General Santos

General Santos sits along Sarangani Bay on the southern coast of Mindanao and serves as a central shipping hub for southern Mindanao. The city stretches along the coastline with a national port, industrial zones, and residential districts extending toward the interior.

General Paulino Santos brought a few dozen families from Luzon here in 1939 to establish a farming settlement on the Sarangani shore. The settlement grew rapidly after World War II and developed into a major fishing center named after its founder.

Locals still call the city Dadiangas, a name from the B'laan language that refers to thorny trees once common across the area. This name remains in everyday use and shows the connection between earlier inhabitants and today's port center.

The city sits roughly two flight hours south of Manila and is accessible by road from other parts of Mindanao. The port and fishing zone are located along the shore, while main streets run through the business district and provide access to residential areas.

The fishing facility at Barangay Tambler processes fresh tuna fit for sashimi daily and employs thousands of people in the cold chain. The facilities operate around the clock and ship the catch directly to international markets, making the city a key node for seafood.

Location: Soccsksargen

Inception: August 18, 1947

Elevation above the sea: 197 m

Shares border with: Malungon, Alabel, Malapatan

Phone: +63833021164

Website: http://gensantos.gov.ph

GPS coordinates: 6.11667,125.16667

Latest update: December 18, 2025 11:47