Davao Region

Region XI
Davao Region
Region
From top, left to right: Malita, Davao Chinatown, Philippine Eagle Center, Island Garden City of Samal, Tagum City, Panabo City, Mati City, Mount Apo, People's Park, Digos City National High School

Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 7°05′00″N 125°35′00″E / 7.0833333333333°N 125.58333333333°E / 7.0833333333333; 125.58333333333Coordinates: 7°05′00″N 125°35′00″E / 7.0833333333333°N 125.58333333333°E / 7.0833333333333; 125.58333333333
Country Philippines
Island group Mindanao
Regional center Davao City
Area
 • Total 20,244 km2 (7,816 sq mi)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 4,468,563
 • Density 220/km2 (570/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ISO 3166 code PH-11
Provinces 5
Cities 6
Municipalities 43
Barangays 1162
Cong. districts 11
Languages Cebuano language, Mandayan, Dibabawon, Mansakan, Manobo, Tagalog, Ilokano, Sangirese, others

Davao Region or formerly called Southern Mindanao (Filipino: Kadabawan) is one of the regions of the Philippines, designated as Region XI.[2] It is located on the southeastern portion of Mindanao, and consists of five provinces, namely: Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and the newly created, Davao Occidental. The region encloses the Davao Gulf and its regional center is Davao City. Davao is the Hispanicized pronunciation of daba-daba, the Bagobo word for "fire" (the Cebuano translation is "kalayo").

Etymology

Many historians believe that the name "Davao" is actually the mixture of the three names that three different tribes, the earliest settlers in the region, had for the Davao River. The Manobos, an aboriginal tribe, referred to the Davao River as Davohoho. Another tribe, the Bagobos, referred to the river as Davohaha, which means "fire", while another tribe, the Guiangan tribe, called the river as Duhwow.

History

The history of the region dates back to the times when various tribes occupied the region. It is believed that the Manobos, Mandayas and the Bagobos actually occupied the area. These are the same tribes that created the small settlements and communities that eventually became Mindanao.

First contact of the region by Europeans

The Davao Gulf area is the first region in the country that is in contact with the Europeans, with such contacts taking place as early as 16th century. The Portuguese are the ones who preceded the Spaniards, who are the ones to colonize the region albeit much later, in sighting and visiting the region. In 1512, Francisco Serrano was shipwrecked in the shallow waters and coral reefs of Cape of San Agustin, located in what is now the province of Davao Oriental. In 1538, Capt. Francisco de Castro, a Portuguese captain, was driven by strong winds to the southeastern coast of Mindanao. He baptized several chieftains in the area.

Around January 1546, St Francis Xavier, a Jesuit, left Malacca and went to Molucca Islands, then called the Spice Islands, where the Portuguese had some settlements, and for a year and a half he preached the Gospel to the inhabitants of Amboyna, Ternate, Baranura, and other lesser islands. It is claimed by some that during this expedition he landed on the island of Mindanao, which is confirmed by some writers of the seventeenth century, and in the Bull of canonization issued in 1623. It is also said that he is the one to have preached the Gospel in Mindanao.

Spanish administration

For centuries the tribes lived in relative peace until the Spanish, under the adventurous Spanish businessman Don Jose Oyanguren, arrived in the region in 1847. At that time, the Moro tribal chieftain Datu Bago was in control of the area in what is now Davao City. Don Oyanguren attempted to conquer the area which Datu Bago had ruled; although he failed at first, the Moro chieftain eventually evacuated his people to live in the areas near Mount Apo. This is the time the town of Davao, then called Nueva Vergara by the Spaniards, was established in the year 1848.

Don Oyanguren attempted to develop the region. Although the Spanish gained the upper hand when they finally controlled the ports of the region, the population of Davao grew very slowly until the arrival of Christian missionaries in the area in 1890.

American administration

After the Spanish–American War in 1898, Spanish rule in the region ended. Americans then landed in the region and they subsequently developed the regions communications and transportation systems. During this period, private farm ownership grew in the region. Japanese migration in the region began as two Japanese entrepreneurs, Kyosaburo Otta and Yoshizo Furokawa, were finding better agricultural lands for building abaca and coconut plantations in the region. The Port of Davao was opened on 1900, becoming the first Philippine international port to be established in the south.

