DIGOS: THE GATE CITY OF THE SOUTH (1949-2013) An Undergraduate Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Department of History College of Social Sciences and Humanities Mindanao State University Marawi City In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY Jovanie Kief M. Putong ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. II Timothy 4:7 The historical background you are about to read is an inscription from written accounts and oral testimonies adapted by the people whom they believe would be a thorough witness of our local history. While the presentation of facts which has been fully interpreted based on the true realistic essence, values and integrity of the past story as a cornerstone of our undying quest to provide the written accounts of our beloved Digos. This undergraduate thesis is a preliminary study focusing on the local history of Digos centered on the areas of politics, economy and social history. This paper will be further refuted or incremented based on the views, opinions and interests of the readers. Moreover, this paper provides the glimpse of the past grounded on what happened; who made it happen; when it happened; where it happened; why and how it happened. This paper is dedicated to those persons who by virtue of their help and assistance have facilitated the research of this study DIGOS: THE GATE CITY OF THE SOUTH (1949-2013). I fully acknowledge: First and foremost to my beloved family Mama Maria Ernita Matunton Putong and Papa Felix Calipes Putong, a million thanks for your unselfish love, trust, care and prayers. Ma and Pa, I am grateful to both of you, you are my source of inspiration and I love you. To my Princess and Ate Jessa Claire Matunton Putong and my loving Ate Lanie Abegaile Matunton- Putong y Buenaluz together with her husband Kuya William Antonio Isaias E. Buenaluz for the support, both financially and emotionally. Your endless love, understanding and patience served as strength in my study – Thank You Very Much. To my relatives and family friends for the guidance and support; I will never forget all the cherished moments. I just want to thank you and express my love with much respect. I extend my deepest appreciation to the Department of History nurturing me and introducing me to the World of History, to wit: Prof. Melodia S. Udtohan – Philippine Contemporary Problems, Practicum and Undergraduate Thesis iii Prof. Kimberly Franca Apatan – North America, Practicum Adviser, and Undergraduate Thesis Adviser Prof. Teodora Landa Umbac – Life and Works of Dr. Jose Rizal Prof. Elizabeth A. Miranda – Western Civilization and Thesis Writing Prof. Inocente N. Javier – Asian Civilization and Modern Japan Prof. Eduardo R. Casas – Philosophy of History, Intellectual History of the Philippines and Methods of Research Atty. Norma Maruhom Barra – Political and Economic History of the Philippines Dr. Faina A. Ulindang – Social History of the Philippines, Issues and Problems in the Philippine Historiography and Modern Russia Dr. Ben J. Kadil – Cultural History of the Philippines and Modern Europe Dr. Aminah P. Usodan – Philippine Nationalism Prof. Nelson Sixto Ganancial – World Geography and Modern Central Asia Prof. Omar L. Khalid – Islamic History and Introduction to Middle East Prof.Adam T. Acmad – Modern Southeast Asia Prof. Elmer L. Palahang – Philippine History and Institution Mr. Abubacar A. Ali – The Filipino Muslims and the Indigenous Peoples of Minsupala To my Thesis Adviser and Panel Members; Prof. Kimberly Franca Apatan, Prof. Elizabeth A. Miranda, Prof. Adam T. Acmad and Prof. Jihan S. Bacug thank you for all the assistance and guidance. For with them this study was made possible, who spent their time in reading my paper and giving comments and suggestions. Most of all, I would also give my special thanks to our Department Chairperson Prof. Melodia “Mam Miemie” S. Udtohan for believing me in my academic potentials and for sharing with me her love and care. To Ma‘am Sharon Bulaclac, Zle Abecia, Lovely Torayno, Ludz, Janice, Sir Abdullah Tirmizy and the entire faculty of the Department of History; thank you for everything. Also, I would like to thank Ma‘am Saralyn for extending her hands in lending the sample undergraduate thesis in the Department. To all my mentors in MSU –Main Campus, who taught me with valuable and essential knowledge on different branches of learning. All of you Ma‘am and Sir- Thank You, your teachings will always be my sword and armor in the real world. To my batchmates: Alve, Bruce, Odoy, Jabs, among others for facing different challenges in our academic years in the college – a worthwhile experience though and to Lucky, Long2x, and Omayah just continue your paper works and we will wait for you. I also give thanks to my friends and co-majors. To the Libres and Batugan Cottage: Adam, Sherwin, Donaire, Tomas and Ibrahim brothers. To Louie,Winston, Norpha, Mors, Addressa, Jackie, Cherry lou, Shierly, Aslam, Ainah, Ferdie, Jobert, Bethany, Amer, Jp, Jeffry, the rest of AB History students and everyone else whom I wasn‘t able to mention. Thank you for the happiness and laughter. Truly, your presence gives me iv strength and motivation to move on and to those special persons whom I don‘t want to mention (gusto lang naku mahinumduman). I would like also to thank The SAMAKA (Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral sa Kasaysayan) peeps in the College of Education. I will always be your Kuya Jov (Best in Critic sa inyong mga Report). I would like also to thank The CSSH Debate Battalion (Official Debating Team of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities) to Gerty, Dunn, Jomar, Riz, Geron, Jun2x, and those whom I forgot to mention. Special thanks to the former DebBatt Aliannah, Gesila, Rizza, Mike, Paw, Junelle and to Adrian as current Grand Archon of MSU Rostrum. We are all gods and goddesses, the monster speakers and adjudicators. I would like also to highlight my longtime best friends Gil, Melven and Dave. You are my friends for about eight years now; there are no enough words that can express how grateful I am for your existence. Hope your personal company and friendship will last beyond our days... (mga Angkol, War ta ninyo sa balay pag makauli ko sa Digos). To Professor Teodorico N. Dofiles II and Sir Fortunato Alegado – both Local Historian and Academe Adviser who had helped me in gathering pertinent data and introducing me to the different personalities in relation to my study. For that sir, I owe you my gratitude and I will forever be thankful for your undying knowledge and wisdom. To the City Government of Digos, Province of Davao del Sur and the various government agencies and employees for accommodating and helping me in securing important written materials and documents including some soft copy related to my study. Most specially, I am thankful to all the key informants and respondents for their warmest cooperation. This research about Digos‘ history is possible with all your help and information. To all Digoseños, I introduce to you the untold stories of our past. And lastly, to the ALMIGHTY GOD ―Jesus Christ‖ for all the blessings and guidance he bestowed upon me. Sincerely, GOD really provides everything, just seek and you will find, just ask and you will receive – have faith in HIM. v Dedication This paper is highly dedicated to our ALMIGHTY GOD To MY Mama and Papa To MY Sisters And To ALL People of Digos City Province of Davao del Sur vi Putong, Jovanie Kief M. Digos: The Gate City of the South (1949-2013). An Undergraduate Thesis, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mindanao State University, Marawi City, March 2014. ABSTRACT This paper introduces the local history of Digos as a gate city in the southern part of the Davao Region, in Mindanao. Specifically, it discusses the transformation of the place from a barrio to a municipality and eventually achieving its cityhood. It also states the factors that contributed to the developments in Digos and connects it with its existing political, economic and social conditions. These factors can be further subdivided into two: internal, referring to the place‘s natural features and external, referring to its humanmade features. Based on the data gathered and the mechanism employed to cull out the truth from the untruth, the findings of this study reveal that the arrival of migrants from Luzon and Visayas started the economic developments in the city. This begun with them working as sacadas in the plantations formerly owned by the Americans and Japanese then later on turned as owners of these lands. With their determination to build a more progressive life in Digos, they initiated various forms of economic ventures that would jumpstart the present status of the city as the center of agricultural-industrial market, trade and commerce, banking and finance, education and services in the heart of Davao del Sur. Moreover, the apparent cooperation between the city‘s local constituents and officials played a major role in its emergence as an important component city of the province up as well as in the Davao Region to its continuing economic development at present. vii DIGOS: THE GATE CITY OF THE SOUTH (1949-2013) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TITLE PAGE APPROVAL SHEET ACKNOWLEDGMENTS DEDICATION ABSTRACT TABLE OF CONTENTS i ii iii vi vii viii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION 1 A. B. C. D. E. F. G. Background of the Study Statement of the Problem Objectives of the Study Scope and Limitation of the Study Significance of the Study Research Methodology Operational Definition of Terms 1 3 3 3 4 4 5 CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 8 CHAPTER III. THE PHYSICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC SETTINGS OF DIGOS CITY 13 A. Geography 1. Geographical Location 2. Political Subdivision B. Topography 1. Soil Types 2. Slope Classification 3. Coastal Area 4. Existing Land Use and Natural Resources 5. Agricultural 6. Agro-Industrial 7. Industrial 8. Forest 9. Tourist Zone C. Demography 1. Population and Household viii 13 13 14 15 16 17 17 18 19 19 19 20 20 21 21 CHAPTER IV. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND A. Pre- Colonial Era 1. Origin of the Name ―Digos‖ 2. The Natives, Their Life and Culture a. The Bagobos b. The Kalagans c. The B‘laans d. The Kaagan B. Davao Migration in Colonial Period 1. Spanish Conquest in Davao 2. American Period 3. Japanese Presence in Davao 4. Philippine Commonwealth 5. World War II and Japanese Occupation C. Philippine Independence 1. The Creation of Digos into a Municipality 23 23 26 28 28 29 30 31 32 32 36 42 43 46 49 49 CHAPTER V. DIGOS POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION 1949-2013 50 A. Political Leaders and their Contributions to Development 50 1. 2. 3. 4. Post War Period: The Municipality of Digos was Born (1949-1986) The Creation of Davao del Sur (1967 to 1986) EDSA I and the Appointments of OIC‘s Prelude to Cityhood (1988- 1992) 5. The Making of Digos into a City (1998-2013) CHAPTER VI. DIGOS TODAY A. Factors that Led to Digos‘ Development as the Gate City of the South 1. Internal Factors a. Strategic Location b. Abundant Natural Resources c. Suitable Climate d. People 2. External Factors a. Local and Foreign Investment b. Cost of Doing Business B. Digos Industries and Socio-Economic Conditions 1. Good Governance a. Government Income, Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and Government Incentives b. Local Government Unit Performance 2. Agriculture a. Agricultural Crop Production b. Poultry and Livestock Production c. Fish and Aquatic Production ix 51 56 59 61 63 69 70 72 72 73 74 75 80 76 78 80 81 82 84 85 86 87 88 3. Commerce and Trade Industry 89 a. Manufacturing, Food Processing, Engineering, IT and Nakayama Corp. 90 b. Financial Institution and Insurance Companies 92 c. Recreation, Malls, Wholesale and Retail, Hotel and Restaurants 92 d. Mills 93 4. Infrastructure and Utilities 94 a. Road Network 94 b. Waterworks and Power Light 94 c. Communication 95 d. Accessibility and Linkages 96 5. Education, Training and Human Resources 97 a. Education and Training 97 b. Human Resources 99 6. Health Nutrition and Quality of Life 100 7. Tourism Industry 102 a. Cultural Attractions 103 b. Man- Made Attractions 104 c. Natural Hot Spots 105 d. Festivals (Pista Kadig‘garan, Padigosan, Kapatagan into Dorong Festival, Paskohanong Kasaulogan & other Religious Church Fiestas) 106 8. Cottage Industries 108 a. Matti Pottery Industry 108 b. Other Cottage Industries 109 c. Food Products and Food Related Industries 109 CHAPTER VII. SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 110 A. Summary B. Conclusion C. Recommendation 110 112 113 BIBLIOGRAPHY 115 APPENDICES A. B. C. D. E. F. Maps and City‘s Official Seal Letter to Respondents Letter of Instruction 807 Republic Act No. 8798 Tables Pictures CURRICULUM VITAE x CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study History according to William Kellogg is often written to trace the political development of a society focusing on the leaders and their policies which sets forth the entire area for a self- sustaining economic growth and socio-cultural continuity that ensure prosperity, security and development in the aspect of the people‘s life.1 Primarily, Digos City‘s historical development displays various degrees of significant events which led to its transformation into a politically and economically competitive city in the Davao Region. As it entered the 21st century with its inherent potentials provided by the support of the government, innovative agri-industrial economy and inquisitive Digoseños, it played a key role among the cities of the Philippines. In the past, Digos was a meeting place for various native groups that settled along the southern foothills of Mt. Apo. Later, it became the home of many migrants, majority of whom came from the Visayas and the Ilocos Regions that settled permanently in the area. Prior to the demographic movements of these Christian Filipino migrants during the American occupation, many areas in Mindanao showed lots of economic potential. Digos was one of these areas and was turned into a vast American plantation until the transfer of leased land and outright ownership to the hired Japanese laborers and rich Filipino hacienderos. The Christian Filipino migrants, who were determined to have an improved William O. Kellogg, American History the Easy Way, New York, USA: Barron‘s Educational Series, Inc. 3 edition, 2003, p. 56 1 rd life in Mindanao, developed Digos through farming, fishing and commercial business trading until it became a politically and economically strong city in the Davao Region. Digos City, locally known as Dakbayan sa Digos or Siyudad sa Digos is a young and vibrant city in the province of Davao del Sur. It is a crossroad of three major cities in Mindanao - Davao City of the north, Kidapawan City in the west and General Santos City at the south. Digos served as a gateway city that is at the intersections of transportation routes or at points where goods shift from one place to another paving the possibility of it becoming an economic and trade entrepot in the Davao Region. As such, it envisions to be a socially and economically developed City; responsive to the differentiated gender roles and needs of women and men; characterized by political maturity and social harmony in a healthy and sustainable environment. It also banners the mission statement of promoting the welfare and interest of the people to ensure that everyone shares the benefits of development and to become a more progressive and livable city in the country. With this, the researcher lays down the transformation of Digos from a barrio to a municipality and eventually as a city. The study also traces the society‗s political development based on the role of leaders in the rapid urbanization of the area and the betterment of the Digoseños‘ economic and social life. Furthermore, this work analyzes too the historical development of Digos through the modern trends in understanding small town phenomenon and examines the city‘s local history as a subject of local research. 2 B. Statement of the Problem The study analyzes the significant events that shaped the history of Digos in the Davao Region. The main problem of the study is to seek and find out how Digos emerged as a newly developed city. To further clarify the problem presented, the researcher aims to answer the following questions: 1. What was Digos prior to its emergence as a city in the Davao Region? 2. What were the factors that made Digos a newly developed city in the Davao Region? 3. How did the influential people in Digos help in its development? 4. What is the present political and socio-economic status of Digos City? C. Objective of the Study Based on the questions mentioned above, the following objectives were drawn: 1. To know what Digos used to be prior to its emergence as a city in the Davao Region. 2. To discuss the factors that made Digos a newly developed city in the Davao Region. 3. To explain the role played by the influential people in Digos in its development. 4. To show the present political and socio-economic status of Digos City. D. Scope and Limitation of the Study 3 This study is focused on the local history of Digos City; on its emergence as a newly developed city in the Davao Region. Specifically, it outlines the progress of the area from a barrio until it became a city. It also states the factors that contributed to the developments in Digos and connects it with its existing political, economic and social conditions. In the course of data-gathering, the researcher was not able to get much from some individuals that could have provided relevant information. Clearly, this is one limitation of the study. Nevertheless, the number of individuals that were interviewed proved to be a significant source of knowledge helpful to the research. E. Significance of the Study This study is significant for a number of reasons. Basically, the writing of Digos‘ history has never been done. Thus, the historical data and findings of this research can somehow address this concern and in a way contribute to the enrichment of the country‘s national history. Furthermore, it can serve as a source of reference for future researchers who plans to collect information about the city in particular and the Davao Region in general. This work also hopes to provide the Digoseños and other interested individuals of a glimpse into the untold stories of their past. F. Research Methodology This study embodies the application of qualitative-narrative-descriptive type procedures in gathering and analyzing the data collected. It also constitutes a written historical research of Digos City, Davao del Sur. 4 Primarily, in acquiring the important and necessary documents for the study, the researcher used both archival researches and field interviews (oral testimonies of individuals with good standing in the community). With regards to the public documents that were obtained, most were provided by the following governmental agencies and institutions: the National Statistics Office (NSO), Office of the City Government of Digos (City Hall), Office of City Information (OCI), Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator- Digos City (OCPDC), Office of the Secretary-Sangguniang Bayan Office- Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, City Investment Promotion Officer- Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO), City Tourism Office (CTO- Digos) and , Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO). Moreover, libraries were also visited which includes the CSSH Unit Library, MSU Main Library- Filipiñana Corner, CSSH History Department Book References, Digos City Library, University of Mindanao-Digos College Library, and St. Mary‘s Academy of Digos Library. In addition, related data and reading resources such as journals, newspapers, and magazines were taken from the Internet to augment the data gathered. G. Operational Definition of Terms Bagobo- a native of Davao del Sur and South Cotabato. Particularly in the areas of Brgy. Toril (Davao City), some towns of Davao del Sur like Labo or Santa Cruz, Digos and Bansalan; and some parts of Makilala and Kidapawan (South Cotabato). In 5 this study, the name Bagobo is restricted to mean Tagabawa the Bagobos inhabiting Santa Cruz and nearby areas.2 Competitive Advantage –refers to the advantage and favorable position a certain area occupies in contrast to its competitor such as abundant natural resources, lower cost of doing business and better access to infrastructure and facilities that could induce investments in the area. It also means an area delivering the same services as its competitors but at the lower cost.3 Component City –is duly created under R.A. 7160 also known as the Local Government Code of 1991 which pertains to the following requisites: average annual income (20 million), contagious territory (100 sq. km.) and population not less than (150,000 inhabitants). These requirements considered component cities of the province in which they are geographically located.4 Davao Region- is a multi-cultural melting spot of Lumads, minority Muslim tribes and Christian migrants. It comprises four district provinces including the chartered city (Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley Province, and Davao City with the current addition of Davao Occidental as a newly created province). It is located in Mindanao Island, Philippines; a tourist destination, trade hub, natural haven sanctuary, place of engaging people and a secure site for all who wants to come and visit. 