Davao Region << dah VOW >> (pop. 5,243,536) is one of the 17 administrative regions that make up the Philippines. It lies in the southeastern part of Mindanao, the southernmost major Philippine island. The region surrounds three sides of Davao Gulf, which opens into the Philippine Sea. The Davao Region’s main industries include agriculture and trade. The people of the region call themselves Davaoeños (pronounced dah vow WEH nyohs).
The Davao Region consists of five provinces: (1) Davao de Oro (Golden Davao), (2) Davao del Norte (Northern Davao), (3) Davao del Sur (Southern Davao), (4) Davao Occidental (Western Davao) and (5) Davao Oriental (Eastern Davao). The region has six major cities: (1) Davao, (2) Digos, (3) Mati, (4) Panabo, (5) Samal, and (6) Tagum. It also has dozens of municipalities (towns) and over 1,000 barangays (villages or neighborhoods).
People
Population.
The Davao Region is the most populated region on Mindanao. Davao del Sur is the largest and most densely populated province in the region, with about half of the region’s people living there.
Davao’s regional center is the port city of Davao, which is also the biggest, most densely populated city in Mindanao. Davao City grew from a small town to a major city during the 1900’s, especially in the years following World War II (1939-1945). Thousands of settlers moved there after the war, mainly from the central Philippines. Today, Davao is one of the most populated cities in the nation.
Ancestry.
Most people of the Davao Region, like nearly all Filipinos, are of Malay ancestry. Like other Malays across Southeast Asia, the ancestors of the Davaoeños lived in small coastal communities scattered across the the narrow lowlands and adjacent forested areas. They shared similar cultural traits with fellow Malays in neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia, while also developing various Indigenous (native) languages and cultural practices that set them apart from one another.
Today, large Filipino ethnic groups in Davao include the Boholanos, Cebuanos, and Ilonggos. Some smaller groups with traditional roots in the region include the B’laan, Bagobos, Kalagan, Mandaya, Manobo, Mansaka, Sama,and T’boli peoples. There are also many people of Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish descent.
Language.
Most Davaoeños speak Cebuano, Hiligaynon (also called Ilonggo), Ilocano, and Tagalog. In more than three-fourths of all households, the people speak Cebuano, the main native language of Mindanao. The two official national languages of the Philippines, Filipino and English, are widely used. Filipino is a variation of Tagalog. Other native Philippine language groups spoken in the region include B’laan, Davawenyo, Kalagan, Mandaya, Manobo, Mansaka, and Sama.
Religion.
Roman Catholics make up the majority of the population. There are also a small number of Protestant Christians and Muslims.
Culture and attractions.
The Davao Region is known for its natural beauty and its agricultural tourism destinations. Agricultural tourism involves visiting such places as farms and other agricultural sites, and perhaps participating in their daily activities. Hikers and other tourists enjoy visiting Mount Apo Natural Park, located in Davao del Sur. The Philippine Eagle Foundation and Nature Center, built at the foot of Mount Apo, is a popular place to view the Philippine eagle, the national bird. The Philippine eagle is native to the region and among the largest eagles in the world.
The Davao Region has long been known for its abacá plantations. The leaves of the abacá plant contain a strong fiber, called Manila hemp, which is used in making rope. In the early 1900’s, the area of Mintal in the city of Davao became plantation land worked by Japanese immigrants. The area is now known as Little Tokyo. After a massive infection devastated the abacá crops around the 1950’s, much of the land was converted into fruit plantations and orchid farms. Some of the plantations and farms have become popular tourist destinations. The city of Davao is known for its durian and mangosteen fruit trees and its beautiful orchids. It is also the site of the Davao Crocodile Park.
The annual Araw ng Dabaw (Day of Davao) holiday celebrates Davao’s establishment as a city. The annual Kadayawan Festival, also held in Davao, celebrates the harvest. Kadayawan is a local word for good, valuable, or beautiful.
The Davao Penal Colony, in Davao del Norte, was established in 1932. It is now a historical site recognized as a National Cultural Property.
The oldest Catholic structure in Mindanao, the San Salvador del Mundo Church in Davao Oriental, was built in 1877. It served Spanish missionaries who spread Christianity in Mindanao. In 2012, it became the first church in Davao to be named a National Historical Site. Religious sites in the city of Davao include the Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague. The shrine is located on a hilltop. It includes a number of open-air chapels, including one that contains an image of the Holy Infant and a replica of Our Lady of Fátima.
The city of Davao houses a monument built to celebrate the revolutionary hero Andrés Bonifacio. Bonifacio founded the movement for independence from Spanish rule before he was executed on May 10, 1897.
Education.
Philippine national law requires children from 5 to 17 years old to go to school, from kindergarten through the 12th grade. The Department of Education provides free primary and secondary education. There are also many private schools. Teachers in the public elementary schools conduct classes in the local language for the first few years and then introduce English and Filipino. There are also many private schools, most of which teach in English. The high schools and universities mostly use English.