In 1903 until 1914, the region was one of the districts of the former Moro Province in Mindanao. After 1914, the province was replaced by an American colonial agency called Department of Mindanao and Sulu, which spanned the entire Mindanao island except Lanao. The agency lasted from 1914 to 1920.

Wartime Japanese occupation

In 1942, during World War II, as the Japanese occupation of the Philippines began, the region was one of the first among the Philippine regions to be subjected by Japanese occupation. The Japanese immigrants in Davao acted as a fifth column, welcoming the Japanese invaders during World War II. These Japanese were hated by the Moro Muslims and disliked by the Chinese.[3][4] The Moros were judged as "fully capable of dealing with Japanese fifth columnists and invaders alike."[5] The Moros were to fight the Japanese invaders when they landed at Davao on Mindanao.[6][7][8][9][10][11] The Japanese went back to their ships at night to sleep since the Moros struck so much fear into them, even though the Moros were outnumbered by the Japanese.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18] The longest battle of the Allied liberation campaign, the Battle of Davao, took place in 1945. After the war, the region eventually passed to the American hands again for at least almost one year before the formal Philippine independence in July 4, 1946; most of the Japanese living in the region were now integrated in the Filipino population.

Philippine Administration

Davao Province

Even before the Philippine independence in 1946, the entire region was already a single province called Davao Province, with Davao City serving as its capital. The province was one of the largest provinces in the Philippines during that time, spanning more than 20,000 square kilometers; it lasted from 1920 until 1967, when the province split into three provinces, namely: Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur. After the division, Davao City was officially named its regional center.

Climate

The region has a generally uniform distribution of rainfall through the year. It lies outside the typhoon belt.

Demographics

Population census of Davao Region
YearPop.±%
1990 2,933,743—    
2000 3,676,163+25.3%
2010 4,468,563+21.6%
Source: National Statistics Office[1]

Davao Region is the most populous region in Mindanao and the 11th most populous in the country, with a total of 4,468,563 inhabitants in 2010. Davao City, its regional capital, is also the largest city in Mindanao, with an area of 2444 km2., the largest in the country and one of the largest in the world, and has 1,449,296 inhabitants in 2010, making it the fourth most populous city in the country and the most populous city proper in the entire Visayas-Mindanao region. Davao Metropolitan Area, the primary economic and urban build-up area in the region, is also the most populous in the island and the third most populous in the country, with about 2,274,913 inhabitants in that year.[1]

Most of the region's inhabitants speak Cebuano language. Tagalog and English are also spoken in schools, business, commerce, and industry. Prominent indigenous tribes like Bagobo, Manobo, and Mansaka also speak their own languages as well. Chinese immigrants are widespread in the region with a considerable population in Davao City. Davao Chinatown is one of the two defined chinatowns in the Philippines, Binondo being the other one. A considerable population of Japanese can also be seen in the country. Before World War II, Davao was heavily populated by Japanese immigrants. Davao City was the Little Tokyo of the Philippines.

Religion

The majority of the region's population are Christians, mostly Catholics; however, there are also Muslims, Buddhists, and Shintoists living in the region.

Economy

While the region’s economy is predominantly agri-based, it is now developing into a center for agro-industrial business, trade and tourism. Its competitive advantage is in agri-industry as its products, papayas, mangoes, bananas, pineapples, fresh asparagus, flowers, and fish products are exported internationally. The region can be a vital link to markets in other parts of Mindanao, Brunei Darussalam and parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. There is also a growing call center sector in the region, mostly centered in Davao City.

There is a gradual shift to industrialization as shown with industry’s growth rate of 8.1% in 1996. Other economic activities are mining, fishery, forestry and agriculture. Due to the region's rise as the main commercial and industrial hub of Mindanao, many of its workers are oriented to urban services such as putting small-scale businesses and working in commercial industries in thriving urban areas like Davao, Tagum, and Digos. Both private and foreign investors and businessmen are putting up huge business centers in the region, fueling up its commercial growth rate.

The region is also venturing to online business like outsourcing.

Facilities

The region’s principal ports are the Sasa International Seaport in Sasa and Sta. Ana Pier in the Chinatown District, both in Davao City; Panabo Seaport in Davao del Norte; and Mati Seaport in Davao Oriental. The former two, both of which are located in Port of Davao in Davao City, can service both interisland and international shipments. Sasa International Container Port, also located in the Port of Davao, is the busiest in Mindanao.

