1. Social Composition and Characteristics

The people of Tantangan have diverse heritages and are multi-lingual which like other areas are composed of fiftyeight local tribes and four from foreign countries. As of 2020, majority of the people of Tantangan speaks Hiligaynon/Ilonggo (53.22%). The top three (3) groups in the municipality in terms of ethnicity are the Ilonggos, Ilocanos, and the Maguindanaons. The b’laan and t’boli tribes are 2.95% and 2.67% respectively have a total of 5.62% combined of the total population of Tantangan. The Cebuano speaking group has a total of 2.51% of the total population of the town.

It could be noted that the whole municipality is interspersed with the different ethnic groups, however, the ilonggos converges in the barangays of Maibo, New Iloilo, Cabuling, New Lambunao, Libas, and Tinongcop; while the Ilocanos converges in the barangays of Mangilala, New Cuyapo, Poblacion, Bukay Pait, and San Felipe. The maguindanaons have no distinct barangay, however, they are interspersed in the barangays of Magon, Poblacion, and Dumadalig, Maibo, Cabuling, New Iloilo, San Felipe, and Tinongcop.

Characteristics of all the people composing the population of Tantangan is influenced by their own culture such that the maguindanaon and the indigenous peoples have their own customs, beliefs, and traditions.

Table 1.1. Household Population by Ethnicity and Sex 2020

No.	Ethnicity	Household Population	% to Total	Sex
				Male	Female
1	Hiligaynon/Ilonggo	24345	53.22	12659	11686
2	Ilocano	9908	21.66	5152	4756
3	Maguindanaon	5727	12.52	2978	2749
4	B'laan	1350	2.95	702	648
5	T'boli	1221	2.67	635	586
6	Cebuano	1149	2.51	597	552
7	Bikol	705	1.54	367	338
8	Tagalog	682	1.49	355	327
9	Bisaya	115	0.25	60	55
10	Kuray a	56	0.12	29	27
11	Tausug	51	0.11	27	24
12	Waray	47	0.10	24	23
13	Aromanen-Manobo	42	0.09	22	20
14	Kapampangan	33	0.07	17	16
15	Maranao	33	0.07	17	16
16	Other Local Ethnicity (37)	271	0.59	141	130
17	Foreign Ethnicity	9	0.02	5	4
	TOTAL	45,744	100	23,787	21,957

Source: PSA, MPDO Computations

2. Population Size and Growth Rate:

A closer look at the historical growth of population of Tantangan from 1960 to 2020 show an increasing demographic trend from a population size of 12,644 in 1960, 15,943 in 1970, 22,207 in 1980, 26,346 in 1990, 32,636 in 2000, 35,825 in 2007, 40,461 in 2010, 43,245 in 2015, and 45,744 in 2020. It is observed that the population has more than doubled between 1960 and 1990, and increased by 342% in 55 years between 1960 and 2020. Population doubling time is estimated at 37 years.

As to population density and using the present area of 149 square kilometers, the density in 1960 was 85 persons per square kilometre; went up to 107 person per square kilometer in 1970; 149 person per square kilometer in 1980, 177 person per square kilometer in 1990, 219 person per square kilometer in 2000, 272 person per square kilometer in 2010, and 290 person per square kilometers in 2015. This means that every person living in Tantangan has an area of 1.18 hectares of land to occupy in 1960, and in 2015, each person has only 0.3461 hectare to occupy, barely enough to construct a house with little space for backyard garden; and this happened only in a span of fifty-five (55) years.

Table 2. Historical Growth of Population, 1960 -2020

No.	Censal Year	Population	Increase (Decrease)	Growth Rate (Tantangan)	Growth Rate
					Socot	Region XII	Phils
1	1960, Feb. 15	12,644
2	1970, May 6	15,943	3,299	2.61	8.49
3	1975, May 1	17,147	1,204	1.51	6.09
4	1980, May 1	22,207	5,060	5.9	4.38
5	1990, May 1	26,346	4,139	1.89	3.43
6	1995, Sept. 1	30,044	3,698	2.80	3.03
7	2000, May 1	32,636	2,592	1.72	2.24	2.69	2.36
8	2007, Sept. 1	35,825	3,189	1.39	1.58	2.41	2.04
9	2010, May 1	40,461	4,636	2.17	2.54	2.38	1.41
10	2015, Aug. 1	43,245	2,784	1.38
11	2020, May 1	45,744	2,499	1.16

Source: Philipine Statistics Authority

3. HH Population, No. of HH, & Average HH Size

Household population refers to the total population less the institutional population (the population enumerated in jails, military camps, seminaries, mental hospital, leprosaria; all of which are not found in Tantangan). Average household size is computed by dividing the household population with the number of households.

