Many have long conquered the challenge of the highest peak in the country. But for Kidapawan, the city nestled at the foothills of this majestic mountain; the challenge is a never-ending journey and is always with concrete steps forward.
Mt. Apo is the ultimate inspiration. Its upward glory has been the measure of Kidapawan City’s aspirations. And no one would mind if progress for its city-down-the-slope, shaped like a butterfly net, would soar higher than its inspiration.
For Kidapawan, arduous climb towards progress has been in a phase that is constant. Being known as the City of Fruits and Highland Springs, agriculture and tourism have become the main tools in conquering the 
height set by a common dream.
The city is named after its two great features as a land with so much natural beauty, tida and pawan, the Ubo-Manobo words for spring and highland. Its 33,936.4 hectares total land area enjoys an even distribution of rainfall all year round, pegged at 7.07 inches average annually. It is not surprising that agriculture constitute 56% in the development. Grain production has been giving the farmers sustainable livelihood. And the greater harvest is from the abundance of exotic fruits: durian, rambutan, mango, mangosteen, lanzones, marang and banana. With these products, Kidapawan has been known as The Fruit Bowl of the Province.
Apo has been true to its name when it comes to grandeur with Lake Venado and Lake Agko as added attractions. The twin peaks have drawn climbers from all over the world. And to the less daring, Kidapawan offers a lot out of its spots with Eco-Tourism potentials. There is Paniqui; a hidden falls surrounded by hot springs that run deep to bring Matingao River its crystal-clear waters. And as National Park, Mt. Apo has many geological features such as the Mandarangan steaming grounds. The fruit farms and orchards enjoying the fertile volcanic soil have also become major tourist attractions.
Downtown Kidapawan is with a character. The line of welcoming pine trees on its highway somehow softens the pavement that reflects so much of the growing city spirit. Investors are starting to discover its potentials. The biggest single investment in the City was still in the late 1980’s. This is the 1.2 billion-peso Mt. Apo Geothermal Power Plant operated by the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC). The presence of 14 commercial and universal banks is a sign that business arm, are the entrepreneurial endeavours of some local businessmen and one distinctive establishment that has become a favourite stop for its tourist is the Boyd, Symon and Benedict’s Pizza Hauz.
Kidapawan being in the midway and with all its beauty has become a major stopover. It is sandwiched by two business centers, the cities of Davao and Cotabato. Even with just a short experience of its refreshing milieu, it is for certain that one will be tempted to go with what could be the unstoppable force of the future: the highland city in steps forward to progress.
City of Fruits and Highland Springs
Originally named a district of Pikit in 1942 and was later declared separate Municipality by virtue of Executive order No. 82 issued by then President Manuel Roxas on August 18, 1947 – thereby becoming the fourth town of the then Empire Province of Cotabato, which was then composed of the municipalities of Cotabato (now Cotabato City). Dulawan (later named Datu Piang) and Midsayap.
Kidapawan City was legally created by virtue of Republic Act No. 8500, signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos on February 12, 1998, making a component City of the Province of Cotabato. Despite opposition from certain quarters, the people overwhelming ratified the said Act on March 21, 1998 during a plebiscite conducted for the purpose.
Kidapawan was derived from the Manobo works “Tida”, meaning “Spring” and “Pawan” meaning “highland”, hence, Tidapawan – “ Highland Spring”. The original inhabitants were Manobos. The influx of Christian settlers from Luzon and the Visayas has resulted in the evolution of the word Tidapawan to Kidapawan.
LAND AREA: 34,007.20 hectares, about 5,301 hectares are part of the Mt. Apo Natural Park.
LOCATION: Southern portion of Cotabato Province; located almost midway of the citied of Davao and Cotabato at a distance of 110km. And 120km, respectively.
BOUNDARIES: North: Pres. Roxas and Magpet; South: Makilala; Southwest: M’lang; Northwest: Matalam
TERRAIN: Flat to hilly and mountainous; southwestern and northwestern portions are generally flat
CLIMATE: Wet and dry, characterized by an even distribution of rainfall year round; average temperature is 27.5 degrees Celsius.
HYDRO-GEOLOGY: Abundant fresh ground and surface water; large water reservoir in watershed areas of Brgys. Balabag and Perez.
NATURAL RESOURCES: Primarily an agricultural area; major crops include rubber, grains, sugarcane, and exotic fruits like durian, rambutan, mangosteen, marang, lanzones, banana and mango.
Major Tourist Destination
The majestic highest peak Mt. Apo, towering 10,311 feet above-sea-level, the home of the almost extinct Philippine Eagle, a majestic mountain surrounded by moss-covered century old trees, captivating fauna, sulfuric craters and massive boulders. It occupies a total area of 72,769 hectares of rainforest. It is one of the most visited summer respite of local and foreign tourist.
LAKE VENADO – a hidden lake mirrors its crystal waters at an elevation of 7,200 feet above seal level, making it as the highest lake in the Philippines.
KAWAYAN FALLS ¬¬– visit the luscious curtain like waterfall found in boundary Magpet and Kidapawan.
MARBEL FALLS - a hidden twin falls about 60 to 70 feet high surrounded by hot spring.
When in Kidapawan, visit and experience the steaming Blue Lake Agco in Barangay Ilomavis and witness the wonders of nature on its hot and cold springs converge at an elevation of 4,200 feet above sea-level
At the heart of the foot of Mt. Apo is a place where you can come and relax...Mingle with mother nature with its endemic flora and fauna surround the Steaming Blue Lake Agco.
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