Pikit

Pikit, officially the Municipality of Pikit, is a local government unit in Cotabato Province on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is not a commercial consumer brand but a municipality whose public identity is associated with local government, agriculture, cultural diversity, and a politically complex location near the Liguasan Marsh and the Bangsamoro region. The municipality is bounded by Aleosan to the north, Pagalungan to the south, Midsayap and the Liguasan Marsh to the west, and Datu Montawal to the east. The settlement’s historical landmark is Fort Pikit, established by Spanish authorities in 1893 after Spain had extended control into the Cotabato area formerly associated with the Sultanate of Maguindanao. The surrounding location was reportedly known locally as Malasiquit, a name linked to its position among or beneath neighboring hills. The fort served as a Spanish military and administrative foothold, but Spanish forces withdrew near the end of the nineteenth century. American occupation followed in 1902. Modern Pikit developed through a government-sponsored settlement program under the Osmeña Colony Act of 1912. On June 17, 1913, an initial group of approximately 120 Christian Filipino colonists from Cebu arrived under colony agent Vicente Lozada. They traveled by river to Fort Pikit and were distributed among several colony areas, including Ladtingan, Calawag, Ginatilan, Panicupan, Manding, and Inug-ug. Additional settlement groups arrived in the following years from the Visayas and Luzon. Schools and a special colony administration were established, creating the institutional foundations for a permanent town. Residents began campaigning for local autonomy and a formal townsite in the 1920s. The colony administration was transferred to the Bureau of Lands in 1928, when Pikit became a municipal district that included the area later associated with Pagalungan. The construction of the Cotabato–Davao national highway in 1935 improved transport through the settlement and supported the movement of agricultural goods. In the late 1940s, administrative arrangements placed the seat of government in Pagalungan while Pikit remained a barrio, but local efforts continued to secure municipal status and a town center at Manding. Pikit became a regular municipality in 1949 through Executive Order No. 270, with Manding as the seat of government. The municipality’s territory later changed substantially. In 1982, nineteen barangays were separated under Batas Pambansa Blg. 206 to form the municipality of Aleosan. Pikit also became associated with armed conflict, including the conflict commonly referred to as the Pikit War between Muslim separatists and Philippine government forces in early 2003. The municipality’s political geography changed again after the 2019 plebiscite on inclusion in the Bangsamoro. Twenty-two Pikit barangays joined the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro after voting affirmatively, while other barangays had either previously voted against inclusion in the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or later petitioned for inclusion. In 2023, the Bangsamoro Parliament approved the creation of new municipalities in the area. Following a plebiscite held on April 13, 2024, affected barangays were allocated to the new municipalities of Malidegao, Ligawasan, and Tugunan, changing Pikit’s administrative configuration. Pikit had a population of 67,220 in the 2024 census, according to the cited reference material. Its economy is strongly agricultural. Corn is a major crop, with the municipality described as having about 5,074 hectares planted and annual production of approximately 13,310 tons. Coconut and freshwater fish are also important. Coconut processing includes the production of copra from dried mature coconut meat, which is used as a raw material for cooking oil and other coconut-derived products. Pikit’s public profile therefore combines municipal administration and community services with an economic base centered on farming, fisheries, transport, and local trade.

Pikit is described as one of the oldest settlements in what is now Cotabato Province. Its historical identity is closely connected to Fort Pikit, a Spanish fortification established in 1893 after Spanish forces expanded into the Cotabato area. The Spanish presence ended near the close of the nineteenth century, and American occupation began in 1902. A major stage in Pikit’s modern development began under the Osmeña Colony Act of 1912. On June 17, 1913, around 120 Christian Filipino colonists from Cebu arrived under Vicente Lozada, the colony agent. They traveled along the Rio Grande de Mindanao to Fort Pikit and were assigned to several settlement areas, including Ladtingan, Calawag, Ginatilan, Panicupan, Manding, and Inug-ug. Further colony groups arrived between 1914 and 1915, while migrants from the Visayas and Luzon arrived in 1918 as independent homeseekers and settlers. The colonies operated under a special administrative structure. Schools were opened, with Ladtingan identified as the first school site. During the 1920s, colonists pressed for a permanent townsite and local autonomy. In 1928, administration was transferred to the Bureau of Lands and Pikit became a municipal district that included Pagalungan. The Cotabato–Davao national highway, completed through the area in 1935, improved transport and helped the movement of farm products. In the late 1940s, the municipal district was reorganized with Pagalungan as the seat of government and Pikit as a barrio. Local planning efforts in 1948 supported Manding’s development as a townsite. Pikit was ultimately created as a regular municipality on September 29, 1949, through Executive Order No. 270, with Manding as its municipal center. The municipality was formed out of Pagalungan, following advocacy associated in the reference material with Congressman Gumbay Piang and Governor Duma Sinsuat. Administrative boundaries changed in 1982, when nineteen barangays were separated to establish Aleosan under Batas Pambansa Blg. 206. Pikit later became a site of armed conflict during the early 2003 confrontation known as the Pikit War, involving Muslim separatists and Philippine government forces. The 2019 Bangsamoro plebiscite produced another important territorial change. Twenty-two of Pikit’s barangays joined the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area. Some had voted unsuccessfully for inclusion in the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2001, while others later petitioned for inclusion in the Bangsamoro, which replaced ARMM under Republic Act No. 11054. In 2023, the Bangsamoro Parliament approved the creation of eight municipalities in the Special Geographic Area. After a plebiscite on April 13, 2024, affected barangays became part of the new municipalities of Malidegao, Ligawasan, and Tugunan, reducing and restructuring Pikit’s area of administration. Pikit is currently organized into twenty barangays according to the cited reference material. The 2024 census recorded 67,220 residents. Its economy remains predominantly rural, with corn as a leading crop and coconut, copra, and freshwater fish also contributing to local livelihoods. The municipality’s identity is consequently defined by the interaction of agricultural production, settlement history, local government, conflict-affected geography, and evolving autonomy arrangements in central Mindanao.

