13.Central Mindanao

CENTRAL MINDANAO/SOCCSKSARGEN

 (pronounced [sokˈsardʒɛn])

Is a region of the Philippines, located in central Mindanao, and is officially designated as Region XII. The name is anacronym that stands for the region's fourprovinces and one of its cities: SouthCotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat,Sarangani and General Santos City. The regional center is Koronadal City located in the province of South Cotabato.^[2]Cotabato City, though geographically within the boundaries of the province of Maguindanao, itself is part of SOCCSKSARGEN, and is independent of that province. Maguindanao province is, in fact, a part of theAutonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) which has its seat in Cotabato City. SOCCSKSARGEN and the province of Maguindanao were once part of the original Cotabato province.