A region in central Mindanao which is made up of four provinces, and one independent city located in a nearby province. Cotabato City is part of Soccsksargen, but is located within the province of Maguindanao, which is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The name SOCCSKSARGEN is an acronym that stands for the region's four provinces and one of its other cities: South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City.