• 2024

  Territorial restructuring ratified

  [1]Pikiten.wikipedia.org

  A plebiscite ratified the creation of new municipalities that incorporated affected former Pikit barangays.

• 2019

  Barangays join the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area

  [1]Pikiten.wikipedia.org

  Twenty-two barangays joined the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area after the 2019 plebiscite.

• 1982

  Aleosan created from part of Pikit

  [1]Pikiten.wikipedia.org

  Nineteen barangays were separated from Pikit under Batas Pambansa Blg. 206 to form Aleosan.

• 1949

  Pikit becomes a regular municipality

  [1]Pikiten.wikipedia.org

  Executive Order No. 270 created Pikit as a regular municipality with Manding as the seat of government.

• 1935

  Cotabato–Davao highway improves access

  [1]Pikiten.wikipedia.org

  The national highway passing through Pikit improved transport and agricultural shipments.

• 1928

  Colony administration transferred

  [1]Pikiten.wikipedia.org

  Administration of the colonies was transferred to the Bureau of Lands, and Pikit became a municipal district.

• 1913

  Colony settlement founded

  [1]Pikiten.wikipedia.org

  The Pikit settlement was founded on June 17 through the Osmeña Colony program, with an initial group of Cebuano colonists.

• 1902

  American occupation begins

  [1]Pikiten.wikipedia.org

  After the Spanish withdrawal, the area came under American occupation.

• 1893

  Fort Pikit established

  [1]Pikiten.wikipedia.org

  Spanish authorities established Fort Pikit as a military and administrative foothold in the Cotabato area.

A rural Philippine municipality positioned through local government, agricultural production, historical settlement, and a strategically sensitive location adjoining the Bangsamoro area.

• Agricultural crop

  Corn

  Corn is one of Pikit’s principal agricultural products and a major source of local economic activity. The municipality is described as having approximately 5,074 hectares planted with corn and annual production of about 13,310 tons.

• Agricultural and processed product

  Coconut and copra

  Coconut is an important crop in Pikit. Copra is produced by splitting mature coconuts and drying the meat, after which it can be sold as a raw material for refined cooking oil and other coconut-based products.

• Fishery product

  Freshwater fish

  Freshwater fish form part of Pikit’s rural economic base, supported by the municipality’s waterways and proximity to the Liguasan Marsh.

• 2023

  Approval of new municipalities in the Special Geographic AreaOther

  Background

  The Bangsamoro Parliament considered new municipalities for communities in the Special Geographic Area.

  Action taken

  Legislation approved the creation of Malidegao, Ligawasan, and Tugunan in the area, subject to ratification.

  Aftermath

  After the April 13, 2024 plebiscite, affected barangays were incorporated into the new municipalities, changing Pikit’s administrative territory.

  Source

• 2019

  Participation in Bangsamoro inclusion plebisciteOther

  Background

  The creation of the Bangsamoro region provided a constitutional and legislative framework for local areas to seek inclusion.

  Action taken

  Twenty-two Pikit barangays joined the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area after an affirmative plebiscite result.

  Aftermath

  The decision placed the barangays within a distinct regional administrative framework and contributed to later proposals for new municipalities.

  Source

• 1949

  Creation of the regular municipalityStrategy

  Background

  Colonists and local advocates had sought a permanent townsite and municipal autonomy since the 1920s.

  Action taken

  Executive Order No. 270 established Pikit as a regular municipality with Manding as its government seat.

  Aftermath

  The decision formalized Pikit’s local-government status and separated its administration from the earlier Pagalungan arrangement.

  Source

• 2023

  New Bangsamoro municipalities affect Pikit barangays[1]Pikiten.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  The Bangsamoro Parliament approved legislation creating Malidegao, Ligawasan, and Tugunan in the area, with affected Pikit barangays transferred after ratification of the territorial changes in an April 13, 2024 plebiscite.

• 2019

  Twenty-two Pikit barangays join the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area[1]Pikiten.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  Following a February 6, 2019 plebiscite, twenty-two barangays in Pikit became part of the Special Geographic Area of the newly established Bangsamoro region.

• 2003

  Pikit becomes associated with the Pikit War[1]Pikiten.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The area experienced armed conflict between Muslim separatists and Philippine government forces in early 2003, an episode commonly referred to as the Pikit War.

1. 1Pikiten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Municipality of Pikit official websitepikit-cotabatoprov.gov.ph