Davao (province)

Davao Dabaw
Former province of the Philippines
← 1914-1967 →   →   →
Location of the historical province of Davao.
Capital		Davao City
History
•	Dissolution of Moro Province	1914
•	Formation of Davao Region	May 8, 1967 1967
Area		20,244 km2 (7,816 sq mi)
Today part of		Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental

The huge Province of Davao was a former province of the Philippines in the island of Mindanao. It was divided into three provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur with the passage of Philippine Republic Act No. 4867 on May 20, 1967. It was one of the largest, most populous and prosperous provinces in the country during its time, being colonized and inhabited by immigrants from the provinces in Luzon and Visayas island groups.

Existence

The province was established after the dissolution of Moro Province in 1914. Before the province broke up, massive waves of immigrants from Visayas and Luzon island groups are already immigrating in the province. Japanese immigrants, mostly rich businessmen and pioneers, also immigrated to its capital Davao in large numbers, making it the Philippines' Little Japan. Having an area of more than 20,000 square kilometers, its borders are almost identical to its predecessor, the Nueva Guipuzcoa province, which also control parts of what are now Cotabato, Bukidnon and Caraga provinces years before during the Spanish governance in the country.

It was made a district of Department of Mindanao and Sulu from 1914 until 1920.

Its capital town, Davao, became a city in March 16, 1936 as the provincial congressman Romualdo Quimpo filed Bill 609 (passed as Commonwealth Act 51), paving the creation of the city from the merger of town of Davao (Mayo) and Guianga District. The bill called for the appointment of local officials by the late President Manuel L. Quezon. By then it was the only city in the province throughout its existence. What is now the Davao City Legislative Building served as the capitol for the governor and other provincial officials in the province.

On 1942, during the outbreak of World War II in the Philippines, forces of the Imperial Japanese Army invaded the province, becoming one of the territories in the country to be first taken by Japan. Guerrilla parties were then organized in the province to battle Japanese garrison forces there. It was in late 1944 when the Allies began liberating the island of Mindanao, and earlier the next year the dreadful Battle of Davao was fought to eliminate any Japanese resistance in the province.

The province was one of the few provinces in the country to recover quickly from the war. Its capital city resumed its role as the main economic center of Mindanao. Though some local Japanese inhabitants in the provinces were expelled from the country due to enmity after the war, most have been integrated to the local Filipino population. After the war, migration to the province has steadily increased due to the great employment and agricultural opportunities the province have, especially in its capital city.

In 1948, all municipal districts in the country have been abolished. This paved the way for the creation of several towns in the province, such as Digos, Padada, Compostela, and many others.

To reorganize governance in the country, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed the Republic Act No. 4867 on May 8, 1967,^[1] dividing the province into three. The then-Davao Province is currently a region consisting of five provinces: Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley.

The province of Davao del Norte bore this name from 1972 until 1998, when Compostela Valley broke off as a separate province.

Davao Occidental was created by virtue of Republic Act 10360 enacted on July 23, 2013, the province is the newest in the country, carved out from the southern part of Davao del Sur. The Act was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on November 28, 2012, and December 5, 2012, respectively, and signed by President Benigno Aquino III on January 14, 2013.^[2] A plebiscite was held on October 28, 2013 along with the Barangay elections and the majority of votes cast were "Yes", ratifying the province.

See also

• Davao Region
• Mindanao
• Provinces of the Philippines

References