The total household population of Tantangan as of 2020 is 45,744, higher by 2,499 to that of 2015 census. This translates to an average household size of 4.09 persons. There are 4 barangays of Tantangan that exceeds the average household size of the municipality namely Cabuling, Dumadalig, New Lambunao, and Poblacion.

Table 3. HH Population, No. of HH and Average HH Size, by Barangay, 2020

No.	Barangay	HH Population	Number of HHs	Average HH Size
					1	Bukay Pait	4,186	1,141	3.84
2	Cabuling	2,122	524	4.77
3	Dumadalig	4,638	1,020	4.65
4	Libas	3,352	764	3.92
5	Magon	2,547	628	4.06
6	Maibo	3,282	678	3.98
7	Mangilala	1,256	319	4.02
8	New Cuyapo	1,158	337	3.80
9	New Iloilo	4,802	1,046	4.04
10	New Lambunao	2,113	526	4.43
11	Poblacion	8,360	1,901	4.23
12	San Felipe	5,263	1,096	3.71
13	Tinongcop	2,665	546	3.98
	TOTAL	45,744	10,526	4.09

Source: PSA, MPDO Calculations

4. Migration Pattern

The National Statistics Office’ 1980 Census of Population and Housing (analysis) on migration pattern for South Cotabato tells that of the total household population 5 years old and over, 91.13 percent were residents of the same city or municipality on May 1, 1975 and on May 1, 1980. Out of a total of 8.81 percent who changed residence at one point between May 1, 1975 and May 1, 1980, 4.24 percent transferred to another municipality within their home province while 4.57 percent moved across provincial boundaries.

As observed in the Municipality of Tantangan, in-migration is evident in areas where industries are located like Poblacion and Dumadalig. In-migration is also intensive in Barangay San Felipe where two (2) housing projects are located.

5. Population Density

Population density is the measurement of population per unit area expressed as the number of persons per unit of land. In 2020, average population density of Tantangan is 305 persons per square kilometer of land. Barangay San Felipe has the highest density with 791 persons per square kilometer followed by Barangay New Iloilo with 754 persons per square kilometer. Barangay Mangilala has the lowest density at 170 persons per square kilometer kilometer followed by Barangay Dumadalig with 223 persons per square kilometer.

Table 5. Population Density by Barangay, 2020

No.	Barangay	Population	Area (sq.km)	Pop. Density
					1	Bukay Pait	4,186	14.53	288
2	Cabuling	2,122	7.27	292
3	Dumadalig	4,638	20.76	223
4	Libas	3,352	10.42	322
5	Magon	2,547	8.10	314
6	Maibo	3,282	14.06	233
7	Mangilala	1,256	7.40	170
8	New Cuyapo	1,158	5.02	231
9	New Iloilo	4,802	6.37	754
10	New Lambunao	2,113	4.11	514
11	Poblacion	8,360	34.53	242
12	San Felipe	5,263	6.65	791
13	Tinongcop	2,665	9.28	287
	TOTAL	45,744	149.7	305

Source: PSA, MPDO Calculations

6. Household Distribution

The table below show that the Poblacion, being the seat of the Municipal Government has the highest number of population and presently the only urban barangay. It has a population count of 8,360 persons as of 2020 making a population share of 18.28% of the total population of Tantangan. It is followed by Barangay San Felipe with a population count of 5,263 equivalents to 11.51% share of the total population and Barangay New Iloilo with a population count of 4,802 equivalents to 10.50% of the total population of Tantangan. The smallest barangays in terms of population count and share are barangay Mangilala and New Cuyapo with a population count of 1,256 and 1,158 equivalents to 2.75% and 2.53% respectively.