2 Macario D. Tiu, Davao Reconstructing History from Text and Memory. Davao City: Ateneo de Davao University Press, 2005. 3 Al-Fahd T. Marohombsar, The Boom City of the Southern Philippines: A Study on the Economic Development of General Santos City, 2009, p.6. 4 Miriam D. Santiago, Local Government Code Annotated sections 448-452. Quezon City: Central Professional Books, Inc. pp. 339-342. 6 Digoseños- people primarily living in Digos City including its political officials, socio-economic business sectors, civil society and local constituents through process of residency. Linear Urban Corridor – The LUC‘s is the strip from Digos City in Davao del Sur through Davao City, the regional center, and terminating at Tagum City in Davao del Norte. It served as market or trading centers and manufacturing and processing zone from the produce of Nodal Growth Centers.5 Nodal Growth Centers-The NGCs are Malita in Davao del Sur, Mati City in Davao Oriental, Nabunturan in Compostela Valley, and the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte. It served as raw material producers and agri-industrial distributors to the Linear Urban Corridor. 6 5 Davao Regional Development Plan 2011-2016 p. 12 Ibid 6 7 CHAPTER III THE PHYSICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC SETTING OF DIGOS CITY A. GEOGRAPHY Digos is one of the component cities in the Philippines located at the gate way of Southern Mindanao specifically in the Davao del Sur Province of Region XI (Davao Region). The history of Digos is better determined primarily through its geographical features, available natural resources and existing population. 1. Geographical Location The City of Digos is 56 kilometers from Davao City, 95 kilometers to General Santos and 170 kilometers to Cotabato. It is situated in the northern portion of the Province of Davao del Sur, where it also serves as the seat of the Provincial Government.7 It shares common boundaries with the municipalities of Hagonoy on the south to the east coast of Davao Gulf and passing through kilometer post 64 on the Provincial Highway; with Bansalan on the north and northwest by Sinaragan Creek located 500 meters from the center of barangay Colorado, northward of Miral River and with the southeast municipality of Sta. Cruz. On the northeast, it is bounded by the Kibanban Creek and on the east bounded from the mouth of Davao Gulf, respectively.8All these were stipulated in Republic Act 8798 which states the territorial jurisdiction of the City 7 City Planning and Development Coordinator.A Profile of City of Digos. 2001, p.1 Ibid. 8 abiding by its general provision to the Charter of the City of Digos within present metes and bound under Sec.2.9 2. Political Subdivision Digos City is an affluent suburban converged with a total land area of 28,710 hectares (287.10 sq. km.) It is the sole component city belonging to the two Congressional Districts10 of Davao del Sur created by Republic Act No. 8798 on July 14, 2000. The city holds the distinction of being the key player of growth and development in the area of Davao del Sur and is believed to be at par with the conglomeration of existing urbanized cities in the Davao Region. Generally, Digos City has a total of 26 barangays and 526 puroks which are all politically subdivided to deliver basic public services, administration of civic duties and local function and the advancement for a better and harmonious living condition among the Digoseño constituency. As follows, to wit: “Sec.2. Bounded on the East along lines 1-3 by Municipality of Sta. Cruz; on the SE, along line 3-4 by Davao Gulf; on the South along 4-5 by Municipality of Hagonoy; on the SW, along line 5-6 by Municipality of Matan-ao; on the West along line 6-7 by Municipality of Bansalan; on the NE, along line 7-8-1 by Municipality of Sta. Cruz. Beginning at a point marked ―1″ on plan as a peak point of 1582 elevation; thence Southerly along the watershed line through the ridge of Higpit Range to point 2; thence Southeasterly along Quibanban (Sirawilan Creek) to point 3; thence Southerly, along the shoreline of Davao Gulf to point 4; thence Due West, along Northern boundary line of Municipality of Hagonoy to point 5; thence Northeasterly, along Eastern boundary line of Matan-ao point 6; thence Northerly, along Mati River to watershed line at the Peak of Mt. Apo as point 7; thence Southeasterly, from the peak of Mt. Apo to the source of the first branch of Tagulaya River downstream and to its fourth junction as point 8; thence Southerly, along the fourth branch of Tagulaya River, upstream to its source and straight to the peak of 1582 elevation, the point of beginning; Containing an area of twenty-eight thousand seven hundred ten (28,710) hectares more or less.The reference boundary computation are based on the approved Based map of the proposed City of Digos, Davao del Sur dated 4 April 1999 by the Regional Technical Director (LMS-DENR, Region XI) and the Regional Executive Director (DENR, Region XI, Davao City)” Congress of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 8798- Eleventh Congress Second Regular Session. Metro Manila, July 26, 1999 p. 2. 10 Prior to the creation of Davao Occidental in 2013, Davao del Sur has 2(First and Second District which still workable vested in the oath of office) until the transferred of political succession in point of reference in Sta. Maria belonging to second District unto Sarangani Island. 9 14 Currently, it is composed of barangays which range from urban neighborhoods (of which 10 barangays are categorized as urban with a land area of 3,979.06 hectares) and rural communities (of which 16 barangays are regarded as rural areas with a land area of 24,730.94 hectares). Of this 26 barangays, 4 of which are located in the coastal areas. The poblacion area comprises Zone I, II and III, respectively. Zone II, with an area of 98 hectares, is the smallest barangay but is highly populated whereas Kapatagan is the largest barangay with a total area of 8,598 hectares. There are 3 barangays in Digos that changed their names. These barangays were San Jose (formerly Balutakay), Kapatagan (Rizal) and San Miguel (Odaca).11 (see Appendix E, Table 1) B. TOPOGRAPHY The entirety of Davao del Sur, where Digos City is located, is traversed by mountain ranges including the elevated part of the famed Mt. Apo at 3,412 meters (11,194 ft), the highest mountain peak in the Philippines. But the terrain generally undulates downward to the coastal plains of the northeastern, eastern and southeastern portions. Accordingly, the land area in Digos falls under two classifications, namely: alienable and disposable and that which is declared as natural park. Of the total land area, 41.64% are classified as alienable and disposable while 58.36% fall within the reserved Mt. Apo Natural Park. The Digos area with its mountainous interiors surrounded by flat lowlands and alluvial plains of varying widths along the coasts and in terms of its surface features is mostly irrigable hence suitable for agricultural and industrial endeavor. A land area of about 8,800 hectares or 31% of the total land area is devoted to extensive 11 Interview with Mr. Fortunato Alegado, former MPDC Municipal Planning Head on October 14, 2013. 15 and specialized agriculture.12 Other areas particularly in Poblacion is designated identified industrial sites considering a shift from agricultural- based economy into agribusiness, industrial establishment and housing used. 1. Soil Type The vast tract of agricultural land intensively allocated for agriculture such as food crops and commercial crops depend on the composition of soil to be implemented in such areas primarily in peripheral rural barangays. These numbers of barangays are engaged in agricultural cultivation of mangoes, bananas, rice and corn, sugarcane and other cash crops. The city‘s soils are composed of the loam types with a mixture of different grades of sand, silt and clay. The dominant types of soil found in Digos are the San Miguel soil series which are alluvial, utilized for coconut and lowland rice, and adaptable to most agricultural needs and the brownish colored Miral clay loam that is excellent for lowland rice and good for permanent crops like abaca and fruit trees. This however, is subclassified as: Sandy-loam, Sandy-clay-loam, Silty-clay-loam and Sandy-clay.13 The table shows the dominant soil type found in Digos City. At about 22,918 hectares or 79.83 percent of the total land area, Digos City is covered with a silty-clay loam. Sandy loam and sandy-clay-loam covers 2,368 and 2,281 hectares respectively, of the total land area of Digos City; 54.45% is categorized as upland and 82.43% of which is within the Mt. Apo National Park.14 (see Appendix E, Table 2) 12 Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator, A Profile of City of Digos 2000 (Digos City, 2000), p. 37. Here in after, this reference will consequently cited as A Profile of City of Digos 2000. 13 OCPDC. A Profile of City of Digos 2000, p 7 14 In the forested areas, soils are high in organic matter content because of the abundance of vegetation. In denuded areas, the soil, which is medium textured (silty loam), is very unstable and potential to active erosion. Based 16 2. Slope Classification The urban and surrounding barangays of Digos City in the south is generally flat while the coastal barangay areas are flat to a slightly rolling plain. The terrain in the upland and surrounding barangays, in the north-northeast portions, range from hilly to mountainous steep up to the hinterlands of Mt. Apo.15 (see Appendix E, Table 3) 3. Coastal Area The southeastern portion of the city is bounded by the Gulf coast of Davao. The coastal marine ecosystem of the Davao gulf and the neighboring coastal municipalities are indebted to the bounty of this serene and crystal blue sea rich with marine life and aquatic resources. These coastline areas of Digos include the 4 coastal barangays of Dawis, Aplaya, Cogon and Sinawilan which are all conducive for a promising livable settlement for Digoseños. The coastal area is about 1,289 hectares and with a coastal length of about 8 kilometers.16But these coastal areas are only good for small fishing industries and small scale aquatic endeavors including the freshwater ecosystem of Digos River, where coastal dwellers are self-employed as fishers while few are hired as fisher. Thus today it outgrows several beach resorts that have been developed both private and public ownership. There is also a fetching tourism potential for other neighboring upland municipalities to engage in. Newly established resorts for swimming and bonding moments for the rest of the family get together with friends and related family gatherings. The development and management of the city‘s coastal tourism potentials deals with the on the findings of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, about 70 percent of the upland area of Digos City is already deforested. The topsoil is very shallow and holds little water CENRO- City Environment and Natural Resources Office 15 CENRO- City Environment and Natural Resources Office 16 Provincial Government of Davao del Sur. Provincial Coastal Resource Management Plan 2001-2005. Cebu: n.a., 2001 17 alternative means of the Digoseños‘ social and economic needs for employment and to provide additional income while preserving the coastal environment. 4. Existing Land Use and Natural Resources To further categorize the existing general land use, the CPDC- City Planning and Development Coordinator subdivided it to the following: Built- up Areas, Agricultural, Agro-Industrial, Institutional, Industrial, Forest, Tourist Zone, Rivers and Creeks. This presents the topographical association of the surface land areas in Digos designated according to its landscape components and intensive and extensive socio- economic based industries quantifiable to the types of commodities produced. Given its vast agricultural resources, the primary commodities of Digos are thus mainly agricultural products and agri-industries related. Since it is the capital of Davao del Sur, it also serves as a financing and banking hub catering to its neighboring municipalities. Digos also has what it considers as Investment Priority Areas (IPA): [1] Agriculture, Agro-Industrial Business, Forestry and Fishery, [2] Manufacturing Industries and Processing Industries that covers food processing, food packaging, manufactured products, manufacture of machinery and equipment, electronics and low cost housing, [3] Small, Medium and Large Scale Enterprises [4] Tourism Related Development, [5] Infrastructure Property Development and Public Works and [6] Support Service including PPP- Project (Public Private Partnership).17 17 For subclassification of IPA, see Digos City Investment Code of 2011. 4 th City Council Resolution No. 1149A/ CITY ORDINANCE NO. 11-04. Pp1-12 18 5. Agricultural The area devoted to agriculture comprises 8,359 hectares or about 29.12% of the total land area of Digos City. The areas in Igpit, Tiguman, Matti, and San Miguel are generally flat, with irrigation, planted mostly to rice, fruit trees and other crops. Part of the land in Igpit and Tiguman are used for commercial banana plantation. Among the agricultural crops, bananas, mangoes and other major crops such as rice, corn and vegetables produce high value.18 6. Agro-Industrial Agro-industrial land uses are categorized for agricultural production and processing such as for livestock, grain milling and drying facilities. Most of the rice and corn mills and feedmills are located in the urban barangays and in Kiagot, Sinawilan, Cogon and Tiguman. Two rice and corn mills are in Kapatagan. The aggregate area for Agro-Industrial uses is 52.5 hectares representing about 0.18% of the land area of Digos.19 7. Industrial Industrial land uses are categorized as light industrial, for non-pollutive/nonhazardous manufacturing and medium industrial for pollutive/non-hazardous and pollutive/hazardous manufacturing. The industrial land uses in Digos City comprise 18 Ibid. Ibid. 20 19 19 about 2.0 hectares or 0.01% of the total area and are mostly for metalcraft, woodcraft and sawmills.20 8. Forest The area in Digos City with actual forest is mostly within the Mt. Apo Natural Park21 comprising 1,447.15 hectares or about 5.04% of the total land area of the City. This tropical evergreen rainforest is declared protected under the NIPAS Law22 and is the object of conservation and protection efforts by government agencies in collaboration with the community and peoples organizations IPRA (Indigenous People‘s Right Act) that covers these vast timberland and forest areas located on the Digos hinterland.23 9. Tourist Zone Presently Digos is strongly promoting the tourism industry – several beaches found in Dawis and Aplaya with tourism facilities. Another is the Marawer hiker‘s staging area, Mt. Apo in Barangay Kapatagan. The area of Kapatagan, natural springs in Napan and Goma are potential areas for tourism. Also included in the built-up area are sites for hotels, restaurants, recreation centers and other tourist spots. 24 The tables present the existing general land uses and proposed land use category of the urban area of the city. The 2012 urbanized area covers about 2,150 hectares. As projected, the residential, commercial and industrial areas increased significantly in the 20 Ibid. 21 Mt. Apo Natural Park - Digos City is a portion of the area declared as Natural Park under R.A. 9237 located within the jurisdiction of Digos City. It covers the area of 160, 890, 000.00 sq. meters based on the boundaries stipulated under R.A. 9737 and R.A. 8798, the charter of Digos City. 22 See R.A. No. 7586- NIPAS (National Integrated Protected Areas System) Act of 1992. The Book of Ordinance 2000-2010. City of Digos 2000-2010. pp.273-274 23 See R.A. No. 9237 – Mt. Apo Protected Area Act of 2003. Ibid. pp. 274-275, Ibid. OCPDC. A Profile of City of Digos 2000, p 21 24 OCPDC. A Profile of City of Digos 2000, p 22 21 20 next 5 years. The residential, commercial, industrial and institutional developments are concentrated in the city proper.25 (see Appendix E, Table 4 and 5) C. DEMOGRAPY 1. Population and Households 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.The population of Digos City as of May 2010 drastically increased into 20.4% from the 2000 national census. Among the 6 cities, Digos is the 4th most populated city in the Davao Region. In 1949, when Digos separated into an independent municipality from the mother town Sta. Cruz, the dated accounts of 1980 listed a population of 69,736. By 1990, the population of Digos increased as shown in the survey of the National Statistics Office (NSO) which was 96,464. During the year 1995, another observable population increase was recorded (106,104). In 2000, there was a considerable growth rate where the population dramatically surged into 124,456. The next considerable account is the 2007 census which recorded a population of 145,514 in 26 barangays. As of the May 10, 2010, the population rose to 149, 891 and among the component cities, Digos ranked as the 2nd populated city apart from Tagum with 242,801 and Mati with 126,143. The soaring growth rates in Digos City since 1980 until 2010 manifest an incremental population boom of 114.9% that doubled its actual population growth rate. This phenomenon is seen as a result of migration trends. It can be seen in the transfer of residency from rural municipalities to urban centers and the need for better economic opportunities was seen as a pulling mechanism for the increase in the population. In the 25 CENRO- City Environment and Natural Resources 1-4 21 online portal of Davao region, it was asserted that due to the region's rise as the main commercial and industrial hub of Mindanao, many of its workers including their families transferred and 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. That is why cities like Digos have an upward population trend from one period to another. (see Appendix E, Table 6) 22 CHAPTER IV HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The history of Digos lies in the annals of Sta. Cruz since it was a barrio of the latter together with Padada, Malalag, Bansalan and Matanao. In tracing the rich heritage of its silent past, the researcher relied on the shared accounts of Sta. Cruz and related documents of the undivided provinces of Davao to provide deeper understanding to the historical interconnectedness of Digos history. The researcher further uses the related studies and records of the history of Davao and oral testimonies from Digoseños to fill in the gaps resulting from the limited written records directly dealing with the local history of Digos. Delineating historical accounts from Pre-colonial Era, Spanish Era (15641989), American Period (1989-1935), Philippine Commonwealth (1935-1941), World War II and Japanese Occupation (1941-1945) and Philippine Independence is also seen as a way to make the presentation more organized. A. PRE-COLONIAL ERA The earliest history of Digos comes from the oral tradition of several indigenous groups living along the Davao Region. Prior to the coming of the Spaniards in the country, there were already small independent settlements belonging to different ethnic groups in Davao, with diverse background, history, culture and tradition. These inhabitants have been identified based upon their physical features, mode of dressing, place of dwelling, dialectical differences and other peculiarities which somewhat distinguish themselves from one another. Most of what was written about their distant past is taken from their mythology and folklore. These small pieces of past story would serve as the pillar of prehistory that interlinks the chronological records when the Spaniards wrote about their contacts with our ancestors, their colonization and missionary works, their place of conquest and experience in the Philippine archipelago. In early times, majority of the inhabitants living peacefully in the area of Digos sporadically belong to the stock of Tagabawa Bagobo developing and preserving their diverse culture with the other natives of Davao. Their cultural communities were led by their respective datu and bagani26 within the territorial boundary from Toril in Davao City, Sta. Cruz westward meddling Digos on its center until the area of Bansalan (formerly Miral) and within the hinterland of Mt. Apo, part of Makilala and Kidapawan down to the Davao Gulf. The Bagobos in this area seem to have been unaffected by the outside forces and influences of the other ―wild tribes of Davao‖. In the book of MacarioTiu, he identified the 15 different lumad27 and moro28 groups living in the undivided province of Davao. The Moro group‘s sphere of influence was reached in the Gulf of Davao directed with the Maguindanaon, Maranaos, Sangils, Kalagan and Samals who dwelt in the area. The Spanish pacification campaign of the Davao Gulf started in 1848 where Davao eventually became a part of the Spanish colony through the efforts of Jose Cruz Oyanguren. Before Oyanguren‘s campaign, Davao was part of the sphere of influence of Bagani or Magani is a chief warrior in a Bagobo community, in the Heidi K. Gloria‘s The Bagobos: Their Ethnohistory and Acculturation pp.115-116, used Magani – a class of warriors, where the Datu himself a chief Magani. 27 Term Lumad refers to Indigenous people or the native of the land. Foreign rulers marginalized many indigenous people in the country because they refused to be subjugated for they preferred to live free. Hector S. De Leon, Textbook on the Philippine Constitution. 