Alabel
Alabel is a municipality in the Philippines and the provincial capital of Sarangani.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Alabel is a municipality in the province of Sarangani on Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines. It serves as Sarangani’s provincial capital and is situated at the head of Sarangani Bay, adjacent to the highly urbanized port city of General Santos. The municipality is both an administrative center and an agricultural community, with local livelihoods built around coconut production, livestock, crops, fishing, and related rural activities. The settlement’s modern history is associated with families led by Santiago Alaba and Tomas Beldad Sr., who established themselves in Buayan in 1947. The area later became a barrio of Dadiangas, now General Santos, on September 17, 1956. The name Alabel was formed in recognition of the Alaba and Beldad families. On September 10, 1971, Republic Act No. 6393 established Alabel as an independent municipality, initially comprising eight barrios separated from Dadiangas: Alabel, Alegria, Maribulan, Pag-asa, Kawas, Domolok, Bagacay, and Tokawal. The municipality’s early political history included the administration of Lucio J. Alaba, who served as its first mayor. During the martial-law period, Alabel was affected by violent conflict involving the Ilaga organization and Muslim and Lumad communities. The violence caused deaths, displacement, and evacuations toward Dadiangas and other areas. Following the 1986 People Power Revolution, Hernando L. Sibugan became appointed mayor and subsequently won elected terms. A major constitutional and administrative turning point came in 1992, when Republic Act No. 7228 created Sarangani Province and designated Alabel as its capital. From 1998 to 2016, the municipality was led by Narciso Ra. Grafilo Jr. and Corazon Sunga Grafilo. Their administrations emphasized road access, public-market construction, and outreach services. The Kasadyaan Festival was inaugurated in 2001, while the Garantisadong Serbisyo program brought municipal and national government services closer to residents. Alabel also developed a sister-city relationship with Makati in Metro Manila. Local government continued to expand the municipality’s administrative structure. Ladol, formerly a sitio within Barangay Poblacion, was established as a regular barangay after local ordinances and a 2012 plebiscite, with its legal separation later formalized through Republic Act No. 11599 in 2021. In 2022, residents ratified the creation of New Canaan from part of Barangay Pag-asa. The municipality now has 14 barangays. Alabel’s economy remains predominantly agricultural. Dried coconut meat is a major product, while cattle raising is an important secondary activity. Other outputs include maize, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, cotton, mangoes, goats, pork, eggs, beef, fish, charcoal, and woven coconut products. Improved highways and communications have strengthened connections with General Santos and facilitated trade and transport. The municipality also has beaches and coastal areas, including Ladol Beach and Kawas, sometimes known as Half Moon Beach. Public services include municipal health facilities, an Alabel birthing home, schools, transport services, farm-to-market roads, and security provision by the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines. The local government has promoted smoking restrictions and received recognition through the Department of Health’s Red Orchid Awards, including a hall-of-fame distinction reported in 2018. Civic life includes the September 10 foundation anniversary, the Kasadyaan Festival, the May 15 feast of San Isidro Labrador, and the annual Mutya ng Alabel pageant.
History
Alabel’s documented settlement history begins in 1947, when families associated with Santiago Alaba and Tomas Beldad Sr. settled in Buayan. The locality became a barrio of Dadiangas on September 17, 1956, and received the name Alabel in reference to the two families. It became an independent municipality through Republic Act No. 6393, dated September 10, 1971. The original municipality consisted of eight barrios separated from Dadiangas. Lucio J. Alaba became the first mayor. During the 1970s, Alabel experienced violence connected with the Ilaga conflict involving Muslim and Lumad communities. The unrest caused deaths and displacement, with civilians fleeing to Dadiangas and returning to communities elsewhere in the Visayas. After the 1986 People Power Revolution, Hernando L. Sibugan replaced Alaba as appointed mayor and later won elected terms. The creation of Sarangani Province in 1992 transformed Alabel’s role. Republic Act No. 7228 established the province and selected Alabel as its capital. The municipality subsequently served as the location for provincial government offices and public institutions. In 1988, President Corazon Aquino visited Barangay Spring during a trip connected with observation of a total solar eclipse visible in the southern Philippines and parts of Indonesia. Narciso Ra. Grafilo Jr. governed from 1998 to 2007, prioritizing roads to remote barangays and beginning the first phase of the Alabel Mega Public Market. The Kasadyaan Festival began in 2001. Corazon Sunga Grafilo followed as mayor from 2007 to 2016, completing the market and introducing Garantisadong Serbisyo, an outreach model that brought government agencies and services closer to residents. During this period, Alabel became a sister city of Makati and the phrase “Abante Alabel” became associated with the municipal administration. Administrative development continued through the conversion of Ladol from a sitio of Barangay Poblacion into a regular barangay. Provincial ordinances supported the process, a plebiscite was held in 2012, and Republic Act No. 11599 formally confirmed the separation in 2021. A further barangay, New Canaan, was created from part of Barangay Pag-asa after a 2022 plebiscite. Alabel now comprises 14 barangays. Vic Paul Molina Salarda served as mayor from 2016 to 2025. His administration emphasized infrastructure and community services, including the Serbisyong Smile sa Barangay program, which coordinated government-agency visits to barangays. Lilibeth Jabilles Salarda is listed as mayor from 2025 onward in the referenced municipal history. Alabel’s present profile combines its provincial-capital function with agriculture, livestock, coastal resources, public education, health services, and transport links to General Santos.