Table 6. Population Size and Share by Barangay

No.	Barangay	Population	% Share
				1	Bukay Pait	4,186	9.15
2	Cabuling	2,122	4.64
3	Dumadalig	4,638	10.13
4	Libas	3,352	7.33
5	Magon	2,547	5.57
6	Maibo	3,282	7.17
7	Mangilala	1,256	2.75
8	New Cuyapo	1,158	2.53
9	New Iloilo	4,802	10.50
10	New Lambunao	2,113	4.62
11	Poblacion	8,360	18.28
12	San Felipe	5,263	11.51
13	Tinongcop	2,665	5.83
	TOTAL	45,744	100

Source: PSA Census, MPDO Calculations

7. Urban-Rural Distribution and Level of Urbanization

“Urban Areas” is defined by the Philippine Statistics Authority-National Statistical Coordination Board (PSA-NSCB) through Resolution Number 9, series of 2003 enumerated the barangays classified as urban and rural. In the municipality of Tantangan, the urban-rural distribution shows that Poblacion is “urban” while the 12 barangays are classified as “rural” barangays; urban population accounts to 18.28% of the total population and rural population accounts to 81.73% of the total population, meaning, most of the people of Tantangan are in the rural areas. There is no additional urban barangay in Tantangan in forty (40) years as of this writing.

Table 7. Urban-Rural Population, 2020

No.	Barangay	Total	Urban	%	Rural	%
							1	Bukay Pait	4,186	-0-	-0-	4,186	9.15
2	Cabuling	2,122	-0-	-0-	2,122	4.64
3	Dumadalig	4,638	-0-	-0-	4,638	10.13
4	Libas	3,352	-0-	-0-	3,352	7.33
5	Magon	2,547	-0-	-0-	2,547	5.57
6	Maibo	3,282	-0-	-0-	3,282	7.17
7	Mangilala	1,256	-0-	-0-	1,256	2.75
8	New Cuyapo	1,158	-0-	-0-	1,158	2.53
9	New Iloilo	4,802	-0-	-0-	4,802	10.50
10	New Lambunao	2,113	-0-	-0-	2,113	4.62
11	Poblacion	8,360	8,360	18.28	-0-	-0-
12	San Felipe	5,263	-0-	-0-	5,263	11.51
13	Tinongcop	2,665	-0-	-0-	2,665	5.83
	TOTAL	45,744	8,360	18.28	37,384	81.73

Source: PSA 2020 Census, MPDO Calculations

8. Age Sex Distribution

According to published observations on age distribution in the perspective of world’s population, the developing countries such as the Philippines has a significantly younger population than the developed countries, resulting to a population pyramid characterized by a very broad base that gradually narrows at the top. Studies show that young structures in less developed countries are due mainly to higher levels of childbearing in the past years.

The table below shows that young dependents aged 0 to 14 comprise 32.51% of the household population and the old dependents (aged 65 years and above) is 4.80% of the household population. The remaining 62.68% of the population are the economically active or “working-age” population (15 to 64 years old). Overall dependency ratio for Tantangan is 60; which means that for every working age population, there are about 60 dependents (52 young dependents and 8 old dependents).

The overall sex ratio of Tantangan is 107, meaning that 107 males for every 100 females, and male population is higher with 23,604 against female with 22,140 counts. Male population account for 52% while the female population is 48% of the household population in 2020.

The resulting population pyramid of Tantangan, which graphically show the proportion of the population of a given age and sex with respect to the household population, reflects an expansive pyramid characterized by a broad base that tapers at the top. A pyramid generally reflects the pattern of fertility, mortality, and migration in the past, wherein a broad-based pyramid is a result of a very high fertility or population growth rate while a narrow-based pyramid indicates low fertility.

The age brackets Under 5 (0 – 4), 5 – 9, and 10 – 14 have the highest percentage accounting to 11.55%, 10.47%, and 10.21% respectively. The age bracket having the least percentage is 80 years and over accounting to 0.77%.

It could be noted that more than one half of the female population of Tantangan (51.68%) belongs to the reproductive age group or child bearing age of 15 to 49 years old recorded at 11,434. The female old dependents are 1,230 or 5.56% of the female population is higher than the male old dependents with 965 or 4.09% of the total male population. The young dependents have similar percentage at 32.84% and 32.15% of the total male and female population respectively.