2008, p.106. The indigenous tribes in Mindanao who were not Islamized upon the coming of Spaniards, but the Islamized groups do not wish to be identified with the other non- Islamized groups, preferring to be called Moros. Lumad means natives, cultural communities, national minorities, cultural minorities or ethnic minorities. Even if Lumads have been Christianized and some have been also Islamized, the term Lumad is still useful term to distinguish these Mindanao tribes from the Moros and settlers. Macario D. Tiu, Davao Reconstructing History from Text and Memory, p.102. 28 The term describe the 13 Islamized group in Mindanao, the context is highly acceptable among Muslim community prefer to called Moros considering that they were not subjugate by Spanish authority thus retaining the faith and institutional organization. 26 24 the Maguindanao Sultanate which explains the presence of Islam in the pocket settlement in the coastal area except in interior valleys and mountainous part. Where, the original inhabitants remained unconverted and consequently the Bagobos made earlier contacts with the Moros by providing slaves out of the B‘laan, Kaagan, Mandayas, Mansakas and even their closest rival, the Giangan.29 That would then appear that Bagobos reached the level of complex polity on their social organization as they pattern the Moro datuship and with the paramount head of their consequent datus.30 Moreover, through trading Bagobos and Moro exchange goods by means of barter31.The southern foothills of Mt. Apo, the mountain where the ancient legend Apo Sandawa32 is said to inhabit, is the important habitation among the Bagobos from its interior deep forest to the lowland and coastal areas of Digos. This lumad group has made earlier contacts with the Moros even before the foreign intrusion of Villalobos and his men. In 1542, Ruy Lopez de Villalobos led five ships from Mexico in an expedition to go to the Philippines. Upon reaching Mindanao, he anchored at Baganga, where he called the entire island of Mindanao as Caesarea Caroli in honor of Emperor Charles V. The expedition encountered bad weather including hostile natives. In Sarangani, they defeated the natives…they went to another part of Mindanao for food. It appears Villalobos‘ men explored the Davao Gulf. Villalobos was stranded for seven months in Sarangani and he was reported to have visited Lobo (According to Corcino, the Spaniards met Bagobos in Lobo) and conducted baptism in Surup in Cape San Agustin.33 The Maguindanaons came to settle along the banks of the Tagloc River and majority of them engaged in business and trading towards the peripheral territory of other 29 Giangan or Jangan occupy a small territory stretching from Catalunan- Calinan to Davao City. They are culturally called as forest dwellers and known for their fine artistry: wore the most beautiful and colorful clothes in the Gulf. From Tiu‘s account in bases Fay Cooper Cole ―The wild tribe of Davao district, Mindanao‖ that Bagobos and Giangans were continually at war with each other, but neither one could defeat each other. The two tribes came to look alike, the Bagobos copied the clothes and ornamentation of Giangans who were known for their artistry in weaving and weaponry. The Bagobos likewise appropriated some Giangan mythology. Despite this copying , Bagobos appeared to be more powerful with the Bagobo tongue becoming the lingua franca within the Davao River area. Macario D. Tiu, Davao Reconstructing History from Text and Memory, p. 53. 30 Ibid. p. 54. 31 Clothes, plates, agong and bladed weapons were the keen important barter goods among the Bagobos to the Moros, while the latter receive rice, bee wax, shells, spices and other ornaments. 32 See the legends of Apo Sandawa (Mt. Apo) Ibid. pp. 268-271 33 Tiu, Ibid. pp. 8 & 54. 25 ethnic groups in Davao. These Moros became the settlers bounded also in the coastal settlement headed by Datu Bago who lorded the place from about 1830 to 1847.34 1. Origin of the Name “Digos” According to the stories handed down by the different generations of people who inhabited the area of Digos, the body of water that is now called Digos River meets the Davao Gulf coast together with Sibulan River in Sta. Cruz35 was primarily the most important riverine system in the region. It was then an ideal ground for fishing activities as well as a good place for bathing. The Digos River was a waterway that served as a means of convergence for several ethnic groups, primarily the Tagabawa Bagobos, Kaagan36, B‘laan, Manobo, Tagakaolo and Moros (Kalagan, Samals and Maguindanao) who settled along the southern foothills of Mt. Apo. According to Dr. Heidi K Gloria, ―the salient factor in an organized Bagobo tribal community and settlement (rancherias) was the river and mountain streams which served as common sources of water. This physical feature is associated with the life of the people providing a natural mechanism for socialization; preparation of food, drinking, and basic hygiene such as bathing and washing. The daily routine activities are held regularly where members of the community interacted with each other and exchange greeting or telling story.‖37 These activities and interaction among people were mostly done in bodies of water like that of the Digos River. 34 Gloria P. Dabbay, Davao City its History and Progress. 1995, pp. 21-22. Labo/Lobo/Lubo is the olden name of Sta. Cruz, a Bagobo word for marsh land stretching from Sibulan, Inawayan area down to Matanao including Digos and Bansalan 36 The key informant Kaagan tribal chieftain Loleta Lagunsay Quiday receives the Certificate of Affirmation recognized by the Philippine Government, the Kaagan tribe in Digos. 37 Heidi K. Gloria, The Bagobos: Their Ethnohistory and Acculturation. New Daily Publishers: Quezon City. Pp. 29-30 35 26 During the pacification campaign of the Spaniards in Caraga (Butuan, Agusan Valley, Surigao down to Cateel) and the undivided Davao (Mati, the areas stretching towards Mt. Apo and Samal Island), a group of natives carrying bows and arrows were traversing the very fertile land of the Davao area. The Spanish conquistadores who lured to the area were led by a certain military personnel in the name of Lopez Jaena Pacheco.38 These Spaniards approached the group of natives and inquired about the place where the barefooted natives came from. The natives, who thought that the Spaniards were asking where they were bound to, answered ―padigos,‖ a Bagobò lingual term which means ―to take a bath.‖ Since then, the place came to be identified as Digos. 39 To support this whole story, Mr. Alegado recounted that: . . . Kana go‘ng Digos gagikan na sa Binagobo nga sinultian pasabot na paligo. Kanang maong ilang kaligoan ug mao nang sapa sa Caños. Naay nangutana na mga español sa mga netibo kong unsa ning lugara? Sa ilang pagtuo gipangutana sila kon asa padulong ug ang ilang tubag padigos pasabot mangaligo sila. Sukad ato nahinganlan na kini og Digos ug kanunay kining ginatuohan sa mga lumulopyo gikan pa sa sinugdanan. Suma pod sa tudlo sa eskwelahan ug sa mga katigulangan. 40 [Free translation] The term Digos rooted from a Bagobo word which means to take a bath. That Caños River was their bathing area. There were a group of Spaniards who inquired to the natives what about the place? The natives thought they were being asked where they were going. So they answered padigos, meaning they will take a bath. From then on, the term Digos came to be used as the places‘ name and the people always believe that story. This is the same story that is also taught at school and among the elderly. 38 It could be noted and theorized that Lopez Jaena Pacheco included as Spanish volunteer soldier from Caraga, Cateel and Surigao together with his men hired by Oyanguren when another attempt of Spanish incursion in the island of Mindanao prior to the Villalobos expedition in Sarangani Island and in the coast of Davao gulf upward to the Davao Oriental to Surigao were being established. This character could be possible to validate in terms of Spanish record availability. 39 City Planning and Development Coordinator.A Profile of City of Digos- Brief History. 2001 40 Interview to Mr.Fortunato Alegado –former academe professor and municipal head Digos MPDC, local historian as key informant. 27 2. The Natives, Their Life and Culture As the Spaniards held control over Davao, they identified the people who inhabited this region into two classes. The infieles41, who were probably the most numerous and the moros.42 Some of these lumad and Moro groups dwelt in the interior valley, forest and the hinterland of Mt. Apo and others settled along the riverine and coastal areas facing the Davao Gulf. Other minority groups mentioned by the Spaniards and the Americans were the Attaws, Loacs, Managosan, Manurigaws and Tigdapaya. These were merely subgroups of the other groups mentioned earlier and are defined by their place of dwellings and dialectical peculiarities.43 The province of Davao del Sur has a particular territorial jurisdiction in terms of rule and tribal influences over these tribes: the Kalagan, who occupied the coastal areas of Poblacion in Digos; the Bagobos, who occupied the hinterland at the foot of Mt. Apo, places of Kapatagan, and from Balabag to Binaton; the B‘laan of Hagonoy Valley including the portal of Matanao; the Kulaman Manobos and Tagakaolos in Kiblawan, Malita and Jose Abad Santos; and the B‘laan, Tbolis, Dulangan Manobos and Sangil respectively living side by side in the Sarangani coast. a. The Bagobos In Digos, majority of its inhabitants are Bagobos, particularly the Tagabawa. This group was mentioned in Dr. Macario Tiu‘s studies with the letter of Fr. Juan Doyle 41 The Spaniards called them to differentiate from those who accepted foreign rule. Hector S. De Leon, Textbook on the Philippine Constitution. 2008, p.106. 42 Dr. Macario Tiu‘s account recorded these various tribes from the letters of several Spanish friar missionaries identified and described primarily from their physical characteristics including the mode of dressing, their sociocultural practices, their dialectical peculiarities and their place of residence. These ethnography counts 15 different tribes as classified concurrently yet there‘s several tribes in the interior portion and or depending on who calls them or other misnamed and misclassified that needs further studies. Kalagan, Samals (Samales) and Sangils (Sangirs) identified as Moro group and rest would be the IPs- Indigenous people. 43 Macario D. Tiu, Oral and Local History Writing: Seminar-Workshop Proceedings (2007-2008) about the “The Tribes of Davao”. National Historical Commission of the Philippines: Manila, pp. 94-109. 28 (1888) as the most advanced and intelligent of all ―pagans‖44 in the Philippine archipelago. He described them as: Of robust physique, they patiently bear heavy work. They are dignified bearing and at times even handsome and attractive. Rare are those born defective and deformed. Very meticulous and careful about their clothes; they adorn their feet and head with as many curious objects as they can, although ordinary ornaments are marble or metal pendants fixed to their ears… Like Giangans, Bagobos observed the same customs and belief, of course, they are feared warriors. Like the B‘laan and other Davao tribes, Bagobos practiced human sacrifices called paghuaga. Many of whom were mostly captured in war, pangayaw (vendetta or war bands) or their sacopes (slaves) but never to offer their own kin.45 This fearless practice of offering human sacrifices was usually done during the death of their Datu; during planting and harvesting season to petition the spirit for good harvest; when a newly married couples must offer human sacrifice for good fortune and; to appease the wrath and pestilence brought by their god, known as Mandarangan, to a member of the community. In Tiu‘s account, the Bagobos and Giangans were feared warriors, and fought each other for dominance and over resources. But apparently the Bagobos were more aggressive, pushing into the Giangan area and was able to seize Giangan territory.46 b. The Kalagans Together with the Bagobos, the coastal areas of the Davao Gulf belong to the pocket settlement of Kalagans whose primary form of livelihood was fishing and marine related activities. They established their rancherias along the coastline of Digos and quite possibly controlled the banks of Digos River up to the areas of Aplaya and Dawis. Their 44 The term pagan is no longer considered as acceptable in referring to the natives of Mindanao because it is derogatory and is not applicable anymore, considering that most of these natives have either converted to Islam or Christianity. The foreign colonizer branded them apart from their religious affiliation, some called them ―cimmarones,‖, ―remontados‖, ―savages‖ and among others to differentiate these groups. 45 Macario D. Tiu, Davao: Reconstructing History from Text and Memory about “Tribes”. pp. 52-55 46 Ibid. p. 59 29 direct contacts with the Maguindanao sultanate gave them advantage and made them one of the fiercest warrior groups in the Davao Gulf. This is because the Maguindanaons supplied them with the needed weaponry. This group, as Tiu mentioned in his work: The Kalagans lorded it over the entire Gulf by controlling the key river systems. They were closely associated with the Magindanaw sultanate, recognizing the Magindanaw Sultan as their suzerain. The Kalagans power lay in better weapons and network of Islamic kinship alliances. They formed a formidable council that decided on certain matters, demonstrating a unity that allowed them control over the interior tribes from whom they exacted tributes. The most important unifying factor of the Kalagans was Islam.47 To Frederic H. Sawyer, ―the Calaganes were a small tribe living on the southeastern slopes of Mt. Apo up to the head waters of Digos River which run to the Gulf of Davao, in the north of the Ensenada de Casilaran.‖ As he described them through the reports, ―the Calagans were of good stature and of dark color; their language Vilanes is somewhat similar to the Manobo. This tribe is industrious cultivators and store food provisions, and never experienced famine.‖48 c. The B‟laans Among other groups which inhabited the peripheral area of Digos, the B‘laan established settlements located in the portal between Matanao and Hagonoy area. They were the most industrious mountain people and were expert weavers. The B‘laans became the prime prey for the fearless and war-like groups in Davao. To quote Tiu‘s account from the letters of Fr. Gisbert and Pastells: Blaans were the most industrious among the mountain tribes. They showed a love for work and were very hospitable. They were very intelligent and kindly. Although numerous, the Blaans were unable to achieve high social organization. They did not recognize a paramount leader. Disorganized, they became targets of slave raids by the more powerful Magindanaws. Like Bagobos, they offered human sacrifices and were 47 Ibid. pp. 61-62 Frederic H Sawyer, The Inhabitants of the Philippines. London: William Clowes and Sons, Ltd., 1900 p. 356 48 30 known to sacrifice their own tribes; the Blaan wore colourful abaca clothes. They were great weavers, a skill they shared with their T‘boli kin. 49 d. The Kaagan The most exciting accounts were that of the Kaagan50 ethnic group. This is due to the belief that the whole story of their ethnic existence is probably a Pandora box waiting to be opened as represented in the succeeding depiction of the Kaagan. The Kaagan according to Loleta Lagunsay Quiday, as a key informant is an ethnic group who were neither Islamized nor Christianized. Their area of residence is Poblacion and they seem to have preserved their culture as evidenced by their distinct language and the oral testimonies of their lineage. According to her, their forefather Ompo Payan was from Malaysia with an Indo- Malayan descent, which travelled along with his family and reached Digos. This group appears to have not reached a complex polity because Ompo for them is not the title for a leader but simply a form of reverence for a grandfather. To the key informant, the group was easily slain by the other majority groups in Davao because of their small number and their women were taken as slaves by the Maguindanaon. In time, the Bagobo, Kalagan and B‘laan intermarried among them and so they became assimilated to said groups.51 The life of these native people includes a subsistence economy depending on their geographical location. They practice primitive agriculture of the slash and burn type to clear their land. They plant rice, corn, root crops, sugarcane, tobacco, cacao, cotton and cultivate abaca. They love to wonder in the woods to seek jungle produce such as fruits and wild herbs, wax, honey, almaciga and cinnamon; all of which finds a ready sale in 49 Tiu Ibid. p.55 Interview with Loleta Lagunsay Quiday as key informant, the tribal chieftain of Kaagan Tribe 51 Personal interview of Mrs. Loleta Lagunsay Quiday on December 3, 2013 at her residence Roxas St. at the back of U.M. Digos branch. 50 31 the coast. Some raise domestic animals and breed horses; and includes hunting and fishing activities. The men are tolerable smiths, and forge their weapons from old iron, which they obtain in barter. They make bracelets and collars of brass.52 B. DAVAO MIGRATION IN THE COLONIAL PERIOD 1. Spanish Conquest of Davao Spanish period in the annals of Philippine history started from the period of 1565 to 1898 when Governor General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi had successfully colonized the islands for the Spanish crown. But before the Spaniards have set a stronghold in the country, it was due to the discovery of Ferdinand Magellan in March 17, 1521 claiming the islands for the Spanish flag.53Apparently, Spain was able to send five expeditions to the Philippines and it was the Villalobos expedition that succeeded to set foot in the areas of Southern Mindanao out of those voyages. The Spaniards however, failed to establish a colony more in Mindanao. Although the Spaniards began to explore the Davao Gulf area as early as the 16th century, Spanish influence and power was not completely in place in the Davao region until 1845. According to several authors who wrote about the history of Davao, the colonization of the area started when the Spanish trading ship San Rufo was given the permission by the Maguindanao Sultan to set sail into the Davao Gulf to conduct trade. Unfortunately, it was attacked by Davao Moros led by Datu Onga, the follower of Datu Bago (the chief of Taglook River). When the news of the San Rufo incident reached 52 Frederic H. Sawyer, The Inhabitants of the Philippines. London: William Clowes and Sons Limited.,pp 350- 352. 53 Sonia M. Zaide, The Philippine: A Unique Nation. Quezon City: All New Nations Publishing, 2nded., 2002 pp.84-86 32 Manila, the Spanish government expressed their complaints to Sultan Iskandar Qudratullah. However, the Sultan disclaimed any responsibility for the attack stating that the Moros of Davao did not honor his letter, therefore ensuing they were not his subjects and he would not be held liable for their actions.54 This event marks the Maguindanao Sultan‘s waiving any form of jurisdiction over the Moros of Davao to the Spaniard. This paved the way for the Spaniards to claim the entire area around the Gulf as a Spanish territorial reserve.55 The record provides that during the Spanish period, Davao was called Nueva Guipuzcoa by the Spaniard as a corrigemiento or the unpacified area headed by Spanish soldier-lawyer and experienced trader Jose Cruz Oyanguren. He was given the orders to construct a politico military province as for reduccion56 policy. As mentioned by Zaide: In 1847, Jose Oyanguren, a wealthy soldier-adventurer, offered to the Spanish Government a proposition that he would pacify and colonize Davao at his own expense, subdue the Moros in the entire Gulf area. During this period, Davao was under the sphere of influence of the Moro sultanate of Maguindanao. A Muslim chieftain, in the person of Datu Bago from Sulu who came to Davao in protest to a treaty concluded between the Sultan of Sulu and the British Government establishing British sovereignty over Sulu. Governor y General Narciso Claveria approved Oyanguren‘s proposal on February 27, 1847. Governor Claveria bestowed a special grant, a governorship of Davao for ten years as well as the monopoly of trade and commerce. In two years period of hard fighting in and among the warlike tribe of Davao, he subdued and founded a settlement which he called the province Nueva Guipozcoa in honor for his natal city in Spain and the cabecera named Nueva Vergara.57 The coming of Spanish colonial masters in Davao was started with the conquest by Oyanguren accompanied by his own soldiers and their families; he started to subjugate the Moros and other ethnic groups. The importance of Spanish priests and missionaries in the propagation of Christianity was then introduced to the natives. Several natives were 54 Ibid to Tiu, pp. 21-22 and H.K. Gloria, pp53-54. Ibid H.K. Gloria, p. 54 and G. Dabbay, p. 26 56 Reduccion simply means a resettlement program of the Spanish government to confine the natives in a welldefined areas and its effort to relocate the ethnic indigenous tribe-natives bamboo and nipa-palm hut in barangay and place them in the pueblos (with the church, convent tribunal and government center) under the church bells. National Historical Institute, Making of the Nation. Manila:NCCA, 2004. p. 23. 