- 2022
New Canaan created
[1]A plebiscite approved the creation of New Canaan from part of Barangay Pag-asa.
- 2021
Ladol separation formalized
[1]Republic Act No. 11599 formalized Ladol’s status as a separate barangay.
- 2012
Ladol plebiscite
[1]Residents ratified the conversion of Sitio Ladol into a regular barangay.
- 2001
Kasadyaan Festival inaugurated
[1]The municipality launched the Kasadyaan Festival as a recurring civic and cultural celebration.
- 1992
Designation as Sarangani capital
[1]Republic Act No. 7228 created Sarangani Province and designated Alabel as its capital.
- 1971
Municipal incorporation
[1]Republic Act No. 6393 created the Municipality of Alabel from eight barrios separated from Dadiangas.
- 1956
Alabel becomes a barrio of Dadiangas
[1]The locality became a barrio of Dadiangas, now General Santos, and adopted the name Alabel.
- 1947
Settlement in Buayan
[1]Families associated with Santiago Alaba and Tomas Beldad Sr. settled in Buayan, establishing the community’s modern documented origins.
Products and positioning
A provincial-capital municipality combining government administration, agriculture, rural services, and access to the General Santos urban and port economy.
Agriculture
Coconut and copra
Coconut cultivation and dried coconut meat are central to Alabel’s agricultural economy. Copra and related coconut outputs support farm households, local trading, and connections with wider markets in southern Mindanao.
Agriculture
Livestock
Cattle farming is identified as a major secondary income source, complemented by goat raising, pork, eggs, and beef production. Livestock contributes to household income and the municipality’s rural commercial base.
Agriculture and fisheries
Other farm and fishery products
Alabel also produces maize, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, cotton, mangoes, fish, charcoal, and woven coconut goods. These activities diversify the local economy beyond coconut and cattle.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Serbisyong Smile sa Barangay
Alabel
An outreach initiative under the Salarda administration in which government agencies delivered coordinated services in different barangays.
Outcome. It became a flagship community-service program associated with the “Smile Alabel” local-government identity.
- 2007Garantisadong Serbisyo
Alabel
A public-service outreach program that brought local offices and national government agencies closer to residents in the barangays.
Outcome. The program strengthened the municipality’s service-delivery and community-outreach profile.
- 2001Kasadyaan Festival
Alabel
An annual cultural festival inaugurated during the Grafilo administration, presenting Alabel through civic festivities and the theme of bliss or communal happiness.
Outcome. It became part of the municipality’s recurring cultural calendar.
Brand decisions
1992
Establishment of Sarangani Province and capital designationStrategyBackground
Republic Act No. 7228 established Sarangani as a province in southern Mindanao.
Action taken
Alabel was designated as the provincial capital.
Aftermath
The municipality became the administrative center for provincial government and public institutions.
1971
Creation of the Municipality of AlabelStrategyBackground
The locality was separated from Dadiangas through Republic Act No. 6393.
Action taken
Eight barrios were organized into a new municipality named Alabel.
Aftermath
Alabel acquired its own municipal government and later became the capital of Sarangani Province.
Sources2 sources
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