In the latest Population Census conducted last year by the National Statistics Office, I took note of some interesting facts I gathered about Gen. Santos City in particular and SOCCSKSARGEN in general.

Here goes:

GROWTH RATE

  1. General Santos City’s population ballooned from 411,822 in 2000 to 529,542 in 2007 or an additional 117,720 persons or +30%.
  2. The Tuna Capital with an annual growth rate from 2000 to 2007 of 3.53%, is the 7th Fastest-Growing City in the Philippines, after Cotabato (6.5), Lapu-lapu (4.2%), Taguig (3.82%), Puerto Princesa (3.68%), Zamboanga (3.54%) and Tacurong (3.6%).
  3. Manny Pacquiao’s Home City’s growth rate of 3.53% is larger than the country’s 2.04%, whose population went up from 76,506,928 in 2000 to 88,574,614 in 2007.
  4. This rate of 3.53% is however slower than its annual growth rate in 1995 of 5.05%.
  5. Two cities in South Central Mindanao are growth rate topnotchers: Cotabato (#1) and Tacurong (#6).

POPULATION STATS

  1. General Santos City is the most heavily populated (529,5420) among the cities in Region XII or South Central Mindanao or SOCCSKSARGEN, followed by Cotabato (259,153), Koronadal (149,622), Kidapawan (117,610) and Tacurong (82,546).
  2. North Cotabato is the region’s most heavily peopled province (1,121,974). Next is South Cotabato (767,254), followed by Sultan Kudarat (675,644) and Sarangani (475,514).
  3. At the local level, among Gen. Santos City’s 26 Barangays, the TOP 10 ranked in terms of population are: 1) Calumpang– 67,382; 2) Fatima– 67,309; 3) Labangal– 57,769; 4) Lagao– 47,953; 5) Apopong– 43,596; 6) San Isidro- 38,980; 7) Bula– 34,697; 8.) City Heights– 23,503; 9) Dadiangas West– 18,253; and, 10) Mabuhay- 14,159.

So far, these are what I have deduced from the NSO’s figures. Do you want to add more of your observations? Please feel free to comment.

SOURCE: National Statistics Office