PHYSICAL PROFILE
 


General Santos City is situated at the southern part of the Philippines, it is bounded by three municipalities of Sarangani Province and two municipalities of South Cotabato, namely, Alabel, Malungon, Maasim, Polomolok and T'boli.

It has a total land area of 53,606-hectare, which is 1.7% of Region XI's entire area. 35% or 19,040 hectares of the whole area are suitable for urban uses. Around 23,000 hectares can be used for intensive and specialized agriculture while 11,564 hectares of higher slopes are available for reforestation and grazing purposes.

The city has six rivers, three of which, namely, Silway, Siguel and Buayan rivers, are rich sand and gravel quarry sites.


HUMAN RESOURCES

The urban population of 259,975 represents 80.2% of the city's entire population of 327,173. At 5.15%, General Santos City has the highest annual population growth rate in Region XI.

The city's population density has increased from 610 persons per sq. km. in 1995 to 637 persons per sq. km. in 1996.


THE ECONOMY

Agriculture

  • The city's economy is basically agro-industrial. As a component of the South Cotabato/Sultan Kudarat/Sarangani/General Santos City (SOCSKSARGEN) growth area, it has contributed much to the area's emergence as the country's leading producer of at least eight major commodities.

    Due to its rich soil, good rainfall and typhoon-free climate, the area is the largest producer of corn, coconuts and copra, pineapples, asparagus and rice. The area also produces other high value crops such as exotic fruits, potatoes, vegetables, cutflowers and okra.

    SOCSKSARGEN is the second largest livestock producer in the country. Live swine shipment to Manila is about 19,936 heads/month and ships about 11,528 cattle/month to Manila.

    • Fishing Industry

  • General Santos City accounts for the second largest total daily fish landings in the country. It lands about 300 m.t. of fish everyday, second only to Navotas, Metro Manila's 500 m.t. It is, however, the leading producer of sashimi grade tuna, landing an 8,548 m.t. of this high value fish.

    In 1998, a total of 387,000 m.t. of fish was landed in the city. Approximately 9% were municipal catch while 91% represents the commercial catch. The opening of the new GSC Fish Port Complex brings about the increase in catch and the foreign fish catch landed in GenSan.

    • Establishments/Major Industries

  • Newly registered business establishments in 1998 totaled 2,302 while capital infusion of newly registered business establishments reached PhP 11.5 billion.

    The banking industry also mushroomed in the city, gaining 20% of the total investment of previous year.

    Total value of investment reached P 18.44 billion.

    • Foreign Trade

  • General Santos City's 1998 foreign exports to its major markets in the USA, Japan, Europe, Asia and Australia represent 505,950,651 m.t. of fresh and processed agricultural products amounted to $ 335,306,183.00.

    Total 1998 imports valued at US$ 135,489,254.10.

    Total trade for 1998 amounted to US$ 470,795,437.10 while balance of trade is pegged at US$ 199,816,928.90.

    • Financial Institutions

  • The city has one of the highest concentrations of banking establishments in the region. From only 22 in 1988, the number of banks has increased to 50 in 1997 posting a share of 59% over the entire SOCSKSARGEN's total of 120 banks.

    In 1997, preliminary figures show that total asset of banks in SOCSKSARGEN sums up to 12.539 billion.

    • Tourism and Leisure

  • As part of SOCSKSARGEN that offers an enthralling trip to nature, General Santos City serves as the jump-off point to South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani Provinces.

    Watching the picturesque coastlines; swimming at unspoiled white sand beaches; scuba diving or snorkeling at yet little explored but pristine and marine life-rich coral reefs; trekking and camping at South Cotabato's verdant mountains and inactive volcanoes; nature tripping at cool mountain lakes, waterfalls, springs and caves.

    One can also get acquainted with the cultural heritage, colorful arts and crafts of the provinces' native communities.

    The city's restaurants and eateries offer not only native Mindanaoan and Filipino but Asian and Western cuisine as well. Fish and seafood probably do not come any fresher than in General Santos. Tuna "kinilaw" and "sinugba" is a must-eat in the place. Food prices are also unbelievably lower in this city.


     
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    INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES

    Land Transport

  • LTO records of 1998 show that there are total of 18,796 registered vehicles. At least five taxis and Rent-A-Car companies are operating in the city.

    The city's 434.118-km. total road network is consists of 12.9% national roads, 42.8% city roads and 44.3% barangay roads. Of this entire road network, 108.956 kms. or 25.1% is made of concrete and asphalt while 325.162 kms. or 74.9% are gravel roads.

    • Sea Transport

  • In 1998, total sea passenger traffic increased to 181,323 from 158,424 in 1997. Volume cargo throughput totaled 1,444,574.81 m.t. Four luxury liners provide the city's passenger shipping services at the city’s premier port, the expanded Makar Wharf.