57 Gregorio F. Zaide, History of the Philippines.McCullouch Printing Co., Manila. 1957, p. 72 55 33 converted to the faith and they were confined to settle in Spanish pueblos (towns and plaza complex). There was also Filipino Christian settlers who served as the helpers of the Spaniards and were made to live in Davao as the area became pacified in 1848. However, aside from these Spanish soldiers and their families including the volunteer natives from Caraga, Surigao, the Mandayas, and Datu Masandin of Samal who had helped Oyanguren in the conquest settled in Nueva Guipozcoa. Many of the colonists were convicts and parolees. As of 1861, one-third of the population was composed of convicts and deportees from various parts of the country. There were also some Chinese merchant settlers present in Sta.Cruz, the Malita area, Cape San Agustin and around Lupon. And, some Spanish planters and merchants who were more experienced came in Davao during the Spanish period.58 At this point in time, Digos area belonged to the town of Santa Cruz, one of oldest municipalities in Davao del Sur and the oldest town in the Davao Region founded on the 5th day of October 1884, thirty-six years after the foundation of Davao as the mother city. The pueblo of Sta. Cruz originally included the areas of Digos, Bansalan, Magsaysay, Matanao, Kiblawan, Hagonoy, Padada, Sulop, Malalag and Sta. Maria. The settlements that were established in this undivided province of Davao were rooted in the evangelization of the natives in this region. The Lumads in Sta. Cruz resisted Christianity because it jeopardized their existing animistic belief, customary tradition and practices. The evangelization of the Davao Region took place at the beginning of the 19th century when the Recollect Fathers arrived in 1848, and were the first missionaries who started the work. The propagation of Catholicism and evangelistic 58 Macario D. Tui, Davao Reconstructing History from Text and Memory. Davao City: ADDU. 2005, pp.118- 119 34 works was started by Fr. Francisco Lopez (Recoleto) and was aided by the presence of the Spanish military. According to Lovely Torayno‘s study about the infieles in Mindanao during the Spanish era: The prime objective of Spanish missions to the archipelago was to convert the natives to Christianity. When they came, though, the people already had their own spiritual practices but were described by the Spaniards to be of heretic and pagan origin. The missionaries (many of them dying) need to convert and baptized the natives since they were under laws that promoted cruelty and vengeance, and human sacrifice. The said practices and beliefs were contradictory to Christian beliefs and teaching thus, the 59 conversion and baptism efforts. In the work of Rudy Rodil, he cited that with the departure of the Recollect Fathers in 1858, the Jesuits Fathers Quirico More, Mateo Gisbert, Pablo Pastells and Saturnino Urios, continued the work of evangelization with a thorough knowledge of the Christian doctrine and overflowing missionary zeal. To the Jesuits missionaries, the Moros constituted the biggest hindrance to resettlement, even to evangelization. This was due to many factors. The most outstanding of which is the following: before the coming of the Spaniards, they were the lords of Davao. They collected regular tributes from many of the ethnic groups that lived inland; they ran a brisk slave trade with the outside victimizing the same groups of people, and they often sack the villages of the latter in their piratical adventures. The Jesuits changed all this. 60 Aside from the Recollect priests, the Jesuits came and began their labor within the span of 30 years; the church of Davao had grown to a total of 6,284 converts, 1,400 of whom were Muslims. In 1873, Fr. Quirico More arrived in Davao and resumed missionary works down to Darong and as far as Balut Island. In 1882, Fr. Matthew Gisbert, a missionary of Society of Jesuits began a ―reduccion‖ which was a resettlement and subjugation area for the natives in Labo where some Bagobo datus settled with their 59 Lovely A. Torayno, Spanish Perceptions and Their Impact on the Infieles of Mindanao: A historiographical Study – Conversion and Baptism Bagobos. MSU-Marawi Graduate Program: Thesis Study. pp. 73-74. 60 Rudy B. Rudil, A Preliminary Study of the Evangelization of Davao, 1868-1890*. A Manuscript, pp. 11-13 35 families and sacopes.61 According to Rodil, ―At Digos, he converted a Calagan chieftain along with his wife and several of his subjects. He was certain that soon he would baptize the rest, reason enough to found a pueblo and build a church there.‖62 At this point, through Fr. Gisbert‘s efforts to transform the native settlements to become a pueblo through consolidating the Bagobo Datus and natives to live together in the newly created village of Sta. Cruz was very successful. He brought rice and other supplies; a street had been cleared up the shore to the river and they constructed a chapel with St. Joseph as patron saint. The founding of Lobo (Sta.Cruz) into a reduccion was greatly facilitated by the help of two migrants: Marcelo de Jesus and Angel Brioso.63 This town became the center of governmental transaction and trade which was created a de facto municipality by the Superior Central Government of the Philippines.64 2. American Period The Americans placed the administration of Mindanao in the hands of military officials and later on to civilians. They abruptly consolidated two company troops in strategic places in Davao. In 1900 to 1902, the military government created 5 major centers: Davao, Mati, Baganga, Caraga and Cateel. American controls were subdivided in three periods: the period of Moro Province (1903- 1914) and the period of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu (1914-1920); and the period of Bureau of Non- 61 Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator.Socio Economic and Physical Profile of Sta. Cruz 2013. Historical Development, Sta. Cruz, p.3 62 Mateo Gisbert to Superior, Davao 17 October 1885, ibid., Cuaderno 7°, pp. 116-117. 63 Heidi K. Gloria, The Bagobos: Their Ethnohistory and Acculturation. New Daily Publishers: Quezon City. p. 70 64 This was the central authority of the Spanish government located in Manila, the seat of Governor y General as the Philippines became the colony of Spain. 36 Christian Tribes (1920-1936) that was under the Department of Interior in the Commonwealth Government of President Manuel L. Quezon. At this period, the Americans forces landed in Mindanao as early as December 14, 1899 with Brig. Gen. James Bates a commanding General of the Mindanao-Jolo 23rd infantry forces stationed in Zamboanga, and placed the entire Mindanao under military rule. The American occupation of Davao started with Major Hunter Liggett, 21st Company of Volunteers on December 20, 1899 for an expedition mission and it was followed by other American-volunteer-soldier. These soldiers were campaigning and fighting hostile natives to achieve their mission of extending American sovereignty in the entire Philippine archipelago.65 To place Digos in this period, it was still under the municipality of Sta. Cruz until 1948. The Americans consolidated their position on connecting several population centers by means of building additional roads which served as highways for easier access in communication and control of these communities. It was 2nd Lt. Bean Lear, Jr. and 2nd Lt. Edward Bolton who led the exploration of Davao and Cotabato. This was the moment where Digos became the crossroad in Southern Mindanao, after the Americans created the road network connection. In October 1901, Lt. Ben Lear Jr. mounted exploratory expedition to Cotabato via Digos, Buluan, Liguasan and the Pulangi…Due to the difficulties they encountered, they decided to establish a post at Makar (now General Santos) and to include it on through line or to connect it through Digos. In December, Lear again explored a Makar-Malalag-Digos route. While Lt. Bolton began to explore these routes and other neighboring place as Sulop but he duly recommended not using this route to avoid the streams and swamp. As Bolton became knowledgeable about the area and later he acquired lands in Malalag. The routes they explored would become a highway leading from Davao to Kidapawan through Bansalan and from Digos to General Santos through Sulop and Banate. 66 65 Gloria P. Dabbay, Davao City Its History and Progress, 1995. p.38 Macario D. Tiu, Davao 1890-1910 Conquest and Resistance in the Garden of the Gods. pp. 44-45 66 37 The settlement of Mindanao was actively promoted by General Leonard Wood, the American soldiers attracted to the fertility of soil while campaigning began to claim lands in Davao. When Lt. Edward Bolton became the first politico-military district governor in Davao, it was during his administration that retired American volunteer soldiers including other European planters began setting up various agricultural plantations mostly cash crops (abaca, coconut and sugar). They then claimed Davao as part of the places that needed their tutelage. In the sourcebook entitled Philippine History and Institution, it was mentioned that: ―American businessmen and soldiers turned planters came to monopolize the ownership, the operation and the profit from the various resources of the Philippines namely: sugar manufacturing, abaca hemp and ramie bonanza, logging operations, cigar industry, agricultural machinery, heavy chemicals and fertilizers.‖67 Back then, major developments in agriculture were being advanced in Davao especially abaca farming into plantation economy as this was in demand in the world market. American planters noticed a flourishing agricultural business and they established several companies dedicated for cultivation and processing of abaca into fiber. According to Tiu‘s account, in the report of Governor Bolton, he listed 45 principal hemp planters and some other coconut planters. As of 1906, there were 32 major American plantations in the District and in Davao del Sur alone it had 17 plantations. Majority of these large plantations were located in the Digos-Padada valley.68 The development of large scale plantation caused labor shortage, and so workers from Luzon 67 Faina A. Ulindang, et. Al. Philippine History and Institution. Nogrub Book Sale& Publishing, MSU- Marawi. 2006. P. 77-78. 68 Ibid. with Tui‘s Davao 1890-1910 Conquest and Resistance in the Garden of the Gods. pp.53-56 please refer to the cited name of plantation, where and when it established and the owner of plantation. 38 and Visayas were being contracted in the sacada system including Japanese imported labor in 1903.69 With the influx of these hired mass laborers needed by Americans to run and manage their agricultural plantation, Davao became a frontier society. However, the unstable supply of manual labor persisted in 1903. Japanese laborers from the Baguio Kennon road construction and a number of Japanese pioneers were hired through American planters and were brought in Davao to work on those newly invested agricultural plantations. Moreover, some of them intermarried with the native women and made a good fortune as they acquired the abaca/ramie, coconut plantations and cattle ranchos from the former land owners. It ushered a great contribution by the Japanese to the economic advancement of the area as they called it Davao kuo or Little Tokyo. Christian Filipino migrants also engulfed the area to look for greener pastures and to work in these large plantations and ranches. So to speak, Mindanao became a ―land of promise.‖ According to the pioneering settlers interviewed by the researcher, majority of them came from Cebu and Bohol. They were hired in bulk from their hometown as planters, workers and harvesters for the abaca plantations and coconut-ranch farms by the American owners; others were cutters who served as lumberjacks from logging areas who were brought to Sittio Tagabuli, Sta. Cruz. They lived simple lives in those plantations and confined in a common house known as camarin. These hired laborers who were known as sacadas became the pioneering residents and some trustworthy laborers became capataz/encargados or tenants themselves. According to Dr. Tiu, this migration would increase in the 1920s and 1930s and continue until after the Second World War so 69 Macario D. Tui, Davao Reconstructing History from Text and Memory. Davao City: ADDU. 2005, pp.2 39 that today the migrants, principally Cebuanos, would constitute the biggest ethnic population in the region.70 In Digos alone, there were identified plantations and agricultural landowners, like Don Pedro Estrada who married a Kalagan woman in order to established landholdings (located in Estrada Zone 1); W.H. Gohn and Kelly who established a cattle ranch and coconut farming (located in Igpit with a portion of Leling, Balutakay and Hagonoy); Mindanao Plantation Company organized in San Francisco on 1906 and was manage by Burdett A. Crumb (the location include the coastal area of Digos, part of Poblacion, the Town site, Zone 2 and 3) and other American planters with landholdings located in the interior of Tiguman. Before the World War II, an enterprising American by the name of Burdett E. Crumb leased 1,026 hectares and transformed the place into an abaca plantation along the wide area of Poblacion stretching into the coastal portion. This became the hub of economic activity in the locality during those days. In Tiu‘s Davao Reconstructing History from Text and Memory, the process of acculturation was accelerated during the time of the Americans who set up plantations in Davao del Sur. Digos then was established with resettled Bagobos for the Crumb plantation, and Burdett E. Crumb married a Bagoba. To strengthen this story, Mr. Alegado said that: The Crumb families living in Zone 2 are the direct descendants of Burdett E. Crumb that‘s why it was named Crumb estates because their founding father is an American who settled in Digos for his abaca plantation. It was peace time when the municipality of Digos was created and the consequent leaders upheld the right to distribute this tract of land known as the letter of instruction 807(see Appendix D). The reason is that the Philippines became independent and so the land should be turned over to the Filipinos. In fact, Burdett Crumb donated the area of the town site to the people, since their land was being grabbed and squatted by those homesteaders. Until now, the family is still striving to file cases to reclaim these land and as former MPDC- Municipal Planning and Development Council head that area in Zone 2except those deed of sale (titled land) 70 Ibid. 40 bought by them from Crumb, other residents living in that place just have piece certificate of right. It‘s a matter of legal means by the local government to decide the distribution of the land in a way of ordinances. 71 In the meantime, President McKinley issued a general order establishing the towns to be governed by Filipinos, who were mostly migrants, under the supervision of the Americans. It was in 1913 when an immigration encouragement coming from the American officials that resettlement programs were established. The development of U.S. Land Policy in the country characterized the economic improvement of the islands corollary with America‘s vital economic interest. This institutionalized acquisition in the passage of Public Land Act on October 1903 by means of the homesteading system. In this homesteading system, agricultural colonies in Mindanao would be disposed and developed.72 In the timeline between 1918- 1934, there were 357 families who settled annually through the National Land Settlement Administration. A spontaneous mobilization of the Christian Filipino migrants worked in the building of roads and other infrastructure.73 In Davao, there was an influx of Japanese migrants in the area who were mostly laborers to the Japanese-run abaca plantation and gained economic and political influence on the community. This is why a 1931 House Representatives Committee was created to investigate Mindanao lands especially the question on illegal land acquisition.74 71 Interview to Mr.Fortunato Alegado –former Cor Jesu College Faculty and municipal head Digos MPDC and local historian as key informant. 72 Faina A. Ulindang, EDCOR and Counter Insurgency A Study of the Economic Development CCRPS (EDCOR) Settlement in Mindanao (1950-1970).Doctoral Dissertation Quezon City: University of the Philippines, 1 &18. 73 Mark. Turner, R.J. May and Lulu Respall Turner, MINDANAO: Land of Unfulfilled Promise. Quezon City: New Day Publisher. 1992. pp126-127 74 Ibid. 41 3. Japanese Presence in Davao Many Japanese became landowners; most of them acquired lands by means of government lease or outright purchase from the earlier American plantations. Consequently, about 40 American plantations and 80 Japanese owned plantations proliferated in the province along with the stores and merchandizing shops opened by them. In Gloria‘s account on the plantation economy, she mentions that while the American planters transformed abaca farming into plantation economy, the Japanese developed and modernized its production into exports.75 This involvement in the abaca industry brought about the Japanese domination of Davao as they were responsible for improving the existing extensive abaca plantations, large scale copra dealer, timber, fishing and import-export trade. The first two decades of the 20th century found Davao a producer of exports products like abacá, copra and lumber. Davao experienced a rapid rise in population and its economic progress improved the country‘s economy and foreign trade. Moreover, Japanese migration increased as the recruitment and encouragement in the region began. Two Japanese entrepreneurs Kyosaburo Ohta later organized the Ohta Development Corporation and Yoshizo Furokawa organized the Furokawa Plantation Company, Incorporated. They were looking for better agricultural lands for building abaca and coconut plantations in the region and hence these established corporations virtually monopolized Davao‘s economy.76 Christian Filipino migrants and native inhabitants learned cultivation techniques and know-how from the Japanese; it is to say that agriculture in this period became the lifeblood of the province‘s economic prosperity. With the boom of abaca, 75 Heidi K. Gloria, The Bagobos: Their Ethnohistory and Acculturation. New Daily Publishers: Quezon City. p. 76 76 Lydia N. Yu- Jose, Japan Views the Philippines 1900-1944. Quezon City: ADMU Press, 1999 pp. 80-81 42 Japanese investors came and by the 1920s to 1930s Japanese immigration peaked in Davao; the Japanese then displaced the Americans as biggest planters in Davao. Like the Japanese, their Christian Filipino counterparts also increased in number. They grabbed opportunities to exploit the natives in Davao and bought their lands in exchange for money or other commodities (like canned sardines, pack of tobacco, axes, among others). In 1918, Davao encountered an acute shortage of women as the Japanese numbered 5,612 of whom only 200 were women. Most of the Japanese laborers who came were young single men; many of them intermarried with the lumad women.77 That is why in Sta. Cruz, Digos and other parts of Davao, there exists among the Bagobo, a descent blood of Japanese. This was not also confined with the Japanese alone but also with the pioneering settlers like the Spanish, Americans, Chinese, and Christian Filipinos who cohabited with native women and produced mestizo and mestiza offsprings. 4. Philippine Commonwealth Since this period, the Japanese immigration drastically increased in number and their domination of Davao‘s economic life engendered suspicions as their presence became inimical to the national interest of the Philippine Commonwealth under President Manuel L. Quezon. When Davao became a subject of national and international concern with the growing expansion of Japan as a world power, it became clear that with the projected abundance of Mindanao‘s natural wealth, the Japanese had been an eyeing it as a potential source of economic opportunities. The national government in turn campaigned to these landless Christian Filipino families and workers to settle in 77 Macario D. Tiu, Davao Reconstructing History from Text and Memory. Davao City: ADDU. 2005, p.33 43 Mindanao, especially in Cotabato and Davao areas. The Commonwealth encouraged settlement programs and assistance policy (free transportation and subsidized food supply) among them to lessen the hegemonic control of the Japanese. Other reasons given for the resettlement of these migrants were the poverty alleviation in parts of the country and the expansion of agricultural production of rice and corn; the conducive fertile soil in Mindanao for bigger production; and also because the population in this part of the country was not in proportion to the size of its land. So to speak, laws and policies were created to fully maximize the country‘s resources and solve the congested population in Luzon and Visayas. Two historical events allowed the Christian-Filipino migrants to make their entrance to Digos and occupy this area. First was the House Bill No. 609 or Commonwealth Act No. 51, An Act Creating the City of Davao duly signed by President Quezon on October 16, 1936, it then followed an issuance of Executive Proclamation No. 132 that formally organized the City of Davao on March 1, 1937. 