The international airport in Davao City, Davao International Airport, is the largest and most developed in Mindanao, has the second longest runway in the island, and the third most busiest in the country, after Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Being the only airport in the island that is currently catering for international destinations, it can handle both domestic and international flights, serving several domestic flights to Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Zamboanga and other major Philippine cities, and international flights to Singapore and Manado, Indonesia. Its ATC Tower is the most advanced in the country.

The region is accessible by land, air and sea. The region has adequate communications facilities, reliable power, and an abundant water supply.

Political Divisions

Davao Region is subdivided into 5 provinces, 5 component cities, and 1 highly urbanized city.

Political map of Davao Region

Provinces

Seal Province Capital Population
(2010)[1] 		Area
(km²)[19] 		Pop. density
(per km²)
Compostela Valley Nabunturan
687,195
4,479.77
153.4
Davao del Norte Tagum
945,764
3,426.97
276.0
Davao del Sur Digos
574,910
2,163.98
265.7
Davao Occidental Malita
293,780
2,163.45
135.8
Davao Oriental Mati
517,618
5,679.64
91.1

Cities

Seal City Province City Class Income Class Population Area
(km²) 		Pop. density
(per km²) 		Founding Year
Davao City Davao del Sur (geographically only) Highly Urbanized City 1st 1,449,296 2,443.61 590 1848 (Cityhood 1936)
Digos Davao del Sur Component City 2nd 149,891 287.10 520 1949 (Cityhood 2000)
Mati Davao Oriental Component City 5th 126,143 588.63 210 1861 (Cityhood 2007)
Panabo Davao del Norte Component City 3rd 174,364 251.23 690 1949 (Cityhood 2001)
Tagum Davao del Norte Component City 1st 242,801 195.80 1,200 1941 (Cityhood 1998)
Samal Davao del Norte Component City 4th 95,874 301.3 320 1948 (Cityhood 1998)

Government

Legislators to the House of Representatives for Region 11

Compostela Valley 1st Maria Carmen Zamora Liberal 2 Majority
2nd Rommel Amatong Liberal 3 Majority
Davao City 1st Karlo Nograles NUP 2 Majority
2nd Mylene Garcia-Albano Liberal 2 Majority
3rd Isidro Ungab Liberal/Hugpong 3 Majority
Davao del Norte 1st Anthony del Rosario Liberal 2 Majority
2nd Antonio Lagdameo, Jr. NUP 3 Majority
Davao del Sur 1st Mercedes Cagas Nacionalista 1 Majority
2nd Franklin Bautista Liberal 3 Majority
Davao Oriental 1st Nelson Dayanghirang Nacionalista 3 Majority
2nd Thelma Almario Lakas-CMD 3 Majority

Provincial Governors

Education

The government provides free education at the primary (grade school) and secondary (high school) levels. Some state-run universities in the region are the University of the Philippines Mindanao and the University of Southeastern Philippines. The literacy rate of the country is 93.9%; Davao City has a literacy rate of 98.05%.

Media

Television networks

Cable Television Network

News Programs

Other Programs

Newspapers

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  2. ↑ List of Regions, [National Statistical Coordination Board].
  3. ↑ Curtis 1942, p. 4.
  4. ↑ CURTIS 1942, p. 4.
  5. ↑ "80 Japanese Troop Ships Are Sighted Off Luzon" 1941, p. 7.
  6. ↑ AP 1941, p. 1.
  7. ↑ "SITUATION AT DAVAO OBSCURE AS JAPS LAND" 1941, p. 2.
  8. ↑ "THE JAPS SWARM AT DAVAO BUT THE SITUATION OBSCURE" 1941, p. 3.
  9. ↑ "Six Japanese Bombers In New Raid On Manila" 1941, p. 13.
  10. ↑ THE NEW YORK TIMES 1941, p. 1.
  11. ↑ "Large Force Is Attacking" 1941, p. 58.
  12. ↑ LEE 1942, p. 8.
  13. ↑ LEE 1942, p. 1.
  14. ↑ LEE 1942, p. 7.
  15. ↑ LEE 1942, p. 9.
  16. ↑ Lee 1942, p. 2.
  17. ↑ Lee 1942, p. 25.
  18. ↑ Lee 1942, p. 4.
  19. ↑ "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 15 April 2014.

External links

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