    The Manila-Iloilo-Zamboanga-GSC route has a total navigation time of approximately 56 hours.

    The completed US$ 23.6 Million Makar Wharf expansion project which includes a 152 meter wharf extension, 3-hectare container storage yard, 1-hectare livestock holding terminal, modern navigational aids and modern container handling facilities will increase shipping traffic at the port.

    • Air Transport

  • The city can be reached by air via 1 hour and 45 minutes direct flight from Manila to General Santos or an hour flight from Manila to Cebu with another 1 hour 20 minute connecting flight to the new GSC International Standard Airport. Also, an hour and a half PAL, Grand Air, Cebu Air Pacific, Air Philippines flight to Davao completed by a three-hour overland trip. Mindanao Express, operated by Corporate Air, is serving direct flights to key cities in Mindanao. Soon, Mindanao Express will also be catering direct flights to Manado, Indonesia and other areas of the BIMP-EAGA Region.

    In 1998, an increase of passenger traffic at 168,618 and 6,350,101 m.t. of cargo passed through the new GSC International Standard Airport.

    • Power and Water

  • At 99.6%, majority of the city's water system is classified as level 1 with the rest evaluated as levels 2 and 3. An ongoing five-year P 374 M project funded by the ADB aims to tap new water sources and develop a modern centralized water supply system.

    Power is sourced from the NPC Mindanao Grid and is locally distributed by the South Cotabato Electric Cooperatives (SOCOTECO) I and II.

    In 1998, SOCOTECO II served a total of 64,002 consumers with a total consumption of 273,658,571 kilowatts.

    • Telecommunications

  • General Santos City is only a phone call, fax or e-mail away from the rest of the country and of the world. The city's modern telecommunications facilities include IDD/NDD telephone service, public call offices and telegram systems (PLDT, PILTEL, PT&T, RCPI, BAYANTEL), facsimile service, cellular phones (SMART, MOBILINE, GLOBE, ISLACOM), pager systems (Easy Call, Pocketbell and Mobiline Beeper 150) and VHF radio systems.

    • Fish Port Complex

  • Already operational, the New GSC Fishport Complex is jointly funded by the OECF and the Philippine Government. This US$ 33.3 Million project located in Barangay Tambler includes 758 meters of landing/preparation area, 383 meters of wharf, preparation facilities which include cold storage, brine freezer, air blast and contact freezer with 1,500-ton capacity and 60-ton/day ice plant. It also includes over 4,000 square meters of market halls, fishing gear maintenance sheds, fish container storage yard, maintenance shops, power and water utilities system, roads and parking areas, drainage and waste water treatment plants and fuel supply facilities.

    • Construction

  • The city has a lot of construction activities going on, specially during the last five years. In 1998, 539 building permits were issued which include the construction of 260 residential, 129 commercial, 32 industrial structures, 28 for institutional, 2 for agricultural and 72 for fencing.


     
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    SOCIAL SERVICES

    Education

  • The city has 19 private pre-schools, 53 public and 21 private elementary schools. In addition, there are 15 public/state secondary schools, 10 private secondary, 6 colleges and 14 technical/vocational schools. Based on the GSC National Statistics Office, urban literacy rate is at 96.3% while the rural rate is at 78.10%.

    • Medical Facilities

  • There are 5 primary and 4 tertiary hospitals in General Santos City equipped with modern health facilities and medical personnel. Each hospital has at least a 100-bed capacity while the 62 clinics complementing them have at least 10-bed capacity.

    • Housing Demand

  • The city's total housing demand for 1997 came up to 19,844 leaving an estimated total housing backlog of 3,969.


     
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    LAND USE

    The city's existing land use classification shows 38.8% grazing land, 37.5% cropland, 7.9% agro-forest and 5.4% protection forest. Of the rest, 0.18% are classified as commercial, 1.2% industrial, 0.34% institutional and 3.9% residential.


    LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

    1998 Internal Revenue Collection sums up to PhP 414,497,550.30 while city income for the same year amounted to PhP 530,242,143.69 a 5% increase from 1997 income of 505,446,461.96. IRA posted PhP 315,391,467.00.

    City government expenditures came up to PhP 453,534,165.15. The government's per capita income in 1998 registered at PhP 1,620.68. Aggregate real property taxes were valued at PhP 22,735,297.00 while properties were assessed at a total value of PhP 4,142,311.31.


    INVESTMENT PRIORITY AREAS

    1. Given the city's competitive advantages, a number of industries were identified as potential investment areas. The selection of these industries were based on the following
       
    2. Employment and income generation - socioeconomic impact focused on the alleviation of poverty, which is the city's primary concern.

       
    3. c) Investment feasibility - to ensure that the project is implementable.

    Suitability - to assure that the project can thrive well in the area, thereby realizing possible advantages in terms of yield, product quality, affordability, marketability and other related factors