It is also observed that starting the age bracket of 60-64, there is a significant shift of sex ratio where the female population outnumber the male population at a ratio of 95.25 and ending at 61.07 males for every 100 females at age 80 and over. This reveals that women tend to outlive men, which may be attributed to the lifestyle that most men lead and the pressure they take on as head of the family.

Table 8. HH Population by Age & Sex Cohorts and Sex Ratio by Age Group, 2020

No.	Sex Group	Both Sex	Male	Female	Sex Ratio
						1	Tantangan	45,744	23, 604	22,140	106.6
2	Under 1	992	572	470	111.0
3	1 - 4	4,291	2,182	2,109	103.4
4	5 - 9	4,913	2,579	2,334	110.0
5	10 - 14	4,670	2,472	2,198	112.4
6	15 - 19	4,254	2,188	2,066	105.8
7	20 - 24	4,382	2,244	2,138	104.9
8	25 - 29	4,002	2,089	1,913	109.1
9	30 - 34	3,490	1,863	1,627	114.5
10	35 - 39	3,079	1,618	1,461	110.7
11	40 - 44	2,406	1,283	1,123	114.1
12	45 - 49	2,305	1,199	1,106	108.3
13	50 - 54	1,949	1,010	939	107.6
14	55 - 59	1,551	788	763	103.3
15	60 - 64	1,235	593	642	92.2
16	65 - 69	855	411	444	92.3
17	70 - 74	567	246	321	76.3
18	75 - 79	421	176	245	71.8
19	80-Above	352	132	220	60.0

Source: PSA Census, MPDO Calculations

9. Dependency Ratio

Total population of Tantangan in 2020 is 45,744. Dependent age group are those with ages 0 to 14 years old and 65 years old and above. Table 3.8 above shows that there are 14,866 individuals or 52 percent of the total population belonging to ages 0 to 14 years old and 2,195 or 8 percent of the total population which belong to the 65 years old and above in 2020 census in the municipality of Tantangan. These age groups which comprise the dependent sector has a total of 17,061 individuals or 60% of the total population in 2020. The productive age group is estimated at 28,653 individuals or 63% of the total population. Dependency ratio therefore is placed at 114:1 which means that for every 100 working persons, they have only 60 dependents; 52 young dependents and 8 old dependents.

10. Projected Population

In planning processes, it is necessary to know what are the needs, demand, and up to what extent is the volume of services every organization intends to provide and deliver. The population of the Municipality of Tantangan is expected to reach 51,000 individuals by the year 2030 at the normal and assumed average annual growth rate of 1.16%. the population may exceed the 51,000 level by 2030 if in-migration will increase in the coming years if investments in Tantangan is infused at an accelerated phase.

11. Status of Well Being

The quality of life of the municipality’s residents can be measured in terms of their status of well-being relative to certain desired or acceptable standards, as well as the level of social services that are made available to them. Indicators of well being includes health, education, social welfare, housing, employment and income, recreation, and protective services.

11.1. Health

a. Medical Health Facilities and Workers

The provision of health services in the Municipality of Tantangan is catered by the municipal government through the Municipal Health Office and Barangay Health Stations. More serious cases are referred to the Integrated Provincial Hospital at Koronadal City and to the Southern Philippines Medical Center at Davao City. For well-to-do families, they acquire medical care from private hospitals at Tacurong, Koronadal, and General Santos City. As to personnel, the rural health unit is headed by the Municipal Health Officer, aided by 1 Dentist, 2 Public Health Nurse, and Sanitary Inspector. Other personnel include Job Order employees and Human Resource for Health deployed and paid by the Department of Health. The Barangay Health Station is headed by a Rural Health Midwife and Human Resources for Health (HRH) and aided by the Barangay Health Workers of the respective barangays.

b. Leading Causes of Mortality (Death)

The top ten leading causes of mortality (death) in the municipality of Tantangan for all ages are Undetermined Natural Cause with 55 reported deaths in 2022, followed by Cancer (all forms) with 22 cases, Myocardinal Infarction with 19 cases, Cerebrovascular Accident with 15 cases, COPD with 15 cases, and CKD Secondary to Diabetic Nephrosclerosis with 12 cases. There 94 total number of deaths (50 years old) reported.