Digos

Digos City
Component City
City of Digos
Lungsod ng Digos (in Tagalog)

Seal
Nickname(s):
"City of Sweet Mangoes"
"Clay Capital of Mindanao"
"Champion City of Good Governance"
"Gate City of the South"
Motto: "Abante Digos!"

Map of Davao del Sur with Digos highlighted
Digos

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 06°45′N 125°21′E / 6.750°N 125.350°E / 6.750; 125.350Coordinates: 06°45′N 125°21′E / 6.750°N 125.350°E / 6.750; 125.350
Country Philippines
Region Davao (Region XI)
Province Davao del Sur
District 1st District
Founded 19 July 1949
Cityhood 8 September 2000
Barangays 26
Government[1]
 • Mayor Joseph Roble Peñas (LP)
 • Vice Mayor Reynaldo S. Hermosisima
Area[2]
 • Total 287.10 km2 (110.85 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
 • Total 169,393
 • Density 590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Digoseño
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 8002
IDD : area code  +63 (0)82
Income class 2nd city income class
PSGC 112403000
Electorate 97,452 voters as of 2016
Website www.digoscity.gov.ph


Digos, officially the City of Digos (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Digos; Filipino: Lungsod ng Digos), is a 2nd class city and capital of the province of Davao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 169,393 people.[3] The city lies on the western shores of the Davao Gulf and southern foothills of Mount Apo on the island of Mindanao, centrally located between the two major cities in Mindanao, Davao City and General Santos City.

It is considered as part of Metropolitan Davao.

It is known for its sweet-juicy 'carabao variety mango,' sold locally and exported abroad, thus being dubbed as the Mango Capital City of the Philippines. It is also considered as The Gate City Of The South.

On 8 September 2000, Digos was converted into a city.[4]

History

In the early days, Digos was a watercourse, a meeting place of inhabitants belonging to the Austronesians settled along the southern foothills of Mt. Apo. The Digos River meets the Davao Gulf and it is ideal for fishing and bathing.

During the Spanish Era, a group of natives carrying bows and arrows were approached by some Spaniards traversing the very fertile tracts of land in Davao. One Lopez Jaena Pacheco, a conquistador during the administration of Governor Claveria serving as the head of the group, inquired about the name of the place from the barefooted natives. Believing that the Spaniards were asking where they were bound to, the natives answered "Padigus", which means "to take a bath". Since then the place was identified as Digos.

As a portion of the "food bowl" of the province of Davao del Sur, otherwise known as the Padada Valley, Digos lured many migrants, majority of whom came from the Visayas and Ilocos regions to settle permanently in the area. Before World War II, an enterprising American by the name of N.E. Crumb leased 10.24 km² and transformed the place into an Abaca Plantation. This became the hub of economic activity in the locality during those days.

Digos was occupied by the Japanese troops in 1942.

In 1945, through the brave efforts of the combined forces of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, the local Davaoeño guerrilla units from the Davao peninsula, and the United States military, the Japanese soldiers were defeated.

Through the initiation of then Congressman Apolinario Cabigon, Digos, became a regular municipality in 1949 by virtue of Presidential Executive Order No. 236, dated 19 July 1949 issued by President Quirino. Its Coverage included the barrios of Tres de Mayo, Goma Bansalan, Matanao, Darapuay and the Poblacion where the seat of government was located. Before its creation into a municipality, Digos was a barrio of Sta. Cruz, a town 16 kilometers away. On 19 July 1949, the town was formally inaugurated with Benito Rabor appointed as Mayor.

Digos in later years, before its conversion into a city, was regarded as the capital town of the Province of Davao del Sur, long before it gained the status of a First Class Municipality in 1993, being center for trade, commerce and education, accruing to its strategic location at the cross point of two principal thoroughfares in the south.

In July 1998, the bid to convert into a city was moved and initiated by Mayor Arsenio A. Latasa, considering its very satisfactory qualifications required for in R.A. 7160

House Bill No. 5672 dated 24 November 1998, of Congress authored by Congressman Douglas Ra. Cagas, led to the drafting of Republic Act 8798, converting the Municipality of Digos into a component City of Davao del Sur, which was signed by President Joseph E. Estrada on 14 July 2000, and ratified by the Digoseños on 8 September 2000.

Geography

Digos shares common boundaries with the municipalities of Hagonoy in the south, Bansalan in the north and northwest by Siranagan and Miral Creek and with Sta. Cruz in the northeast. It is bounded in the east by the Davao Gulf. It has a total land area of 28,710 hectares (70,900 acres) consisting of 26 barangays; nine (9) of which comprise the poblacion or urban center.

