Santo Niño, officially the Municipality of Santo Niño (Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Santo Niño; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Santo Niño; Tagalog: Bayan ng Santo Niño; Maguindanaon: Inged nu Santu Ninyu, Jawi: ايڠد نو سنتو نيڽو), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of South Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 39,796 people.^[3]

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Quick Facts Other transcription(s), • Jawi ...

Santo Niño
Municipality
Municipality of Santo Niño
Other transcription(s)
• Jawi	سنتو نيڽو
Flag Seal
Map of South Cotabato with Santo Niño highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Santo Niño Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°26′N 124°41′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Soccsksargen
Province	South Cotabato
District	2nd district
Founded	December 23, 1980
Barangays	10 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Sulpicio F. Villalobos
• Vice Mayor	Wilfredo B. Dimzon
• Representative	Peter B. Miguel
• Municipal Council	Members Paul Philipp V. Matinong Diogenes P. Hare Nelson Q. Segura Rene O. Apostol Joel L. Baradas Helen F. Fale Danilo F. Manua Edilberto F. Aspila Jr.
• Electorate	25,071 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	86.20 km2 (33.28 sq mi)
Elevation	160 m (520 ft)
Highest elevation	440 m (1,440 ft)
Lowest elevation	115 m (377 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	39,796
• Density	460/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
• Households	9,892
Economy
• Income class	3rd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	17.30 % (2018)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 159.9 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 374.5 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 131.5 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 88.12 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	South Cotabato 1 Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO 1)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	9509
PSGC	126318000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)83
Native languages	Hiligaynon Cebuano Maguindanao Blaan Tagalog
Website	stoninoscot.gov.ph

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The municipality's name was derived from its patron saint, the “Santo Niño”, or the Holy Child. It was formerly called Barrio Trece (13) (although many still called the town proper this name) of the Norala Settlement District of then National Land Settlement Administration.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) of South Cotabato passed a resolution in 1980 requesting then Assemblyman Jose T. Sison to file a bill at the Philippine Parliament to create Santo Niño a municipality. Parliament Bill No. 1220 was finally passed and approved on December 23, 1980, when Ferdinand Marcos signed it into law as Batas Pambansa Bilang 90.^[5] In a plebiscite held on April 7, 1981, the law was ratified.

Municipal mayors:

• Dr. Norberto Oliveros (1981-1986)
• Dr. Geronimo Dabalus, appointed by the Aquino Government after the 1986 EDSA Revolution (1986-1988)
• Antonio F. Damandaman, Sr. (1988-1998)
• Dr. Ervin B. Luntao (1998-2007)
• Antonio F. Damandaman, Sr. (2007–2016)
• Pablo M. Matinong, Jr. (2016–2020)
• Sulpicio F. Villalobos (2020–present)

Situated in the fertile Allah Valley, it is the smallest municipality by land area in the province.

It is bounded by the Municipality of Norala (its mother-town) in the north, the Municipality of Surallah in the east, Allah River and the Municipality of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat in the south, and the Municipality of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat in the west.

The population is highly literate.^{[citation needed]}

While the most spoken language is Hiligaynon, everyone can speak Tagalog,^{[citation needed]} some Cebuano, and basic conversational English.

Barangay Ambalgan is predominantly Maguindanaon who speak the Maguindanaon language and are considered the ethnic inhabitants of the municipality. The rest of the barangays are predominantly Christian settlers who first arrived in the area in the 1940s.

The municipality is generally peaceful with relatively low crime incident.^{[citation needed]}

Poverty Incidence of Santo Niño

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[11][12]
[13][14][15][16][17]}

Rice production is the primary industry. The well-irrigated rice-lands of the municipality are possible due to the presence of a river irrigation system which is provided by a dam at Allah River at Barangay M. Roxas.

Corn (maize) is the secondary product. Copra is also produced.

Small businesses which provide basic necessities thrive.

• Bugtong Bukid, a hill along the national highway west to Isulan at Barangay M. Roxas. The municipal government had invested in a swimming pool project in this area sometime in the 1990s but was closed due to mismanagement and lack of maintenance. Nonetheless, this hill is a geological wonder in itself being the only hill of its kind in the area. Folklore also has it that the huge acacia tree near the hill is home to a kapre.
• The steel bridge that traversed Allah River and connects the municipality to nearby barangays of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat. The bridge is an excellent location for an afternoon stroll. Carabaos take their baths in late afternoon at the river; time your visit during these hours.

The Santo Nino Public Terminal is a hub for public utility buses and vans that travel to Koronadal City via Surallah and Banga. Travel time from Santo Nino to Koronadal City is around 30 minutes.

General Santos, where the General Santos International Airport is located, is accessible by public buses and vans from Koronadal City. Travel time from Koronadal City to General Santos is about one hour.

Travel within the municipality is through public utility tricycles and motorcycles.

The Municipal Health Office at the Municipal Hall Compound provides services for consultations.

Private clinics include:

• Dr. Ervin B. Luntao Family Clinic and Hospital
• Dr. Zenaida Maglaya Clinic
• St. Jude Clinic and Hospital

There are a number of small pharmacies at the municipality.

The municipality has a number of public and private schools. These are:

High Schools

• Santo Nino National School of Arts and Trades (public), at Barangay San Isidro
• Santo Nino National High School (public), at Poblacion
• Notre Dame of Santo Nino (private, a diocesan school), at Poblacion
• Public high schools in (New) Panay, Katipunan, and Guinsang-an

Elementary Schools

• Santo Nino Central Elementary School (public elementary school), at Poblacion
• Public elementary schools at other nine barangays (Katipunan,Guinsang-an, Ambalgan. San Isidro, Sajaneba, M. Roxas)
• Notre Dame of Santo Nino (private, a diocesan school), at Poblacion
• Montessori Casa Precious Jewels (private elementary school), at Poblacion
• Libertad Kiddie Care Center Incorporated, LKKCI (Private elementary school), at Poblacion