There are several public and private universities in Davao. Public universities in the city of Davao include the University of the Southeastern Philippines. The University of Mindanao in Davao is the largest private college in Mindanao. It also has a campus in Tagum City in Davao del Norte. Private universities in Davao City include Ateneo de Davao University and San Pedro College.
Land and climate
Location and description.
The Davao Region lies at the southeast corner of the large, mountainous island of Mindanao. It covers about 7,889 square miles (20,433 square kilometers), which is about one-fifth of the island. The Davao Region includes five provinces: Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental. Davao Oriental is the largest.
Davao’s five provinces encircle three sides of Davao Gulf. The large islands of Samal and Talikud are located in the gulf, southeast of Davao del Norte, and are part of that province. Inland, mountains run across the north central part of the region, through part of eastern Davao, and along much of the western border. Mount Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines, is located in central Mindanao, on the boundary between the Davao and Soccsksargen regions. It reaches an elevation of 9,692 feet (2,954 meters). Scientists classify Mount Apo as a semiactive volcano. Lava and ash from previous eruptions have made the soil of the nearby area extremely fertile. The soil is particularly suitable for growing abacá, bananas, and coconuts. Mount Apo has been designated a national park to protect its forests and wildlife. The park is popular with tourists and mountaineers. 
The Davao Region is known for its caves, cliffs, rivers, mountains, and waterfalls. Earthquakes and other geologic hazards are common in the region because of its place on active fault lines that are part of the Ring of Fire. Fault lines are fracture lines in Earth’s crust. The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped zone around the edge of the Pacific Ocean that has many volcanoes and earthquakes. It stretches from New Zealand north through the Philippines and Japan, east to Alaska, and along the western edge of North and South America.
Rivers and lakes.
Many major rivers run through the Davao Region. The Agusan River originates in Davao Oriental and runs northward through the region. The Davao River runs through the city of Davao. The Tagon-Liboganon River Basin spreads across Davao del Norte. The Davao Region is home to many lakes. It is also known for its flowing lagoons and tidal creeks, where fresh water mingles with the waters of the Pacific Ocean to create a marine environment for fish. Carolina Lake, in Davao Oriental, is one of the most popular such lagoons.
Climate.
The Philippines has a tropical climate with high humidity and rainfall. In Davao Region, the warmest weather occurs from February to October. Much of the region has fairly uniform rainfall throughout the year, but the northeastern areas receive their heaviest rains from November to January. In much of the Philippines, typhoon season, from June to December, often brings flooding and storm damage. However, the Davao Region lies outside the typhoon belt, so it rarely experiences extreme winds from the storms.
Economy
Most people in the Davao Region work in service industries or agriculture. Davao City is a center for finance, government, and other service industries. It is the business and financial center for the island of Mindanao. Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro are mainly agricultural provinces. The region’s main exports include charcoal, rubber, and tropical fruits. Its leading export trade partners include China, Japan, and South Korea, as well as nations in Europe and the Middle East. The Davao Region also is a popular tourist destination for its beaches and scenic highlands.
Agriculture.
The Davao Region is rich in farmland and natural resources. Agriculture employs almost a third of its workers. The city of Davao is called the fruitbasket of the Philippines. The region is a leading producer of bananas, coconuts, pineapples, and other tropical fruits. Other leading crops include alugbati (also called vine spinach), cassava, coffee, corn, eggplant, palay (unhusked rice), and sweet potatoes. Abacá, cabbage, peanuts, mung beans, sugar cane, tobacco, and tomatoes are also grown.
Farmers raise rubber and lanzones trees throughout the Davao Region. Such tropical fruits as calamansi (Philippine limes), coconuts, mangoes, mangosteens, papayas, pineapples, and pomelos are cultivated throughout Davao. Some farms also grow orchids. The region is especially known for its production of the aromatic tropical fruit durian. Davao has been called the durian capital of the Philippines.
Davao del Norte is a leading producer of bananas in the Philippines. Local companies and such international companies as Dole and Del Monte have plantations in the province. Davao del Norte is also a leading producer of rice in Mindanao. Davao Oriental is an important producer of abacá, coconut, and copra (dried coconut meat).
Livestock farmers throughout the province raise carabao (water buffalo), cattle, goats, and hogs. Poultry production includes chickens and ducks, along with chicken and duck eggs.
Fishing industry.
Davao has a small fishing industry. Its leading products include milkfish, prawns, scad, seaweed, skipjack, tilapia, and tuna. Davao Gulf yields such catches as crab, milkfish, mudfish, shrimp, and tuna. Some aquaculture (fish farming) takes place in Davao de Oro. There, such fish as milkfish and tilapia are raised in ponds.
Natural resources.