The land topography of Digos City ranges from hilly to mountainous in the north-northeast portion and flat and slightly rolling at the coastal barangays, while the urban area and the surrounding barangays in the south portion are generally flat. Generally, climate in Digos falls under the fourth type while wind direction is prevalent from northeast to southwest. On the other hand, rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year wherein during the period from 1995 to 2000, there was no observed extreme dry or wet season.

Barangays

Digos City is politically subdivided into 26 barangays.

Barangay Population
(2007) 		Population
(2010) 		Urban/Rural
Aplaya 14,775 15,409 Urban
Balabag 1,206 1,226 Rural
Binaton 2,765 2,034 Rural
Cogon 5,559 5,993 Rural
Colorado 2,276 2,323 Rural
Dawis 4,244 4,584 Urban
Dulangan 1,592 1,329 Rural
Goma 3,469 3,676 Rural
Igpit 3,078 3,471 Rural
Kiagot 4,319 4,679 Rural
Lungag 286 567 Rural
Mahayahay 773 772 Rural
Matti 5,093 5,328 Urban
Kapatagan (Rizal) 8,403 10,162 Urban
Ruparan 3,175 2,873 Rural
San Agustin 1,895 2,143 Rural
San Jose (Balutakay) 5,419 6,072 Urban
San Miguel (Odaca) 12,148 13,813 Urban
San Roque 839 951 Rural
Sinawilan 4,820 4,539 Rural
Soong 1,140 1,277 Rural
Tiguman 1,239 1,625 Rural
Tres de Mayo 14,590 15,475 Urban
Zone 1 (Pob) 14,052 13,754 Urban
Zone 2 (Pob) 9,439 8,071 Urban
Zone 3 (Pob) 18,920 17,745 Urban

Demographics

Population census of Digos City
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 31,174—    
1970 47,588+4.32%
1975 59,533+4.59%
1980 70,065+3.31%
1990 96,806+3.29%
1995 106,565+1.82%
2000 125,171+3.51%
2007 145,514+2.10%
2010 149,891+1.08%
2015 169,393+2.36%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][5][6][7]

Economy

Agriculture is a major component of Digos City economy. Some 9,330 households or 37% of the total households are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Of the total households dependent on agriculture, 91% are engaged in farming and the remaining 9% in fishing. The total area devoted to agriculture covered 8, 944.1 hectares, representing 31% of the total land area of Digos. The more important agricultural crops grown in the area include coconut, sugarcane, mango and banana. Among the agricultural crops, the staple crops rice and corn are the most widely grown.

Local government

Elected officials 2013-2016:

Fiestas and festivals

Infrastructure

Transportation

Local means of transportation is served by almost 5,000 tricycles known locally as just "Pedicab". Transportation to its barangays and adjacent municipalities are served by single Motorcycles (SKYLAB/HABAL-HABAL), Multicabs, Jeepneys, and L300 Vans. Public Utility Vans also served routes to and from the cities of Davao, Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong-Isulan, Koronadal and General Santos.

Bus Company operating in the city of Digos:

Hospitals/healthcare facilities

  • Digos Doctors Hospital
  • CM Torregosa Birthing Home and Woman Center
  • Medical Center Of Digos Cooperative
  • Gonzales-Maranan Clinics & Hospital
  • Davao Del Sur Provincial Hospital
  • Dominican Hospital
  • Sunga Hospital
  • Llanos Medical Clinic & Hospital
  • Paulino Hospital
  • Masong-song Clinic & Hospital
  • Davao Del Sur Medical Specialist
  • Digos Medical Multi-test
  • Bethlehem Birthing Center
  • Monarca Lying Inn Clinic
  • Mayor's Birthing Place
  • Kayden-Blaise Birthing Home

Education

Public and private schools in Digos City:

Tertiary

Secondary

Digos City National High School

Notable people from Digos

References

  1. ↑ "Official City/Municipal 2013 Election Results". Intramuros, Manila, Philippines: Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 11 September 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "Province: Davao del Sur". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Census of Population (2015). "Region XI (Davao Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. ↑ NSCB - 2001 Factsheet - 12 New Cities Created Archived April 23, 2006, at the Wayback Machine., July–December 2000.
  5. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region XI (Davao Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Census of Population (1995, 2000 and 2007). "Region XI (Davao Region)". Total Population by Province, City and Municipality. NSO. Archived from the original on 24 June 2011.
  7. ↑ "Province of Davao del Sur". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Digos.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Digos City.
Adjacent places of Digos
 Davao City Santa Cruz
Bansalan Davao Gulf
   Digos City  
Matanao Hagonoy
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