Koronadal City

Koronadal City and popularly known as Marbel, is 3rd-class component city in the Philippines. It is the capital of the province of South Cotabato and regional administrative center of SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII). According to the, it has a population of.Koronadal became a component city of South Cotabato by virtue of Republic Act 8803 dated October 8, 2000. In 2003 and 2005 the city was recognized as "Most Competitive City" in the small-city category, and in 2005 and 2006 as the most business friendly city in Mindanao.Koronadal City is one of the cities in Mindanao whose citizens are Hiligaynon speakers. 95% of the city's population is from the Hiligaynon ethnic group from the Visayas, the other city is Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat.HistoryThe settlement of Koronadal and its creation as a municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. #82 dated August 18, 1947 was marked by a rapid initial development, so that when the province of South Cotabato was created under Republic Act No. 4849 on July 18, 1966, it easily became the capital town. In the past, the place was populated by Blaan people and Maguindanaos. The word Koronadal is believed to have been derived from two Blaan words- kalon meaning cogon grass, and nadal or datal meaning plain, which aptly described the place to the natives. On the other hand, Marbel, which is another name for the poblacion, is a B'laan term marb-el which means "murky waters" referring to a river, now called the Marbel River.