kidapawan, among those who opposed the partition of the mother town, called such creation a "midnight" act by President Garcia who had lost in the election, and filed a petition urging the following President, Diosdado Macapagal, to cancel the establishment of Matalam, but later failed.

| date = January 30, 2020

Matalam belongs to the 4th type of climate, which is characterized by a more or less even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. The municipality has an average rainfall of . The heaviest rainfall months of the year are May, June and July. The prevailing wind direction is from west to east. Matalam is geographically located outside typhoon belt. Normal condition temperature ranges from , the month of April being the hottest month, while the coldest month of the year is December.

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Matalam was 81,610 people, with a density of .

Ilianen Manobo and Maguindanaon are the native inhabitants of the municipality.

Transportation

Highway accidents

A number of significant road accidents have occurred on the main highway in Matalam since 2018, which include motorcycle and other vehicular accidents. On December 19, 2018, 16 people were injured in a Matalam road crash.

Three people were killed and two other injured after Toyota Hilux pickup truck slammed a passing tricycle and a vehicle along Matalam to Kabacan highway road in January 2019. On June 1, 2019, three died in a freak accident involving community FM radio Benny Queman, who was detained by police after hitting motorcycle along Matalam to M'lang highway road in the Philippines. On July 13, 2019, four people died and other three were injured in highway road accident in Matalam.

Economy

Matalam's market and other commercial establishments are the hub of activity in the area. Commercial establishments in the town include the following: bakeries, gasoline dealers, copra dealers, sari-sari stores, beta houses, carenderias, hardware, grains retailers, fish dealers, and many more.

Rice, corn and copra are commodities which are very much in demand in the local trade. Due to lack of supply, rice and corn grits are sometimes brought in from the mainland. These are retailed in the market for local consumption.

Mineral resources is found on the mountainous portion with properties such as shale sandstone, conglomerate, limestone, igneous rock and other volcanic materials.

References

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