HISTORY

Barangay Apopong is located in the northwestern side of the City of General Santos along
the National Highway going to Marbel, Koronadal, South Cotabato about 5 kilometers away
from the city. The word “Apopong” is a B’laan term, which means “Heart”.

In 1954, when General Santos City was still a Municipality of Buayan, Apopong was named
Sitio New Society of Sinawal. The Bureau of Lands surveyed it on the same year. The
survey was finished in 1956 and the subdivision plan was signed and approved by the
Director of Lands on May 21, 1958.

Land area of Apopong is 1,907 hectares or 3.56% of the total land area of the entire city.
The barrio site is about 28.3 hectares, more or less, composed of more than 500 lots which
was known as Apopong Public Land Subdivision, PLS-356. Lot No. 1 of PLS-356 known as
the Sitio New Society was earmarked by the Bureau of Lands as barrio site but it was
subdivided into 12 lots, surveyed, approved and titled to individual applicants except Lots
1-k, 1-f and 1-j.

After the survey, the population of the sitio grew rapidly as the migratory trends of the people
towards General Santos City also increased by the thousands annually. Establishment of
more businesses never stopped and the economic boom of the city started.

The first settlers in the area were the families of Alilaya, Ibad, Pragados, Hernandez,
Lapong, Cabanit, Isidro and Villavende among others. In 1972, the settlers grouped
themselves and formed an organization, which they call Muslim-Christian Association. Mr.
Melchor Legaspi and Mr. Sammy Akmad came out to be their President and Vice-President,
respectively. This association served as the bridge of the residents to the local government
during the term of the late Mayor Antonio C. Acharon.

In 1974, during the term of Bernardino Lozano, a barrio captain of Sinawal, Apopong
became a part again of Sinawal. On December 9, 1976, the Sangguniang Bayan favorably
endorsed to the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos though the Department of Local
Government and Community Development (DLGCD) through a Resolution No. 55-A, Series
of 1976, and the proclamation of Apopong as a barangay.

Due to the clamor of the populace, the then District Supervisor, Mr. Jacobino J. Java issued
a memorandum sometime in 1991 to Mrs. Perla Sol Amboy, one of the teachers in
Dadiangas West Elementary School through the order of the Schools Superintendent, Mrs.
Leonor E. Peñalosa to open a primary school in the area and accept enrollees in Grades I
and II pupils and find ways and means to hold classes for the enrollees.

Few days after, a temporary school was erected through the help of the residents and
classes in Grades I and II started in June 1991 with 91 pupils in Grade I and 32 pupils in
Grade II. Ms. Erlinda Anie was the first teacher in the said school.

It was only in August 24, 1982 when Minister Jose A. Roño of the Ministry of Local
Government in his letter addressed to Mr. Pablo Manon-og Solis of Apopong, extended his
recognition and the existence of the said barangay was duly recognized. In his letter, he also
approved that the barangay may now be organized through the election of barangay
officials.

In August 1988, Ex-City Councilor Mr. Ciriaco Cornelio donated 2,000 square meters of lot at
the western side of New Society Elementary School in favor of the barangay where to
construct a barangay hall and other public buildings. This deed of donation was made
possible through the efforts of former OIC City Mayor Dominador A. Lagare and then
Barangay Captain Delia Rabanes.