78 The act insured Davao as a chartered city to be held by the President‘s appointed official instead of an elective position. Since Filipino delegates had been chosen, it gave the advantage to maximize Filipino immigration in southern Mindanao. It is a duly notified policy which put holds the control of the Japanese in either a political or economic aspect. Second was the approval of President Quezon of the Commonwealth Act. No. 441 creating the National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA)79 founded by retired 78 Macario D. Tui, Davao Reconstructing History from Text and Memory. Davao City: ADDU Press. 2005, pp.33-34 79 NLSA objectives: [1]to facilitate the acquisition, settlement and cultivation of the lands whether acquired from the government or from private parties; [2]to afford opportunity to own farms to tenant farmers and small farmers from congested areas and to trainees who have completed the prescribed military training; [3]to encourage migration to sparsely populated region and facilitate the amalgamation of the different section of the Philippines; and [4]to develop 44 Philippine Army Chief of Staff Major-General Paulino Santos who recommended the Koronadal Valley and Compostela-Monkayo district as resettlement areas. Thus, on February 27, 1939, the biggest batch of Christian settlers arrived in Dadiangas now General Santos City, mostly Ilocanos. The NLSA as Government Corporation was able to establish irrigation systems, hospitals, and schools within the settlement areas and successfully planted different crops. With the new success in cultivating the agricultural lands in Koronadal Valley, it prompted more landless inhabitants in Luzon and Visayas to resettle and on February 1941, a continuous arrival of new settlers and the families of the old settlers happened.80 In connection, these migrants sporadically sought to find greener pastures in Digos. As a portion of the ―food bowl‖ of the province of Davao del Sur, otherwise known as the Digos-Padada Valley, lured many Christian migrants, majority of them coming from the NLSA program settled permanently in the area for livelihood and the growing adventurous endeavor to acquire their own land in the Digos plain. In the study of Abinales entitled Making Mindanao Cotabato and Davao in the Formation of the Philippine Nation- State, he mentions that both spontaneous and government- sponsored migrations were movements not merely of individual or single family but with the groups of families, majority of whom came from same villages and municipalities. In Davao settlement noted by Simskin and Wernstedt, Philippine Migration posits: Nearly all section of the Philippines contributed migrants to Digos-Padada Valley… the great bulk of migration to the valley has come from few places. Of the 523 municipalities of birth represented among the valley migrants, 16 municipalities contributed of the total new cash crops to take place of the present export crops. Al-Fahd T. Marohombsar, The Boom City of the Southern Philippines: A Study on the Economic Development of General Santos City, 2009, p.38. 80 Al-Fahd T. Marohombsar, The Boom City of the Southern Philippines: A Study on the Economic Development of General Santos City. Undergraduate Thesis, Mindanao State University, Marawi City, March 2009, pp. 36-39 45 movement. These municipalities represent the birthplaces of more than half (53 percent) of the total migrant population of the Digos- Padada valley.81 They were popularly called the home seekers of the north and shows that 90 percent of the Digos- Padada settlers came from the coastal municipalities of Cebu Province. It was reinforced by the fact that a significant portion of the homesteaders who came from Argao and Sibonga lived in Digos. Furthermore, it then noted that of the migrants who came from specific communities in Luzon and Visayas, 60 percent were convinced by friends and relatives rather than through government pronouncements. Hence, these outmigration areas after land could not sustain the growing post war population, even to the extent of squatting and or land grabbed from the existing patterns of those who arrived before World War II.82 The interesting account during this period is that those migrants (Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Cebuanos, Boholanos, Illongos, Hiligaynon, Leyteño-Waray, etc) introduced their cultural uniqueness to the natives as they coexisted with each other; they then became the leaders of Digos. Preserving unity and building good relation among them, largely shares the beauty of diversity in the multicultural area of Davao. By and then these ethnic groups became assimilated with the life and culture of these migrants. 5. World War II and the Japanese Occupation In 1942, during the World War II as the Japanese occupation of the Philippines began, Davao was one of the first among the Philippine regions to be subjected by Japanese occupation. It was noted in the beginning that Japanese presence in the region 81 Patricio N. Abinales, Making Mindanao Cotabato and Davao in the Formation of the Philippines NationState. Quezon City: ADMU Press, 2000 pp. 110-111. 82 Ibid, 111-112 46 increased in number; laborers came to be owners of the American plantations and other Japanese investors came in. These Japanese settlers supported the Japanese war effort and turned out to be military officers. Consequently, the Japanese in the early 1940‘s held complete control of Davao and displaced American planters from their plantations.83 In this period, Japanese imperial soldiers were being deployed in Digos as to protect the existing leasing plantations brought by the Japanese investor in this area. Accordingly, the Burdett A. Crumb plantation, W.H. Gohn Haley cattle ranch and coconut farming and other American abaca plantation in Tiguman were being leased including Edward Christiansen‘s landholdings in Hagonoy and even Mr. Walstrom‘s coconut plantation in Padada. As a matter of fact, that place Odaca (renamed into San Miguel today) was named after a Japanese Infantry Commander, Coronel Odaca together with his men in the Japanese imperial army who set up camps in Digos. They posted a detachment located at San Miguel interconnected to another detachment in Padada.84 Moreover, with their absolute predominance in the abaca industry, they became the most powerful group in Davao. The Japanese Kempeitai85 dictated both economic and political life in the towns including the barrio of Digos. Since this time Digos was still attached to the municipality of Sta. Cruz. According to the Sta. Cruz‘s Socio- Economic Profile: As the war broke out on 1941 and Japanese Imperial Army occupied Davao, the Japanese firepower was far superior resulting to the surrender of the USAFFE in May 10, 1942. The residents evacuated to the mountains and municipal official went underground. Life during Japanese Occupation was full of terror, anguish, poverty and physical exhaustion.86 83 Macario D. Tui, Davao Reconstructing History from Text and Memory. Davao City: ADDU Press. 2005, pp.32-33 84 Personal interview with Mr. Teodorico N. Dofiles II faculty, key informant and local historian teaching history subject in of Cor Jesu College, Digos City. 85 The most feared name at that time and known Japanese spy who maintain law and order. 86 Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator. Sta. Cruz Socio Economic and Physical Profile 2013,p. 5. 47 The turnout of events led to the time when the American returned as promised by Douglas McArthur to reclaim the Philippines from Japanese occupation. The Battle of Mindanao was fought by the United States forces and the allied Filipino guerrillas against the Japanese from March 10 to August 15, 1945. The campaign for Mindanao posed the greatest challenge for the liberating American forces; along the Davao Gulf area contained the strongest Japanese defenses which concentrated on land mines to counter an amphibious landing. Davao City, the island's largest and most important city was a stronghold of Japanese artillery and anti-aircraft batteries extensively ringed the coastal shoreline defenses. It was Digos‘ road that served as the entrepot among American soldiers alongside with Filipino guerrillas to penetrate Davao City. With Gen. Woodruff's 24th Division moving so rapidly, the Americans were almost on top of the Japanese around Davao before Gen. Morozumi learned too late that the western landing was in fact, not diversionary. Upon reaching Digos on 27 April, the Americans quickly overwhelmed the defending Japanese who were prepared only to repel an assault—from the sea, not from their rear. The 24th Division immediately turned north and headed toward Davao City.87 When the war ended in 1945, the Japanese defeat spelled the end of Japanese presence in Davao. Some Japanese inhabitants assimilated with the Filipino populace while others were expelled from the country. Their leased and outright purchased land were taken over by the government and distributed to the Filipino settlers.88 As a result of the government‘s land distribution and the encouragement among pioneering settlers in Davao area, barrios and sitios emerged as newly created municipalities in the Davao region after the granting of Philippine Independence. 87 Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mindanao (date accessed: March 22, 2014) Tiu.,ibid.35 88 48 C. PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE 1. Creation of Digos into a Municipality Through the initiation of then Congressman Apolinario Cabigon, he forwarded Digos, to become a regular municipality in 1949 by virtue of Presidential Executive Order No. 236 dated July 19, 1949 issued by late President Elpidio R. Quirino. Its land coverage included the barrios of Tres de Mayo, Goma, Bansalan, Magsaysay, Matanao, Darapuay, townsite - Zone III and the poblacion – Zone I, II and portion of Zone III where the seat of government was located.89 On 19 July 1949, the town was formally inaugurated with Benito Rabor appointed as Mayor. This time also marks the beginning of a new period of social and economic changes in the area personified by traders, government authorities, pioneering residents and the church. Digos had been populated with the influx of Christian Filipino migrants, particularly Cebuanos who constitutes up to 80 percent of the Davao population. Together with their families, they lived in the area, developed agricultural livelihood, capitalized commercial ties and trade enterprises and acquired their own land in Digos. Davao del Sur, Achieving Progress by Collective Endeavor – A Serial, no pagination. 89 49 CHAPTER V DIGOS POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION 1949-2013 A. Political Leaders and their Contributions to Development The making of Digos is partly attributed to the role of political figures and the events that happened during 1949- 2013. Understanding the key role of political leaders in bringing about development to the area is significant. Their efforts made Digos an established administrative municipality in Davao through the introduction of a good educational system, agricultural farm implements and other socio-economic activities that provided the people their sources of livelihood. The natives in Digos such as the Bagobos, Kalagans, Blaan and other tribes which settled along the Digos valley together with the pioneering settlers share a harmonious relationship by doing agricultural work. It is through this countless pioneering folks who changed Digos in their favor and introduced the abaca plantation with the shift into coconut –sugarcane -banana – mango agricultural ventures. This chapter provides the accounts about the administration of the elected mayors of Digos from the oral testimonies among the family members and the mayors themselves. Moreover, these historical data and findings will substantiate the array of gaps waiting to be filled up and supply Digos‘ historical development. In general, the shortest tenure of office among the Digos municipal mayor were that of Diosdado M. Ypil and Juanito O. Morales with only 3 months in office. The longest tenure in office is that of Arsenio A. Latasa completing his service with 3 terms as municipal mayor and 3 terms as city mayor (a total of 18 years in tenure). The last elected municipal mayor prior to the conversion of Digos as a component city was Hon. Arsenio A. Latasa (July 1, 1992-June 30, 2010). But consequently he became the founding father by being conferred as the first city mayor after pushing a policy for Digos to become one of the key cities in the Philippines. The next to hold the longest term as municipal executive was Nonito Llanos Sr. like Latasa, he served Digos with an unhindered 3 consecutive terms for 12 years. And among the lineage of families who were elected as mayor, the Llanoses have served Digos for about 22 years starting from Nonito Llanos Sr.(12), Nonito Llanos Jr.(6) and Rogelio Llanos(4). 1. Post War Period: The Municipality of Digos was Born (1949-1986) Benito R. Rabor (July 19, 1949- December 31, 1949) The first appointed mayor in the new municipality of Digos prior to the break out of consequent sitios and barrios that has been divided into settlements belonging to the mother town of Sta. Cruz, the district town in Davao. This official was appointed to set up the newly created community by legitimately accepting the challenge that people hoped and dreamed for Digos. The appointed mayor Rabor worked in the house of Mr. Dodong Comita (still standing today located in the 1st Crumb Street corner Rizal Avenue) were they process birth certificates, marriage contracts and other pertinent public office works. Digos together with Padada90 (formerly Limonso) in the southern portion of Davao del Sur were a consolidated effort of E.O. 236 to become a new municipality. The municipalities of Digos and Padada were simultaneously created under Executive Order No. 236 issued by President Elpidio Quirino on July 1, 1949 from the portion of the municipality of Sta. Cruz. The municipality of Digos was formally inaugurated on July 19, 1949 with Mr. Benito Rabor as the first appointed Mayor. The municipality of 90 Padada was formerly name Limonso (from limonsito- lemon which abundant in poblacion), it was rename for Padada tree (a mangrove family). 51 Padada was formally inaugurated on July 15, 1949 with Antonio Go Pace, Sr. as the first 91 appointed mayor The time when Digos was a newly created municipality of Davao, was the crucial ascent of massive migration in this area. Settlers from Luzon and majority from Visayas began to arrive in Digos. Most of them were business entrepreneurs, teachers, farmers, adventurous young and single individuals, home seekers, sacada laborers and workers, ambitious politically-inclined families and National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA) registered settlers. Chinese businessmen were accepted in Digos by the government in order to establish and stimulate business in the area after the post war period where Digos was devastated by World War II, together with the pioneering settler‘s shanty store in the Estrada public market. The continuous arrival of new settlers and with the families of the old settlers who followed them in this settlement changed the landscape of Digos and caused local issues of land squatting and grabbing. During the first year of Mayor Rabor‘s administration was merely an administerial power since Digos then was a newly inaugurated municipality. There was identified progress in this area such as the establishment of schools like the Digos Central Elementary School together with the existing Digos Junior High school in 1946 (Digos National High School today), clearing of boundaries, roads and bridges which came from the funds of the national government. Cinema or movie houses were also constructed namely Swerte Theater (owned by Emilio Ginoo formerly located in the BDO bank and Bukohan today) and Diamond Theater (located at the present Happy Place building). Estrada public Davao del Sur Socio Economic and Physical Profile 2009-2011. General Background. PPDO –Provincial Planning Development Office, pp. 2-3. 91 52 market was the center of trade and commerce in this rural municipality and the area of Freedom Park.92 Then after his tenure of office Benito Rabor as a man, became engrossed with material extravagance and worldly pleasure that according to key informants, he was abandoned by his family and became mendicant. The saddest feature of his diminishing career was when he committed adulterous acts and died in the street begging for food as a pauper. But when he died, he was given a proper burial by the local municipal government of Digos.93 Angel A. Loyola (January 9, 1950- December 31, 1955), a soft spoken Ilocano born leader in Luzon, who made a political career in the newly created municipality in Digos which he nurtured and improved socially and economically. Like his Ilocano descent, Mayor Angel ―Angel‖ Loyola was hard-working and an industrious person not only for his personal well-being but also for his local community. He was a man of service, an active participant in the development of Digos and a community-oriented leader. Mayor Angel was appointed not until 1953 where another charter change made municipal officials elective.94 According to the accounts, he was born in Luna, La Union in 1912. After his graduation in Manila, he was able to obtain work in Davao for some time and owned land in Digos (18 hectares identified today as Loyola Village). Prior to his mayoralty, in 1949 MC Digos College now the University of Mindanao Digos Branch was established. It 92 Interview with Francisca Curayag where her husband Costancio was an operator turned manager in operation of Swerte Theater. 93 Interview with Mr. Fortunato Alegado at his residence in Teacher‘s Village on October 14, 2013. 94 Davao and Cotabato were not yet formally regular provinces. The Revised Administrative Code‘s Charter 63 accorded rights of pioneering settler‘s full suffrage. In Davao‘s case provincial officials were still appointed by Manila until 1953. Mindanao Times dated October 18, 1952.Patricio N. Abinales, Making Mindanao Cotabato and Davao in the Formation of the Philippine Nation-State. pp. 197 53 was first located at Rizal Avenue beside the Digos River on a lot donated by Mr. and Mrs. Angel Loyola. In 1952, the turning point of territorial disintegration where Bansalan (Miral) was created as a new municipality extracted a portion of Digos on September 18, 1952.95 He was credited for the establishment of basic institutions, facilities and infrastructure projects. He initiated the policy in subdividing the Crumb estates that was the hot bed of local issue on the transfer of ownership and residential potentials for Digos because some 500 settler‘s squatted the area. He built a Loyola‘s Clinic, initiated the widening of feeder roads and construction of bridges (the most known is the Caños Bridge project in Digos River from the former hanging bridge). He issued farm implements, manual tricycles (known as sikad) for the residents and started the printing of the local publication Bisaya Magazine; stimulated Filipino-Chinese traders (Tan coprarice-corn buy and sell, Bonifacio & Landa Crispino farming and livestock raising, Hilario Wong trading merchandizer, Wilson Lei‘s Jacks Bakery, Gonzales retailing and among other) to establish businesses in the area. Mayor Loyola‘s greatest effort was building a good future for Digoseños and after him preceded with other extraordinary mayors. During his administration as a mayor, he donated a piece of land that had been built for a jewelry shop in Estrada and a school (located at present Pearl Center). At this point in time Don Pedro Estrada donated his parcel of land to be constructed as public market for Digoseño businessmen and residents and it was also the opening of Caños Hospital as the first hospital in Digos. Loyola started the construction and transfer of the 95 Davao del Sur Socio Economic and Physical Profile 2009-2011. General Background. Provincial Planning and Development Council., p.3. 54 municipal hall in Rizal Avenue from the old house of Mr. Comita and the Digos Public market. Nonito D. Llanos, Sr. (January 1, 1956- August 31, 1965) Working against the odds, patriarch Nonito ―Noning‖ Llanos Sr. won the mayoral race in 1956. He was a labor leader of the masses and the fatherly figure (tatay for all). He was a man with a firm conviction whose goal was to make Digos a peaceful and conducive municipality to live in. Mayor Llanos Sr.‘s ascent as municipal executive for 3 uninterrupted terms (12 years holding office) was duly credited to his strong personality and disciplinarian tendencies. He prioritized policies on matters of security, peace and order.96 Digoseños will never forget about him simply because he made a curfew; had a survey and security roving in the municipality together with Arsenio Tongco, Felicisimo Putong Sr., Gregorio Cuevas and other companions. One of the most interesting accounts of Mayor Llanos Sr. was when he saw these street gangs and drunkards after the curfew hour, Mayor Noning made them spell BOY after word OY (uway).97 With this protection policy he introduced, Digos ascent as a prominent municipality in Davao. He also introduced agricultural programs which increased income of the place yet he made no action towards the infamous Crumb estate controversy. Moreover, it was during his mayoralty when the new municipal building with a plaza was created. The Digos public market – Mezzanine building, new terminal and new apartment style cemetery were among the completed infrastructure development projects during his administration. Furthermore, government owned NAWASA- Natural Water and Sewerage and a Slaughter house was created 96 Interview with Mary Catherine Llanos-Cobias, Milagros Llanos, Milagros Llanos and other family member on October 14 & December 30, 2013 97 ―Uway‖ is a variety of plant which he used as Latigo or a whipping stick and he let them went home with inflicted pain. 55 during his time.98 He also headed the construction of a public school building in Digos and the creation of a Townsite, a ticket for his bid to run in the gubernatorial race when the undivided province of Davao was split. 