Aleosan, officially the Municipality of Aleosan (Maguindanaon: Inged nu Aleosan, Jawi: ايڠد نو الاوسن; Iranun: Inged a Aleosan, ايڠد ا الاوسن; ; ; ), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 36,892 people.

History

Establishment

The name ****Aleosan is an acronym derived from the three municipalities of Iloilo where the majority of the early Christian inhabitants in northern Pikit, its mother municipality, came from: Alimodian, Leon, and San Miguel. Then assemblyman Jesus P. Amparo authored Parliamentary Bill No. 670, which was also co-authored by assemblymen Blah T. Sinsuat, Ernesto F. Roldan and Tomas B. Baga Jr. The bill sought the establishment of the new municipality which was originally proposed as O. Romualdez. The bill was ultimately approved on March 25, 1982 as ''Batas Pambansa Blg. 206; a new municipality was organized, separating from Pikit 19 barangays'', including San Mateo which would be the seat of government. A plebiscite for ratification, along with ten more newly created local entities, was held on May 17, coinciding with the barangay elections.

Partial inclusion to the Bangsamoro

In 2019, Dunguan and Tapodoc were among the 63 barangays in the province which became part of the Special Geographic Area of the newly created Bangsamoro, after having the affirmative vote won to join the autonomous region in a plebiscite held on February 6. The two, with Lower Mingading, were among the 39 barangays in the province that unsuccessfully voted for the inclusion in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2001; with Pagangan, were proposed to be part of the Bangsamoro, which replaced ARMM by virtue of Republic Act No. 11054. In 2023, the Bangsamoro Parliament approved the creation of eight new municipalities in the area. Dunguan and Tapodoc became part of municipalities of Nabalawag (Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 43) and Tugunan (BAA No. 47), respectively, following ratification in a plebiscite on April 13, 2024.

Geography

Aleosan is within the political boundary of Cotabato Province. It is approximately 65 km from the capital town of Amas which is barely two (2) hours ride from the seat of its municipal government. It is bounded on the west by Midsayap; on the north by Libungan and on the east and south by Pikit. It is accessible to land transportation from Cotabato City traversing the municipalities of Maguindanao to Kidapawan up to Davao City, as it is located along the major transport route linking the provinces of Maguindanao, Cotabato and Davao del Sur.

Barangays

Aleosan is politically subdivided into 17 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios. The seat of the municipal government is in barangay San Mateo. • Bagolibas • Cawilihan • Dualing • Katalicanan • Lawili • Lower Mingading • Luanan • Malapang • New Leon • New Panay • Pagangan • Palacat • Pentil • San Mateo (Poblacion) • Santa Cruz • Tomado • Upper Mingading

Climate

Aleosan area belongs to the fourth type of climate or the intermediate "E" with no distinct dry season. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year with heavier rains from May to September. This type of climate conditions is suitable for the production of crops like rice, corn, mangoes, jackfruit, vegetables and root crops, which are considered seasonal crops and permanent crops like coconut, rubber, coffee, cacao and orchard crops.

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Aleosan, Cotabato, was 36,892 people, with a density of undefined PD/km2.

Economy

The municipality is endowed with abundant agricultural raw materials suitable for processing. These include coconut, banana, rubber, mango and coffee. There are small-scale enterprises but these are not sustainable due to inadequate capital. A cassava processing plant was shut down due to insufficient supply of raw materials and low quality of starch produced. The area however, is best suited for mango production and there is a need to develop the industry to cater the growing needs of the locality. The municipality's livestock industry has great potentials being one of the top producers and supplier of livestock in the province. The Gross Domestic Product of the Municipality (2022) is 7,143,068,857(PHP).

Tourism