1914–1973 → → → → → Disestablished 22 November 1973 | Established 23 July 1914 | |
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Area 22,967.91 km (8,868 sq mi) Political subdivisions 38(18 July 1966 to 22 November 1973)AlamadaAmpatuanBagumbayanBuldonBuluanCarmenColumbioDatu PaglasDatu PiangDinaigEsperanzaIsulanKabacanKalamansingKidapawanLebakLibunganLutayanMaganoyMagpetMakilalaMariano MarcosMatalamMidsayapM'langPagalunganPalimbangParangPigcawayanPikitPresident QuirinoPresident RoxasSultan KudaratSultan sa BarongisTacurongTulunanTumbaoUpi+14BangaCity of CotabatoCity of Rajah BuayanGlanKiambaKoronadalMaasimMaitumNoralaPolomolokSuralaTampacanTantanganTupi52 (before 18 July 1966) Today part of | ||
Cotabato, also known as the Empire Province of Cotabato, was a historical province of the Philippines established in 1914 that existed until its dissolution in 1973. The province's capital from 1920-1967 was Cotabato City while Pagalungan became its capital from 1967-1973.
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Originally a district of the former Moro Province, on September 1, 1914, the defunct Department of Mindanao and Sulu provided with autonomous government through Act No. 2408 enacted on July 23, 1914, converted the district into a province along with other former Moro Province districts: Davao, Lanao, Sulu, Zamboanga, and its former sub-province Bukidnon. Davao, Lanao and Zamboanga were then later split and partitioned into different current provinces while Sulu and Bukidnon remain what it is today.
The empire province was one of the largest provinces of the Philippines, with an area of 2,296,791 hectares (22,967.91 km2). It was dissolved on 1973, comprising what are now the provinces of Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao.
History
Upon its separation from the Department of Mindanao and Sulu, Cotabato comprised the municipalities of Cotabato (the provincial capital), Dulawan, and Midsayap, and the following municipal districts:
On June 18, 1966, South Cotabato was separated from the province through Republic Act No. 4849.
Dissolution
On November 22, 1973, the remaining territories of the Empire Province of Cotabato was divided into North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat through Presidential Decree No. 341.
On March 7, 1984, North Cotabato was renamed to simply "Cotabato" through Batas Pambansa Blg. 660.
On March 16, 1992, the province of Sarangani was formed out of South Cotabato.