2. The Creation of Davao del Sur (1967 to 1986) The entire Davao region before the granting of Philippine independence in 1946 was already a single province known as the Davao Province with Davao City serving as the capital. The undivided province of Davao was split into three provinces, namely: Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur.99 Prior to the creation of the province on May 8, 1967, the undivided province of Davao where Davao del Sur belonged and Davao City which is the capital of the old Davao province shared the same history. The province of Davao Del Sur was created by the defunct Congress on May 8, 1967 under Republic Act No. 4867. It started functioning as a province on July 1, 1967 which was comprised of only ten (10) municipalities where Digos was the capital. The elective provincial positions were filled by appointments by the President of the Philippines until the time when the officials were duly elected and qualified in the 1967 election.100 The first appointed provincial governor was Ramon de los Cientos, an influential political head in Sta. Cruz and Cresencio Lascuña as ViceGovernor, who were duly elected in 1967 against Nonito N. Llanos, Sr. who lost his bid as executive head of the province. 98 Interview with former MPDC Fortunato Alegado on October 14, 2013 In October 28, 2013 Davao del Sur municipalities and component City of Digos, together with Digoseños and local government officials influences as the key mover on the plebiscite creating a new province of Davao Occidental. Formed out of the southern part of Davao del Sur, covering the municipalities of the 2nd district of the province, namely Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Sta. Maria, Sarangani and Malita (which was designated as the provincial capital) by virtue of Republic Act 10360 enacted on July 23, 2013 were overwhelmingly casting ―YES‖ vote in favoring for the new province, Davao Occidental in Davao Region. 100 Davao del Sur Socio Economic and Physical Profile 2009-2011 p.1 99 56 The kind-hearted but Marcos loyalist Mayor Gregorio “Dodoy” de la Calzada (September 1, 1967- December 31, 1971), improved the Digos public market along the Peanut Bakery area, established a lighting programs in the different barangays, established the Digos economic enterprise and DIMAVEMCI cooperative was founded. Accordingly, Mayor Dodoy had been passive in terms of project implementation; he did consultations first on any infrastructure project with Gov. Ramon de los Cientos until with Gov. Nonito Llanos Sr.101 The strict and principled Mayor Jesus “Jesus” Ralota Sr. (January 1, 1972 – June 16, 1978), was known as a man of firm decision. He served for seven years as a mayor. He established a work ethics in terms of punctuality among all municipal government employees, imposed a no corruption policy, initiated the expansion of the Digos public market with 3 buildings, promoted the clearing of municipal boundaries and widening of major roads, and highlighted the maintenance of peace and order situation.102 He was known for being honest towards government dealings. The new roads and infrastructure he created facilitated trade and commerce, yet the culture of patronage towards strong family ties in government positions takes place in his administration. Former seminarian turned politician, Mayor Nonito “Jun” Llanos, Jr. (June 17, 1978 – March 26, 1982), was the eldest son of Llanos Sr. This time Nonito Llanos Sr. became governor of the Davao del Sur province for 12 years. With the connection of father and son, Digos consolidated a binding decision about the Crumb Estate land issue through the Letter of Instruction 807 (see Appendix C) under the auspices of President 101 Interview with MPDC Fortunato Alegado on October 14 and Daughter-in-law Eleonora T. de la Calzada on December 29, 2013 102 Interview with MPDC Fortunato Alegado on October 14 and Nephew Brgy. Captain Gary R. Cagas on December 26, 2013 57 Marcos and the rule of law of the Supreme Court (SC) in favor of the residence occupants over the Crumb heir, William Crumb. This crucial issue put an end to a court battle which lasted for 40 years as the SC ruled the case. Mayor Jun Llanos defined the boundary of the Crumb estate including the Townsite Development Plan and Extension streets through the re-blocking and zoning of Digos after February 9, 1979. Furthermore, mayor Jun initiated a good plan for Digos as he established a shadow adviser which served as a consultant apart from Sangguniang Bayan officials, who were highly trained on planning analysis like Jess Brandares, Doy Baña, Isauros Gravador and Rolando Boy Fabiana. But his administration was stained because of the failure of the NAWASA to provide a reliable and sufficient potable water service.103 In March 26, 1982 marked the incident when Mayor Jun was assassinated together with his wife Gavina Avila Llanos who was wounded with a gun shot in the leg when they attended a coronation pageant in Christian Village, Barangay Aplaya. This was done by an unidentified person without due reason. The issue that was raised about his killing was that it was either a politically- related incident or an NPA fabricated plan. Unfortunately, the culprit is still at large.104 Rogelio A. Barba (March 27, 1982 – March 2, 1986) was an Ilonggo lawyer who succeeded the mayoralty of Jun Llanos from his assassination. He was said to be a Marcos boy who followed the rules and abided the mandate from the National government. He fully implemented (the 800 hectares known as Crumb estate) the subdivision and distribution of the property among the actual occupants as listed. Mayor 103 Digos Water District was created by virtue of Sangguniang Bayan of Digos Res. No. 76, Dated July 10, 1980 in pursuance of PD 198 as amended. It was awarded its Conditional Certificate of Conformance on January 12, 1981 after compliance with LWUA‘s minimum requirement. However, it started its operation on November 12, 1980 and has been operational for 26 years 104 Interview with MPDC Fortunato Alegado on October 14. Interview with Mary Catherine Llanos-Cobias, Milagros Llanos, Milagros Llanos and other family member on October 14 & December 30, 2013 58 Barbas‘ achievements include Barangay Zoning primarily Zone I, II and III; expansion of major roads from Acacia- Central Road in Igpit area and San Jose; and lastly the project of a hospital.105 After the declaration of Martial Law on September 17, 1972 by President Ferdinand E. Marcos, the NPA (New People‘s Army) insurgency gained support in Digos and an active participation of student demonstrations in the area became rampant. Nonetheless, there were no specific accounts on what had happened on the municipality of Digos during this time. Oral testimonies among the people said that there was a massive killing and NPA infiltration from Digos towards Sta. Cruz and it became one of the ―Red Area or War Zone‖ labelled places.106 The National government deployed the Philippine Constabulary (PC) consisting of 1 battalion. It was installed to provide for the protection of the residents in Digos as well as the whole province under martial rule.107 3. EDSA I and the Appointments of the OIC‟s The peaceful People Power Revolution at EDSA on February 22-25, 1986 marked the historic end of the dictatorial government of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. It paved the way for the government of Corazon C. Aquino and changed the political scenario in Digos. Almost all pro-Marcos government officials were relieved by the ministry of Local Government and were never given any position in the government. 105 Interview with MPDC Fortunato Alegado on October 14, together with the interview of Eduardo Barba and Ambassador Edzel Barba on December 27, 2013. 106 MPDC. Socio-Economic and Physical Profile of Sta. Cruz 2013. Historical Development p.5. 107 Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1081 placing the entire Philippines under martial law and then issued General Order No. 1. Proclaiming that ―He shall govern the nation and direct the operation of the entire government‖ and General Order 2 and 2-A) instructing the military to arrest without judicial warrant a long list of opposition. PC Imposed curfew hours, tactical interrogation- various torture techniques to the alleged opposition, among other. In re Estate of Ferdinand E. Marcos Human Rights Litigation, 910 F. Supp. 1460 (D. Haw. 1995); Joker P. Arroyo, Do Pinoys Remember Martial Law?Phil.Daily Inquirer, Sept. 21, 2000, reprinted in KILOSBAYANMAGAZINE, Oct. 20, 2000. 59 In 1986, Mayor Barba was relieved from his office and was replaced by Juanito G. Camasura (March 3, 1986 – March 27, 1987). The greatest achievement credited to him was his arbitration and reconciliation of the NPA and the PC, including the affected civilians the period of national turmoil. He did not leave a significant legacy in terms of projects, but the positive determination of Mayor Camasura to stop the everyday killings in his time (According to him, individual disappearances, homicides, murders in front of the house and street in Digos was rampant) was more than enough compensation.108 It was during this period that NAKASAKA109 was established by the then Governor Douglas Ra Cagas and was supported by the municipal mayors in Davao del Sur to effectively downsize criminal acts and insurgency problem. Manuel K. Gonzales (March 24, 1987 – November 30, 1987) The mayoralty position became vacant when Mayor Camasura resigned from office to run in congress. Dr. Manny was appointed as OIC mayor since he was recommended by Mayor Jun. Like his predecessor, he did not leave behind any significant legacy during his administration. Digoseños anyway never expected a legacy from an OIC who only served for about 8 months. Yet he was an unforgettable Mayor-Doctor in his own way. He imposed small projects like the cleanliness of the Digos public market, Medical and health related missions to different barangays, beautification of Rizal Park and Children‘s playground including the unveiling of historical images or pictures of past mayors. 110 At the eve of 108 Interview with MPDC Fortunato Alegado and Former Mayor Juanito G. Camasura on October 14 & December 30, 2013. 109 NAKASAKA means (Nagkahiusang Katawhan alang sa Kalinaw- United People for Peace) was a government organization seeking peace negotiation between contending party in order not to ensue bloodshed in the province and bring them together in a binding resolution. It is also a clandestine operation where illegal activities were reported. 110 Interview with former Mayor Manuel K. Gonzales on January 2, 2014 60 his administration with the incoming election, Mayor Gonzales vacated his office to run as Board Member in the 1st congressional district111 of Davao del Sur. Diosdado M. Ypil (December 1, 1987 – February 1, 1988) A religious conservative teacher and undefeated municipal councilor in Digos was installed as OIC Mayor for 3 months. He continued the remaining term of Dr. Manny and at his old age he wanted to retire in public service. Moreover, his positive determination to keep the municipality working and the fact that he was the only public servant who rides a bicycle remained in the minds of the people.112 4. Prelude to Cityhood (1988-1992) Accordingly, the municipality of Digos was identified as a secondary growth center, together with Tagum, and was expected to develop as a buffer zone to lessen the burden of the heavy influx of migrants to Davao City. This function was expected to be accomplished by developing Digos as the site of Agro-Industries and transshipment points for agricultural inputs and capital goods in the Region. 113 The1990‘s brought critical changes favorable for the Local Government Unit of Digos. First, the passage of the Local Government Code (R.A. 7160) provided not only the devolution of some function of the National Government agencies to the LGUs, but it also gave ample opportunities for Digos to generate and mobilize local resources. Second, the inclusion of Digos in the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP) 111 First congressional district of Davao del Sur includes 9 municipalities or towns (Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Matanao, Magsaysay, Hagonoy, Sulop, Padada, Kiblawan and Malalag) and 1 component city (Digos City). Second congressional district of Davao del Sur includes 5 municipalities or towns(Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Malita, Santa Maria and Sarangani) 112 Interview with CPDC Head Alexander de Castro Ypil, the nephew of Former mayor Diosdado Ypil on January 3, 2013 113 OCPDC. Revised Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Digos City, Davao del Sur, CY 2011-2020. Digos City. P. 3 61 enabled it to optimize its economic interaction with the other cities and municipalities within the DIDP and foreign cooperating agencies. Third, the formation of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines- East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) presented economic opportunities in foreign markets for the resource-rich Digos. And fourth, the conversion of the Municipality into a City brought immediate dividends in the form of increased Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and invigorated capacity for resource generation.114 Rogelio E. Llanos (February 2, 1988 – March 23, 1992) was a bank manager turned planner. Mayor Rogelio ―Roger‖ Llanos was elected as municipal executive in 1988. According to his friends, he was a modest opportunistic man who always makes decision that is best for Digoseños. During his administration he was able to appropriate loan for the expansion of Digos Public market known as the Premium Building,115 the reblocking and zoning of various barangays in Digos especially the townsite areas, cementing of major road networks, renovation of the municipal hall especially the DILG building, and the construction of a Drainage System along the Digos National High School up to the public market areas and introduced the conversion of Digos from municipality into a city although it was not materialized on his time.116 However, despite the progress of Digos with all the infrastructure and development projects, on June 25, 1989 the most tragic event in Digos history happened with the perpetrated killings of 39 Digoseños by identified communist member of the New People‘s Army (CPP-NPA). Very few would likely remember that on June 25, 1989, in a small village in Digos, Davao Del Sur, 39 people, many of them children, were mercilessly gunned-down by 114 Ibid. There‘s an issue on the construction period of this market building between Municipal Engr. Emilio R. Peñas and Municipal Councilor Romy ―Anung Sur‖ Aniñon towards the used of materials including the standard . 116 Interview with Milagros Llanos, Mary Catherine Llanos-Cobias and other family member on December 30 & October 14, 2013 115 62 CPP-NPA rebels while they were attending a Sunday mass. Two of the victims, UCCP Pastor Ruben Ayap and his brother were beheaded. The motive: the village leaders refused to cooperate with the rebels. The CPP-NPA general command later admitted responsibility for the brutal killings and promised indemnification of the families of victims, which never happened. The incident which became known as the ―Digos Massacre,‖ captured the national attention back then. The entire country was enraged by the carnage. However, none have taken the matter too seriously except the government. Even the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), later on, in an ironic twist, gravitated towards the left who perpetrated the killings of its flock. It even placed the blame on the government. Eventually, the incident slowly faded in the people‘s memory. 117 There was no justice attained. With this event, the Peace and Order Situation in Digos became blatantly strengthened. Mayor Roger scheduled a meeting to the Philippine President Fidel Ramos regarding the surging problem in Davao del Sur. He was able to consolidate military men and arm power to control the situation in the area; he became a mayor with guts to survey Digos every night from 10 p.m. till 4a.m. Juanito O. Morales (March 24, 1992 – June 30, 1992) Digos City‘s mayoral office became vacant and Vice Mayor Juanito Morales assumed office when Mayor Rogelio Llanos wanted to run for governor. His continued the term of Mayor Roger and among his contributions is the tapping of barangay officials and purok leaders to construct water pumps and artesian wells. He improved his home barangay in Kapatagan in this period.118 5. The Making of Digos into a City (1998-2013) All Philippine cities are chartered cities, whose existence as corporate and administrative entities is governed by their own specific municipal charters in connection 117 The article was written in remembrance of the victims of the ―Rano Massacre‖ or popularly known as ―Digos Massacre‖ by Mariz Quimpo, it was also showed through movie the depiction of Digos Massacre which acclaims national and international condemnation. http://www.indybay.org/ access on Saturday, December 14, 2013, 7:44:14 PM 118 Interview with Engr. Arnulfo R. Lañas at Office of City Planning on October 14, 2013. 63 to the Local Government Code of 1991, which specifies their administrative structure and powers. As of September 2012, there are 143 cities that grew as a result of rapid urbanization and population boom. Of the 79 provinces in the Philippines, Digos is one of the component cities119 belonging to the province of Davao del Sur. In 1998, there was already a movement to convert the municipality of Digos to cityhood. It was being started with the aid of several Digoseños in favor of the proposal converting Digos from a 1st class municipality into a component city of Davao del Sur. A committee was initiated with a concise study of the said planned endeavor, majority of whom were Digoseno‘s technocrats120 to name a few whose has actively participated in planning, disseminating and adjudicating were: Atty. Leonardo Suario– lawyer and representing the commerce or business sector, Atty. Isauro Gravador– lawyer and development officer, Herman Bodikey– representing the education sector, Rolando Fabiana– representing the academe sector primarily in higher education, Dr. Mila K. Cavan – representing the academe and consumerist sector and Fiscal Artemio Tajon – government provincial prosecutor. For this, Mayor Latasa earned advantage in serving another 3 terms in office as city mayor. The bid to convert Digos to Cityhood was forwarded by Mayor Rogelio E. Llanos and initiated by Mayor Arsenio A. Latasa as per stipulated to required qualification of the Local Government Code R.A. 7160. The filing of House Bill 5672 at the Lower House (House of Representative) associated and authored by Congressman Douglas Ralota 119 Specifically, the basis or determinants for creation are income, population and land area in the pursuant of Republic Act no. 7160 also known as the Local Government Code that able first class municipality to be converted as new entity a component city consistent with the provision which stipulates that ―A city shall not be created unless the following requisites on income and either population or land area are present: [1] income- an average annual income of not less than 20 million pesos and; [2] population or land area- population which shall not less than 150,000 inhabitants or land area which must be contiguous with an area of atleast 100 square kilometer.‖ This constitutional prohibition qualified Digos to be a new emerging city in Davao Region as per see requisite to the provision effectively upon the ratification of majority vote through plebiscite. 120 Technocrats mean a group of technical experts in different societal field. 64 Cagas on November 24, 1998. At this point in time Senator Sergio Osmeña III consequently filed Senate Bill 1778 at the Upper House (House of the Senate) on October 15, 1999, thereby giving an edge to materialize what had been Digoseños long-term vision statement and concrete plan of action of the proposed conversion which progress is closely monitored. At every stage, stakeholders (including civil society, business sectors, academia, local government officials and local residents) interact through an exchange information and knowledge, making a city with a modernization development strategy a truly participatory process among them. The bid gained popular support from all sectors when it was submitted for public hearing on 11 of November 1999. The joint effort of Congress, enacted the bill which paved the way for its emergence as a new component city in the Davao Region, to be the seat of Provincial Government of Davao del Sur approved and witnessed thru Franklin M. Drilon (Senate President), Manuel B. Villar Jr. (House Speaker), Oscar G. Yabes (Secretary of the Senate) and Roberto P. Nazareno (Secretary General House of Representatives) as follows: This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 8873 and Senate Bill No. 1980 was finally passed by the House of Representative and Senate on May 30, 2000 and May 8, 2000, respectively. An Act Converting the Municipality of Digos, Davao del Sur 121 Province, into a Component City to be known as the City of Digos. (see Appendix D) The City of Digos attained its charter on July 14, 2000 when President Joseph Estrada signed into law the R.A. No. 8798 formally declared its cityhood and was then supported by a majority vote equivalent of 87% representing the total voters in the plebiscite held on September 8, 2000.122 With the aid of Provincial Governor Rogelio 121 Congress of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 8798. Republic of the Philipines, Metro Manila. 