Maguindanao del Sur

Foundation Maguindanao del Sur was formed when Maguindanao province was split into two provinces; the other province being Maguindanao del Norte. The division occurred following a plebiscite on September 17, 2022 which ratified Republic Act 11550 which proposed the partitioning of the province. As per law former Maguindanao Governor Mariam Mangudadatu was expected to become the governor of the newly formed Maguindanao del Sur province. However an issue arose since the determination of the first set of officials of the province presumes that the plebiscite was held prior to the 2022 national and local elections. However the plebiscite was postponed to a date after the elections. This led to the Commission on Elections to come up with a legal opinion. The position was issued on September 28, 2022, where the election body conclude that only the Department of the Interior and Local Government could appoint the first officials of the province. A transition period would take place until January 9, 2023. ==Geography==

Maguindanao del Sur is composed of 24 municipalities and 2 legislative districts. It has a total area of . Being landlocked, it is bounded by Maguindanao del Norte to the west, Cotabato to the north and east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south ==Demographics==

According to the 2020 census conducted before the province's creation, Maguindanao del Sur has a population of 741,221 people, with a population density of . The predominant ethnic group is the Maguindanaon. ==Economy==

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, registered economic growth of the province had decelerated from 10.2 percent (before its establishment) to 6.7 percent in 2022. Agricultural growth from forestry and fishery had a growth declined to 5.2 percent. However, economic growth from services grew by 8.9 percent. Among services, accommodation and food services accounted for 31.7 percent. ==Notable people==

• Lav Diaz – filmmaker ==References==