Davao Region or 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 four provinces, namely: Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur. 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").
History
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 Obos, 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.
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.
Spanish Administration
History shows that for centuries the tribes lived in relative peace until the Spanish, under the adventurous Spanish businessman Don Jose Uyanguren, 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 Uyanguren 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; the official recording of the history about the region begins in this year.
Don Uyanguren 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.
American Administration-Philippine Administration
After the Spanish-American War in 1898, the 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.
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.
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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 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 the island, 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, the second largest in the country and the largest in the entire Visayas-Mindanao region; its metropolitan area 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 Davaoeño. 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, Binondobeing 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.
Although the region is predominantly Christian, one of its provinces, Davao del Sur, was under the influence of the Bangsamoro. This was proven when in the 1st day of August 1989 theAutonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao attempted to put the province under its jurisdiction; however, on November 6, 1990, only 5 provinces joined the region. Until now, the Bangsamoro attempts to increase their influence on their so-called Bangsamoro Nation, which is the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, to include all of Mindanao under its jurisdiction.
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 City, Tagum City, and Digos City. 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. They also open their official business directory, classified ads, events, and articles only for Davao Region, the Dabaw.net[3] derived from the local name of Davao which is Dabaw.
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 the entire Visayas-Mindanao region. Infrastructure developments in the cities within the region are considered excellent.
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. It can handle both domestic and international flights, serving several flights to Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and as far as Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, South Korea, Manado, Indonesia, and Bangkok, Thailand; it is the only international airport in the island to handle flights like these. 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.
Natural Resources
The Davao Region has mineral resources of chromite, iron, nickel, manganese, gold, copper and other non-metallic minerals.
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 Mindanaoand the University of Southeastern Philippines. The literacy rate of the country is 93.9%; Davao City has a literacy rate of 98.05%.
Political Divisions
| Province/City | Capital | Population (2010)[1] | Area[4] (km²) | Pop. density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compostela Valley | Nabunturan | 687,195 | 4,479.78 | 124.3 |
| Davao del Norte | Tagum City | 945,764 | 3,426.99 | 214.8 |
| Davao del Sur | Digos City | 868,690 | 4,223.45 | 192.10 |
| Davao Oriental | Mati City | 517,618 | 5,670.07 | 86.4 |
| Davao City | — | 1,449,296 | 2,443.61 | 469.4 |