The Davao Region is rich in such minerals as chromite, copper, gold, manganese, marble, and nickel. Davao del Norte is known for its gold and silver. In addition, its mines produce copper, silica, and sulfur. There have been efforts by some local officials to end mining in the province because of potential dangers to the environment. In addition, there is concern about the possible impact of mining near the fault lines beneath the province. Davao del Norte is also an important source of timber.
Davao de Oro ranks among the world’s richest gold-mining areas. A gold and silver “Solidarity Ring” 6 inches (15 centimeters) in diameter is on display in the provincial capital, Nabunturan. The ring symbolizes the unity of the people of the province, and the province’s natural wealth.
Manufacturing and construction
employ less than one-sixth of the workers in the Davao Region, but they account for about one-third of the region’s economy. The city of Davao is one of the largest cities in the Philippines, and much manufacturing takes place there. Davao produces foods and beverages, and furniture. Its factories also make such construction materials as fabricated metals and steel.
The Davao Region produces activated charcoal from coconut shells. Activated charcoal is a type of charcoal that has been treated with high heat or chemicals to increase its powers of absorption. It is used in water and air purification systems and in some health and beauty products. The region also produces wood charcoal.
Service industries
employ more than half of the region’s people and account for a large portion of the economy. Trade, finance, and real estate contribute heavily to the region’s economy. In addition, banks, schools, and the government employ many people. Tourism is a major industry. Many people work in the retail trade and in hotel and food services.
Transportation and communication.
Davao has an international airport and seaport. The Port of Davao on the Davao Gulf is a major seaport for the Philippines, serving Mindanao, the Visayan Islands, and international trade. It is the most important port in Mindanao.
Regional newspapers include Davao Today, Mindanao Daily Mirror, and Sunstar Davao. The people also receive news reports and information about government services from the Mindanao sector of the Philippines Information Agency, the federal government’s news and information agency.
Government
The Davao Region, like other administrative regions of the Philippines, has a regional council for administrative management and developmental planning. However, the provinces are the main local government units and sources of authority within the region. Every province has an elected governor and vice governor and an elected legislative body called a sangguniang panlalawigan. An elected mayor and council govern each city or municipality. A few cities are governed independently of any province. Barangays are governed by elected barangay captains and councils.
Local governments are formally under the general supervision of the president. The people elect provincial, city, and municipal officials for three-year terms. These local officials may not serve more than three consecutive terms. Barangay officials serve a fixed term of office that is determined by law.
Every Philippine city has a court. Each municipality has a judge who serves as the local judicial officer. Judges hold office until they reach the age of 70 or until they become unable to carry out their official duties.
History
Spain began to colonize what is now the Philippines in the 1500’s. However, the Spaniards did not establish a settlement at Davao until the mid-1800’s. The ancestors of a number of different Philippine ethnic groups lived in the region before Spanish settlers arrived. The groups represented a variety of cultures, spoke a number of different languages, and practiced a variety of religions. Some groups, called Moro by the Spaniards, had adopted the religion of Islam after it began to spread in Mindanao in the early 1500’s. The name Moro comes from Moor, a Spanish name for the Muslims in Spain. Some other groups have become known collectively as the Lumad, which means native in Cebuano.
Following Spain’s defeat in the Spanish-American War in 1898, Spain ceded (surrendered) the Philippines to the United States. Some Spaniards and Americans stayed in the region. In addition, there was a slow migration of people from the central Philippines to the area. In 1903, Japanese settlers began to arrive, and they soon became one of the largest groups settling in the area. Japanese planters established large abacá plantations and turned Davao into a major exporter of Manila hemp. When twined, the hemp made the most dependable rope available for such jobs as securing ships’ anchors or binding building materials, until the development of plastics began to replace it later in the 1900’s. The Japanese turned Davao from a frontier backwater into one of the most productive regions in the Philippines during the time the Philippines was under American authority.
The city of Davao was established on March 1, 1937. It grew quickly because it was the main port for the export of Manila hemp. The city was destroyed in fierce fighting during World War II (1939-1945). After the war, it was rebuilt to once again become a major commercial and trading center of the area. However, this time, it was for the export of fruits.
After the Philippines became an independent nation in 1946, thousands of people moved from the central and northern Philippines to Mindanao. They came to avoid the poverty caused by World War II and in search of farmland they could own.
Since the early 1900’s, Davao’s administrative structure has changed several times. A large province called Davao existed from the 1920’s until 1967, when it was divided into three smaller provinces. In 1973, the Philippine government grouped several provinces together in an administrative region called Southern Mindanao. In 2001, the Southern Mindanao Region was renamed the Davao Region, and some of its territory was shifted to the newly formed region of Soccsksargen. In 2019, voters in the province of Compostela Valley, which had been the region’s only province without the word “Davao” in its name, approved a proposal to rename the province Davao de Oro. The province is a rich gold mining area, and the word “oro” means “gold” in Spanish.