1999 p. 58 http://www.digoscity.gov.ph access on Saturday, December 14, 2013, 7:43:03 PM 122 65 Llanos who brought the drafted paper in Manila to the President Estrada‘s approval and turning over to Mayor Latasa as officially proclaim Digos as component city of Davao del Sur. On the accord of local residents votes and the support of its conversion the primordial reason would be the improve living condition as the city assert local income (from local taxes, permits and licenses, service income, business income and other income and national taxes-professional tax)and high increase funds from IRA(Internal Revenue Allotment). Arsenio Latasa (July 1, 1992 – June 30, 2010), a Bol-anon lawyer, then became the first mayor since Digos became a city. He changed the socio- economic landscape of Digos through various projects and infrastructure programs. The longest mayor holding an office with consecutive 3 full terms from municipal mayor about 9 years and city mayor at 9 years. Among his contributions were the following: the signing of contract and business agreement between Japanese Industrial Firm- Nakayama, a modern factory manufactures bricks and granite panels on 2001 together with an expansion as developer of Nakayama home village in Sinawilan. In the year 2004 the expansion of infrastructure and development project was initiated. Ample project proposals were introduced and majority of whom are standing today as visible manifestation of core development as sole component city of Davao del Sur. Several buildings were constructed like the new Digos City Public Market, the Don Pedro Estrada Public Market, Digos Satellite Bus terminal, Rizal Park Rehabilitation, cementing of street roads, different offices and bureaus‘ were also constructed and city councilors acquire government vehicles, among others. Which 66 somehow the residents would feel the outcome of their paid taxes and the purpose of IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment). Despite the progress and development take-off for new venture in Digos, the city experience two tragic events on July 24 and September 1 where the bombing of Digos Satellite Bus Terminal occur. According to the report, Metro Shuttle Bus was bombed on July 24, 2008 that killed 2 people and injured 32 others. According to Mayor Latasa, “The culprits could be members of the Al-Khobar Extortion Ring known to be preying on bus firm operators in Southern Mindanao.” While on September 1, 2008 another bomb explosion happen inside the New Satellite Terminal in Aplaya, Digos City were six people were killed, 30 others brought to different hospitals in Digos and Davao City when a bomb exploded inside the Metro Shuttle Bus with body number 209 at about 2:45 p.m.123 Through the effort of LGU- Digos, Provincial government and military authority in disseminating information and made an on-going check, the Digos constituents became more vigilant on these events. Joseph R. Peñas- (July 1, 2010- concurrent) a lawyer-accountant was elected on July, 1, 2010 and presently the incumbent city mayor has already served his second term, following his re-election in May 2013 with the popular slogan ―Abante Digos‖. In these coming years, Digos City will stand and will move forward to the attainment of its goal.124 Mayor Jojo with the training he got from his father as Tiniente del Barrio and Barangay Captain with no opponent. In his administration, he completed almost all project which implemented by Mayor Arsenio Latasa. With his transparent leadership in 123 www.arcanemind.com6 dead, 30 others wounded in another Digos bus bombing Written by Eldie S. Aguirre Tuesday, September 2, 2008 access on Monday, February 10, 2014, 1:27:42 PM 124 OCPDC. .Revised Comprehensive Land Use Plan 2011-2020, Digos City, Davao del Sur, p.3 67 the banner of ―Abante Digos‖ made different distinction and awards from his first term (July, 1, 2010 – May 2013) such as: The City Government of Digos has been named Champion of Good Governance conferred with: Seal of Good Housekeeping. Thus LGUDigos a recipient of: Performance Challenge Fund (3million), Local Government Support Fund (25million) given and awarded by the late DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo. This means that his administration forward transparency, accountability, good performance interlink with fiscal management and planning. Under the strong leadership and political will of Mayor Jojo other departments like PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office (LHIO) of Digos City for bagging ARTA Citizen Satisfaction Center Seal of Excellence Award on December 4, 2012 by The Civil Service Commission Davao del Sur field office.125 On supervision of municipal and city mayors as local executive leader, it overwhelming challenges the local government and the people either way as the prime actors in the local institution to achieve its goals for accelerate local economic growth, infrastructure development access to quality health, education, social services and improve living condition among Digoseños. In which the Digoseño constituents adopt a positive outlook and favorable attitude towards their consequent leaders, reflected through programs and ordinances as such that it can motivate and encourage Digoseños to cooperate in building a strong community. Apparently, Digos will enter the new era of development in the new millennium with massive infrastructural project and influx of foreign investment. http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?art....9UPody1f.dpuf access on Friday, February 14, 2014, 12:22:07 PM 125 68 CHAPTER VI DIGOS TODAY In the past, the Davao Region was merely a crawling multicultural frontier in the southern portion of the Philippines even nearly isolated from the rest of the country. Not until the occupation of foreign colonizers who established agricultural plantations and the influx of Christian Filipino migrants from Luzon and Visayas who were economically determined that Davao came to be a developed area in Mindanao. Indeed, this region fully realizes Southern Mindanao as the ―land of promise.‖ Today, the Davao Region of which Digos belongs, became acclaimed throughout the country because of its distinct flavor of durian, the king orchid waling-waling, the monkey-eating eagle and the majestic view of Mt. Apo. These remarkable distinctions in a way give Digos a fair share of the region‘s fame especially along its southeastern portion in Mindanao. As the gate city of the south, Digos is positioning itself as an emerging premiere city in the Davao region through the investments poured by many businessmen who have realized the place‘s inherent competitive advantage; that it has the potential to be one of the highly progressive cities in the Philippines. The economic growth of Digos City is ushered by its role as one of the major investment areas and as an agri- industrial transshipment center in Mindanao. Together with other existing cities within its periphery like Tagum, Panabo, the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte, Mati in Davao Oriental, Cotabato and Kidapawan in North Cotabato. As Digos continues to move forward in its economic advancement, it gradually gains a reputation of an emerging premiere city like Metro Davao and General Santos as far as development is concerned. Consequently, the role of Digos as the capital city of Davao del Sur is crucial towards delivering services, banking and finance, processing and manufacturing, business trading and other socio-economic endeavors within the province. Its invaluably as a commercial center lies in its strength and capacity to deliver basic services and cater to the needs of the peripheral municipalities. Moreover, the peripheral municipalities provide additional raw materials and agricultural products which would be processed and manufactured in Digos. With the growth of agricultural industry, the expansion of a new commercial industry out of the existing economy is inevitable. As it happens, the agricultural products and raw agricultural surplus that are processed in Digos are distributed within the munipalities of Davao del Sur including the Davao Region. A. FACTORS THAT LED TO DIGOS‟ DEVELOPMENT AS THE GATE CITY OF THE SOUTH Placing Digos City in the crossroad cities and provinces in Davao Region and SocSkSarGen Region is economically advantageous for the former, thereby making the city in a strategic location ideal for transshipment of enriched agricultural products and a prime position for processing industries. Digos City is a first class city prior to the increase in its annual income requirement vested by the national government‘s Department Order No. 23-08, 2008 and an emerging city in Davao Region as of 2000. At present, it ranked second class status in terms of new income brackets for the reclassification, a partially urbanized component city and is considered as part of Metro 70 Davao.126 It was accorded with different titles based on the local goods it produces that are considered distinct from those offered or produced by the other cities in the Philippines. These titles are: City of Sweet Mangoes, Clay Capital of Mindanao, Gate City of the South and Champion City of Good Governance. Today, the bid to acquire new status made a pushing ground for it to be recognized as the Industrial City of the South Davao. Digos is truly blessed with the bounty of nature and for the rich fertile tracks of land that indicate agricultural endowment at its finest. The abundance of water sources of which the name of the place originated combined with the richness of soil makes the City of Digos produce quality terracotta products.127 The place became the livelihood entrepot of different agricultural business entrepreneurs, religious farms and retreat houses, industrial production of exported home bricks, exported sweet mangoes- Cebu variety and Cavendish banana and other existing industries of various sectors. It also serves as the commercial, financial, educational, medical, communication and networks, conventions and sports center of the Province and the seat of the Provincial Government of Davao del Sur. In this context, this part of the study tries to lay the factors (economic and noneconomic) that facilitated the progress of Digos City as a Gate City in Davao Region. Furthermore, the succeeding discussion also includes how these factors are intertwined with Digos‘ competitive advantage and its potential to attract prospective investors. Subsequently, Local Investment in both the private and public sector is an important driving force leading to economic development. The Local Government Unit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digos access on Saturday, December 14, 2013, 7:43:03 PM Digos City Brochure, City investment Promotion Office and City Tourism Office 126 127 71 appropriations of public funds maximize its full annual budget per se for the implementation of projects and expenditures allocation in order to generate income. With this, the contributing factors seen as contributory to Digos City‘s economic elevation are internal and external referring to both domestic and foreign investments. Comparatively, internal factor is concerned with the natural features of the place: [1] Strategic location, [2] Abundant natural resources [3] Suitable climate and [4] People. External factor on the other hand deals with its human-made features: [1] Government Incentives and Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), [2] Foreign and Local Investment and [3] the Cost of Doing Business. 1. INTERNAL FACTORS a. Strategic Location Digos City is interlinked with the major regional cities in Mindanao and the provincial center of Davao del Sur which is why it came to be known as the ―Gate City of the South.‖ This gave Digos an economic advantage by serving as the center of storage, trade, manufacture and services of the neighboring municipalities of Davao del Sur, cities and provinces within Mindanao. The intersecting trade roads of the city from General Santos, Kidapawan, Cotabato and Davao are key determinants of its economic success since Digos City is identified with an agricultural economy of rice, corn, coconut, sugarcane, banana, mango, vegetable and other agricultural cash crops. 128 Thus, it is inevitable that more jobs are created and an increase in the income of the families dependent on the Agro-Industry would take place. In addition, Digos‘ strategic location (as a crossroad of Davao down to the gate way of the south General Santos highway, SocSkSarGen region and henceforth from Visitor‘s Guide. Digos City Brochure. Digos City 128 72 Cotabato and Kidapawan up to the gate way of the north Davao highway, Davao region) gave Digos the advantage of an abundant supply of goods (manufactured finish products) and raw materials (both agricultural inputs and aquatic products). The triangular association of tri-cities makes Digos an opening portal and center outlet; economically for the raw materials produced and politically for the extent of its sphere of influence in Southern Mindanao. With this, Digos City is then later absorbed as a co-equal with other cities especially in the ambit of development and economic competence. Indeed, as a component city of the province of Davao del Sur, it has competitive advantage and is a key player in the economic development of the province and the Davao Region as well as the whole of Mindanao. b. Abundant Natural Resources Corollary with strategic location, Davao del Sur is chiefly an agri-based province considering that the main source of livelihood of its populace is agriculture thereby making Digos City as a terminal outlet of agricultural crops and commodities produced by the peripheral municipality. This in turn makes the city a resource market. The vast tract of agricultural land is intensively allocated for agricultural products like food crops (total production equivalent to metric tons: rice-12,085.30, corn- 12,538, vegetables- 21,490 and root crops- 840) and commercial crops (coconut- 4,381.03, sugarcane- 22,926.93, mango- 17,880, banana subdivided both for local- 7,241.76 and exported -24,168, abaca- 93.13 and rubber - 92.8.)129 The increase of agriculture output is due to the favorable climate, substantial rainfall and fertile soils. Another source of natural products are the open seas of Davao Gulf endowed with available fishing grounds 129 Office of Provincial Planning and Development. Davao del Sur Socio- Economic and Physical Profile 2009-2011.See for For Chapter IV where the tabulated data and production per land used area being planted including the number of farmers and yield harvest as of 2010 data. 73 for those inclined to fishing related industries such as sea weeds farming (located in Badiang, Brgy. Sinawilan.) Fish and other marine production are concentrated in Dawis and Sinawilan. Moreover, the extensive forest and mineral deposits available are considered essential alternatives that can provide valuable revenues for the city. The sand and gravel small scale business and red colored clay in San Agustin for pottery making also yield valuable earnings. The teeming forests in Brgy. Kapatagan down to Brgy. Binaton is covered with abundant timber land. The Davao Region is the second highest producer, following Caraga in the wood industry. Demand for wood mostly came from the construction projects, banana and furniture industries and export markets for packaging materials. Wood products are exported to the USA, Europe, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and other Asian countries. The major wood products comprised largely of log, lumber, veneer and plywood.130Although Kapatagan as a Natural Park is protected with laws by the government, it cannot be denied that it can be an asset both for local and foreign investment. Indeed, the most important factor that will facilitate the rise and growth of other industries engaging in processing and manufacturing agricultural products is the abundance of natural resources. c. Suitable Climate The fine climate characterized with high temperature, humidity and abundant rainfall contributed in Digos City‘s development primarily in the agricultural and agroindustry sector. The frequent typhoons every year in the Philippines influence the climatic situation of the entire archipelago. Yet, Digos is located to the south off the typhoon belt where it follows the northwesterly direction. Hence, it is not affected by 130 Davao Regional Development Plan, 2011-2016. Profile of Davao Region p.33 74 tropical depressions except by the northeast monsoon that normally happens between November to March.131 It also has natural barriers and a mountain slope that protects Digos. These are the two major mountain ranges of Mt. Apo in the Davao region and Mt. Matutum in the SocSkSarGen region. The city‘s typhoon- free weather condition paved a good venture for the cultivation of different varieties of crops which favors bountiful harvest and commercial-industrial-business activities. d. People The multi-cultural settlers in Digos composed of Christians, Muslims and Indigenous people blended their pioneering and enterprising spirit, together with their innate resourcefulness, frugality and hardworking capacity to build a newly emerging city. To quote the study of Marohombsar, …the coming of Christian settlers brought into contact two different worlds the Westernized Filipinos and on the other hand, the Muslims and the indigenous groups. The more advanced legal and technological knowledge of the Christian settlers, coupled with government support in the form of farm implements, food, medicines, hospital, technical advice and the like, place the newcomers at advantage in this encounter of different cultures.132 So to speak, the growth rate of population would increase urban development (residential lots, business firms, malls and restaurants, etc.) and the city-dwellers will undoubtedly facilitate urban planning and management as well as the improvement of the quality of life. To characterize further, first, with the concentration of people in the city a source of human labor for employment is made available for investors. Second, the city has an abundant supply of workforce serving as engines of growth unto urban development. 131 Ibid. Al-Fahd T. Marohombsar, The Boom City of the Southern Philippines: A Study on the Economic Development of General Santos City. Undergraduate Thesis, Mindanao State University, Marawi City, 2009. pp.6970. 132 75 From the four major colleges and several vocational schools; engineers, IT professionals, nurses, accountants, business administration graduate, teachers, agriculturist and numerous skilled and semi-skilled laborers are produced.133 Lastly, the inherent assetsstrategic location, suitable climate and abundant resources coupled with the Digoseños technological and innovative know- how, Digos is definitely on its way as a nationally competitive and livable city in the Davao region. 