KORONADAL CITY (July 15) — South Cotabato’s 60-year journey from a young province to one of Mindanao’s leading growth centers has earned national recognition, with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) citing it as the region’s benchmark for culture-driven and inclusive development.
During the province’s 60th Foundation Anniversary and the opening of the 27th T’nalak Festival on July 13, MinDA Chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno said South Cotabato has demonstrated that preserving cultural identity can go hand in hand with economic growth, innovation, environmental stewardship, and good governance.
“Preserving identity and pursuing development are not competing priorities. They reinforce one another. Every success achieved by South Cotabato strengthens the larger story of Mindanao,” Magno said in his keynote address.
Drawing inspiration from the handwoven T’nalak cloth, Magno said the province continues to weave together culture, resilience, and progress into a development model that other Mindanao communities can emulate.
Held under the theme “Our Culture, Our Strength, Our Pride,” this year’s Diamond Jubilee celebration and the 27th T’nalak Festival showcase South Cotabato’s vibrant indigenous heritage, agricultural strengths, tourism destinations, and creative industries while honoring the shared contributions of its tri-people communities.
Governor Reynaldo “Jun” Tamayo Jr. said the province’s greatest achievement is the unity forged among its 17 tribes, which he described as the foundation of South Cotabato’s lasting peace and sustained development.
“Habang ginugunita natin ang ating mga ninuno at ang kulturang ating taglay, palagi nating isipin na ang pagkakaisa ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit mayroon tayong isang progresibong lalawigan,” Tamayo said.
Magno noted that the T’nalak Festival has evolved beyond a cultural celebration into an economic driver that creates jobs, boosts tourism, promotes indigenous craftsmanship, and expands livelihood opportunities for local communities.
He also credited the provincial government for advancing people-centered governance through investment promotion, digital transformation, disaster resilience, environmental protection, and collaborative leadership—initiatives that continue to strengthen South Cotabato’s reputation as one of Mindanao’s most competitive provinces.
Describing the province as both an agricultural powerhouse and an emerging tourism destination, Magno said South Cotabato demonstrates how cultural heritage, resilient communities, and responsible environmental management can fuel inclusive regional growth.
MinDA reaffirmed its commitment to work with the provincial government in expanding opportunities for communities and businesses through sustainable and resilient development programs.
Among these are the Mindanao Development Corridors Program, which seeks to improve transport, logistics, and investment connectivity across the island; the Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance, which strengthens watershed protection and climate resilience; and initiatives under the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) that promote trade, tourism, education, and cultural exchanges.
For MinDA, South Cotabato’s story is no longer just a provincial success—it is becoming a blueprint for how culture, unity, and inclusive governance can help shape a more resilient and competitive Mindanao.
