Alabel
Alabel is the capital municipality of Sarangani province in the Philippines. It sits at the head of Sarangani Bay in the southern part of Mindanao, near General Santos City. The town has about 90,000 residents (2024 census) living in 14 barangays, and it covers roughly 511 square kilometers.
The town began as a settlement in 1947, founded by the families of Santiago Alaba and Tomas Beldad. It became a barrio of Dadiangas (now General Santos) in 1956, and was established as a municipality on September 10, 1971. Alabel became the capital of the new province of Sarangani in 1992. In recent years, Sitio Ladol in Poblacion was turned into a regular barangay in 2012, and New Canaan was created from part of Pag-asa in 2021.
Alabel’s economy is mainly agricultural, with products such as coconuts, maize, sugarcane, and fruits, along with animal husbandry and fishing. Its growth has been supported by better roads and its proximity to General Santos. The town hosts the Alabel Mega Public Market and features a China-funded rehabilitation center in Kawas. It has earned national recognition for health initiatives, including a strong No Smoking policy.
Culturally, Alabel celebrates its Foundation Day on September 10 and the Kasadyaan Festival. The Patronal Fiesta honors San Isidro Labrador on May 15, and the Mutya ng Alabel pageant is a local attraction. Education is anchored by Alabel National High School and Alabel National Science High School, with the Department of Education Sarangani office located in the town. The local government focuses on bringing services closer to residents through programs like Serbisyong Smile sa Barangay.
Alabel is connected by road to General Santos, with transportation services organized by the ALTRAMSCO union. The area is home to diverse languages, including Cebuano, Tboli, Maguindanao, Blaan, and Tagalog. The town remains a gateway to Sarangani’s farms and beaches, blending agricultural heritage with growing development.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 05:42 (CET).