2. EXTERNAL FACTOR a. Local and Foreign Investment Domestically, the inclusion of Digos in the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP) enables the city to optimize its economic interaction with other cities and municipalities within the DIDP and foreign agencies. This advantage allowed Digos to forge a regional partnership with the other areas involved in the DIDP through its supply of agricultural products.134 In the Davao Regional Physical Framework Plan, 2003-2030 coincides with the phasing of Medium-to-Long Term Phase plan prescribed to focus on the development of its Nodal Growth Centers (NGCs)135 toward their transition into agro-eco zones and industrial estates. These are prescribed areas where raw materials produced and agricultural products are transferred to the Linear Urban Corridor for manufacturing and processing. Moreover, the region‘s Linear Urban Corridor calling for concurrent focus on the NGCs as both the primary sources of production inputs of the Corridor and as the LUC‘s become region‘s distribution centers. The region‘s Linear Urban Corridor is the strip from Digos City in Davao del Sur through Davao City, the Visitor‘s Guide. Digos City Brochure. Digos City Revised Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Digos City, Davao del Sur, CY 2011-2020. p. 3 135 The NGCs, on the other hand, are Malita in Davao del Sur, Mati City in Davao Oriental, Nabunturan in Compostela Valley, and the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte. Davao Regional Development Plan 2011-2016, p. 12 133 134 76 regional center, and terminating at Tagum City in Davao del Norte. The combination of the Linear Urban Corridor and the Nodal Growth Centers is Davao Region‘s preferred spatial development strategy until 2030 (see Appendix A, Map 4).136 During this Plan‘s implementation, development from the Linear Urban Corridor into the NGCs would result to their transition into agro-eco zones and industrial estates. Simultaneous with the development of the agro-eco zones and industrial estates, subprovincial growth centers (Digos) shall be developed to diffuse the concentration of industries and population. Market linkages and services shall be enhanced in these growth centers by providing their basic facility requirements. This spatial development strategy significantly supports the thrust for an inclusive growth outcome for the region by connecting the region‘s rural areas to its growth centers (Digos-Davao-Tagum).137 Internationally, foreign investment boosts the local income of the city. With regards to the on-going agreement among other foreign investors especially the Japanese Chamber of Commerce to increase its existing industrial firm (since 2001- NAKAYAMA group of companies and networks – is known for its internationally acclaimed home bricks and home furniture) in Digos. Also with the formation of the BIMP – EAGA or Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines – East Asean Growth Area, economic opportunities for the resources-rich Digos and a foreign market for its agricultural surplus is possible. Furthermore, foreign investors can also engage in the existing cash crops plantation in Digos.138 Externally, the Davao Regional Development Agenda has identified a number of trade linkages that the region could exploit arising from the various economic and trade 136 Ibid. Ibid. 138 Revised Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Digos City, Davao del Sur, CY 2011-2020. p. 3 137 77 agreements that the Philippine Government has joined which the region has been making or could make its global presence felt. The nine-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) represents a market of over 560 million in a cooperation focused on security, socio- cultural and economic integration. The Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia- Philippines East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) allows access to a market totaling 61.8 million, where the thrust is on developing the agro-industrial, tourism, transport and energy resources of the cooperating nations.139 The Davao Regional Development Council disseminates the plan to Davao Region‘s provincial government, component cities (which include Digos, Tagum, Mati, Samal , Panabo) and municipalities in the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) and allow the region to trade with a potential market of 150 million in Indonesia (Central and Eastern), Malaysia (Sabah), Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor- Leste along the areas of human resource development, institutional development and biodiversity conservation. Finally, the emerging cooperation in the Central East Asia Growth Polygon (CEAGPOL) combines the markets of southeast and northeast Asia covering Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Guangdong, Fujian and possibly Hainan in China; Okinawa in Japan and the Guam-Marianas in a cooperation ranging from socio-cultural to economic trade.140 b. Cost of Doing Business As the core investment destination city in the Davao region, infrastructure and utilities needed for industrialization are already in place like roads and bridges, power, water supply, medical health unit and installation of telecommunications. The city is considered as having one of the cheapest rates in both water and power service (low cost 139 Davao Regional Development Plan 2011-2016 p.12-13 Davao Regional Development Plan, 2011-2016 pp. 12-13. 140 78 of doing business). It has a sustainable potable water supply from the Digos Water District (DWD) aside from the spring and underground sources suitable for domestic, commercial and industrial uses. It also has a reliable power supply provided by the Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative (DASURECO). These advantages help investors achieve a healthy return of their investments.141 Obviously, there is a direct involvement and support coming from the Regional Development Council (RDC- Davao Region) and the Local Government Unit (City Government of Digos) to seek new investments in agri-industrial economy in Digos. This is evidenced by the number of space made available from the vast agricultural lands open for agricultural production unto the built up areas concentrated in poblacion as urban center for residential, commercial establishments and manufacturing. Moreover, the joint venture between private sectors and government partnership is seen as a possible way to intensify a business friendly environment that would generate income. Most especially, Digos is a relatively peaceful abode which has been stabilized with the Mindanao Peace Process and the existing presence of the local police force (PNP) and military troops. Moreover, the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) seminars and training are also conducted to the barangays for the full awareness in protecting the city residents.142 PNP and Military detachments and outposts are established in the strategic places; some of these outposts are even funded by the Nakayama Group of Companies. The capacity of the local government of Digos to ensure public safety and security for its people and ensuring the rule of law and effective monitoring as well as fire prevention seems unquestionable. Today, the climate of peace 141 Digos City Brochure. 8 Good Reasons to Invest in Digos City. No pagination. CPDC. A Profile of City of Digos- Chapter X Community and Development Protection. Digos City., 142 pp.54-55 79 attracts economic investors and businessmen. As this is the end goal of RDC- Davao region not only for socio-economic upliftment but well-being of its inhabitants in general. This means that the region has achieved a sustained peace and order condition with minimum armed skirmishes and even more minimal displaced families due to conflict. In pursuance to the culture of peace and sustaining peaceful communities where both government and private sectors exert every effort to ensure human security, delivery of services, resilient communities, as well as investments is strictly observed in the region.143 B. DIGOS INDUSTRIES AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS The city‘s physical and economic potentials were vied by its existing agricultural industries and commercial business engagement as a Linear Urban Corridor in the region. Moreover, the rich natural resources offer an investment in the field of mining industry, tourism industry, energy and water supply which invites domestic and foreign investors to trade in Digos by encouraging local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to facilitate market shares or trading partners these sources. This portion builds a good image and strong economic opportunity to attract more tourists, businesses, investors and government finances to increase the local industries of Digos in the areas of: [1]good governance, [2]agriculture, [3]commerce and trade industry, [4]infrastructure and utilities, [5]education, human resources and training [6]health and quality of life [7]tourism industry and lastly [8]cottage industries. However, to support agri-industrialization and to sustain the growth of these industries and services sectors, a crucial relationship between LGU- Digos City and the 143 Davao Regional Development Plan. Development Framework , 2011-2016 pp. 8-9. 80 national government including the business sector that pursues the construction and development of major infrastructure projects to further improve the flow of people, goods and services within and outside the city is formed. Like for example, the machineries used in most of the industries put up in Digos would actually require the skilled, healthy and well-educated population. This in turn yields a critical input that generates a higher income and provides opportunities for the developmental process of Digos City. Such basic requirement establishes an efficient and effective collaboration for growth and development in Digos‘ bid to become an ―Industrial City of South Davao.‖ 1. Good Governance The government plays a vital role since development and governance has been recognized as one of the key determinants of growth. Good governance is about creating a climate wherein people will want to invest their money and get the economy going, creating jobs and opportunities for better life. In relation, Digos City through basic policy and ordinances coupled with a service oriented, transparent and accountable LGUs and leaders will truly be responsive to the needs of its constituency. The city Government of Digos banners positive output on developmental projects in the strategic business district, rural-urban development, health and other social indicators in the next administration in the city. The great challenge therefore for the LGU (Abante Digos headed by Mayor Joseph Peñas 2010-2013) is confined to the tasks of collecting taxes and perform in accordance to the appropriation of public funds that is strategically allocated for projects and delivering services in the city. Moreover, they are also involved in defining community problems and mobilizing scarce public and private resources to achieve community aspirations. With the hopes of the then mayor to increase productivity it will 81 usher efficient and transparent governance as Digos gains the title ―Champion City of Good Governance.‖ a. Government Income, Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and Government Incentives The year 1991 brought critical changes favorable for the local government units (LGU‘s). Foremost of these changes was the passage of the Local Government Code (R.A. 7160) which provided for the devolution of the functions of some National Government Agencies to the LGU‘s and the ample opportunities for the LGU‘s to generate and mobilize local resources. Another is the conversion of the Municipality of Digos into a City which brought immediate dividends in the form of increased Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and invigorated capacity for resources generation. These changes gave Digos City the opportunity to marshal its resources and focus its energy towards development.144 The City Government of Digos consolidated a Statement of Income (as of 2011 and 2012) and Expenditures as well as forming part of the total public sector‘s financial position in determining overall surplus or deficit. This criteria follows the Locally Sourced Income + IRA = Regular Income. The table below shows the Local Government of Digos Regular Income with sources coming from Agriculture, Business and Trade, Employment and Profession. Digos preparation of the Statement of Income and Expenditures (SIE) was in accordance with its mandate to maintain financial information on all local government units (LGUs), monitor financial performance, and assist in the development of LGUs including their financial operations through technical assistance and supervision. On the 144 Revised Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Digos City, Davao del Sur, CY 2011-2020, p. 3 82 data given by the city accountant, Monina A. Bernardino, as of 2012 the Consolidated (SIE) in terms of pesos excluding IRA, Local Source and Other Sources: Local Income (Local taxes- P70,043,927.51, Permits and Licenses- 5,903,779.08, Service Income6,444,947.26, Business Income- 66,036,263.18, Other Income-Enterprises 375,770,101.90, and National Taxes-Professional Tax 217,362.50) and Local Expenses (Personal Services- 101,523,481.15, Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses342,242,699.99, and Financial Expenses 32,053,852.65). From the total Income524,416,381.43 pesos lessen with total Expenditure 475,820,033.79 pesos as equivalent LGU – Digos Net Income at about 48,596,347.64 pesos.145 (see Appendix E, Table 7) According to the City Trade Office, in 2013, there are about 3,141 registered business establishments in the city with a bulk inference in Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sectors. Entrepreneurship, Business and Industry Promotion put priority in the areas pertaining on permits and licensing, it ensures the ease of doing business towards the existing businesses and incoming investors and entrepreneurs. Whereas the 2012 gross sales shows that these established businesses amounted Php. 66,036,263.18 with the capacity of LGU – Digos to obtain local cooperation with business sectors, it imposed Ordinance No. 06, S. 2010- amending City Ordinance No. 02-02 otherwise known as ordinance granting relief or amnesty to delinquent property tax payers of Digos as government incentives. Today, Digos City will have a 30-hectare export processing zone (EPZ) near the Nakayama Corporation area, an industrial area set aside by the city for export and large industries as it waits for Malacañang approval. Mayor Joseph R. Peñas of Digos City told 145 City Government of Digos- City Accountant. Consolidated Statement of Income and Expenses, for the year ended December 31, 2012. 83 Edge Davao that the city government, after careful study, has submitted to the President the proposal ―because we want our city to prepare itself for large investors.‖ Mayor Peñas lauded the efforts of Yamaha and Motorjoy Depot for believing in Digos City as he welcomed the most modern Yamaha motorcycle store.146 Together with the existing malls and department stores, SM Prime is consolidated to build two malls in Davao. Company president Hans T. Sy said it is looking at opening an SM mall in Tagum in Davao del Norte and another one in Digos, Davao del Sur.147Another mall which will open soon is the NCCC Digos located in Barangay San Jose. b. Local Government Unit Performance The Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS), which is a self-assessment tool, was developed to assess the performance and state of local development, using sets of indicators. Results had shown that the performance scale of LGUs in the region in 2009 reached 4.62, which is considered high but not excellent. These measures the state of local governance based on the LGUs‘ key responsibilities or on areas where LGUs have direct control, such as governance in administrative, social, economic, environment and valuing fundamentals. According to the DILG Assistant Regional Director Wilhelm M. Suyko, in the past it was just a sleepy municipality until the Local Government of Digos mobilized its plans and programs which can all be attributed to the strong mayoral leadership and the http: www.skyscrapercity.com member.php s 86ff2b8f2b43679f4000cabec3b11468 u 684271 access on February 14, 2014, 12:22:10 PM. 147 http://balita.ph/2012/11/21/sm-prime...alls-in-davao/ access on Tuesday, February 11, 2014, 7:46:26 PM 146 84 cooperative Digoseño community. It is now a booming and blooming city in the Davao region.148 2. Agriculture The agriculture sector plays an important role in the overall economic development of Digos City. It remains as a key driver for development to the total output over the years. It also remains as a major export earner and supplier of raw materials for local industries. It generated total employment and absorbed the majority of the labor force, its development is crucial in attaining Digos City‘s goal in facilitating a more inclusive growth based on Agri-Industrial economy. Digos main source of livelihood is farming. The early settlers in the 1940 have planted corn and rice as their staple food. In 1970, some farmers planted sugar cane, coconut, banana as their main crop. Because of the rise and fall on the price of sugar and other crops, some farmers planted grafted mangoes in 1982. Ten years after, mango productions started to boom because of the great demand for export and for local markets. The farmers got high profit that even doubled compared to sugar cane production.149Agriculture is a major component of Digos City‘s 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.150 Agriculture in Digos concentrates primarily on food crops with a bulk production in rice, corn and vegetables whereas commercial crop productions are more focused on sugarcane, mango and export banana production. These selected products served as high148 http://region11.dilg10.org/index.php/news-from-the-provinces/108-ard-suyko-attends-digos-city-mayors-soca access on Tuesday, February 11, 2014, 7:46:27 PM 149 Mango Production of San Roque, Digos City according to the Blogspot of Felix B. Daray (Published in the Agriculture Magazine of the Manila Bulletin ,April 2011) http://feldarblogspotcom.blogspot.com/ and http://darayagrifacts.blogspot.com/ access on Friday, February 07, 2014 7:33:24 PM 150 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digos access Monday, January 27, 2014, 10:47:01 AM 85 value crops adding to livestock and poultry supply and fish sources. A land area of about 10,659.64 hectares or 37% of the total land area of Digos is devoted to agriculture.151The area planted to rice and corn recorded at 2,104.60 and 2,945 hectares represents 47% of the total agricultural land, while 1,605 hectares are devoted to vegetables and root crops production. In commercial crop production, coconut allocates 2,834.54 hectares, mango 1,490.00 hectares, banana both for local and exports 1,098 hectares, sugarcane, abaca, rubber and coffee at about 1106.8 hectares. a. Agricultural Crop Production Furthermore, Rice is grown in the irrigated farm lands in Matti, San Agustin, Ruparan and Igpit. Corn is grown in the scattered barangays of Dulangan, Goma, Binaton and Soong. In Coconut production, almost all agricultural lands in most barangays are planted with coconut except in San Agustin and Ruparan which are more devoted to rice production. Mango and other fruits are also grown in a wider scale due to the increasing market demand and considering that mango trees can thrive well even in sloping areas. The shifting of commercial crops in Barangay San Roque and other neighboring barangays since most farms is now being turned into mango plantations (Cebu- variety). These success stories of mango production branded Digos as the ―City of Sweet Mangoes‖ where mangoes are being exported to other countries especially in Japan and China. Moreover, Banana production is concentrated in barangay Igpit and Tiguman; native varieties are grown either on marginal lands or intercropped usually between coconut trees. These are usually for local consumption. Whereas Cavendish bananas commercially produced by GADECO farms in Igpit and Tiguman are for the 151 According to the tabulated data per municipality and city in agricultural production of the province of Davao del Sur. See PPDC. Davao del Sur Socio Economic and Physical Profile 2009-2011. Chapter IV- AgriIndustrial Development pp.57-67 86 export market including Lapanday Agricultural and Development Corporation. The said corporation has expanded their Cavendish banana plantation in some areas in Digos. Sugarcane is widely grown in barangays Colorado, San Roque, Dulangan and Lungag. Abaca, rubber and coffee commercial crops produced a total of 219.53 metric ton, yet these productions consist in a minimal level due to the shifting of crops that are in demand in the market. And lastly, barangay Kapatagan is the main source of various kinds of vegetables either for local consumption or for delivery to other cities and provinces. Digos City has the largest area cultivated to vegetables with 1,535 hectares having a total production of 21,490 metric tons. Vegetable farming in Digos City is concentrated in barangay Kapatagan since it enjoys a fertile land and a favorable climate for growing vegetables.152 b. Poultry and Livestock Production On livestock and poultry, the total livestock population of the city accounted 140,688 heads, comprising of cattle, carabao, hogs and goats. Digos City has the largest number of cattle at about 5,985 and the highest number of goat/sheep with 58,367. Cattle raising is generally for meat production for local consumption. Dairy/milk production in small scale is initiated with the church congregation of the Benedictine Monastery in barangay Cogon while demand for goat meat and goat milk is high in Digos City. Also, the city is one of Mindanao‘s major producers of hog production and pork meat; of the total number of hogs, it has the second largest stock with 73,215 heads delivered to other municipalities and cities in Mindanao as well as in Eastern Visayas. Swine production in Digos City is done in commercial and backyard raising scale. A large number of hogs 152 OCPDC. A Profile of City of Digos 2000., pp.38-41, ibid. Davao del Sur Socio Economic and Physical Profile, pp. 57-67 87 slaughtered for local consumption passed through the city slaughterhouse. Hogs which are commercially produced come from piggery farms in Dawis, San Jose, San Miguel and Cogon.153 Furthermore, Digos aims to raise the bar on food safety standards through the Halal certification that had been continuously worked out to increase the region‘s access to the world‘s Halal market for those Muslim communities in Digos and to generate more jobs in the poultry and livestock sector. Overall, livestock and poultry production remained at competitive levels. c. Fish and Aquatic Production The fishing industry posted positive growth in 2011 particularly for commercial and aquaculture industries. Fish is the major source of food for Digos population. Fishery and other marine production are conducted within the city waters, deep seas and brackish waters, concentrated in Dawis and Sinawilan. Yet, the less than desirable performance of the fisheries sector was attributed to the lesser frequency of fishing operations due to high fuel prices and the recorded decrease in fish production could be directly attributed to the decrease in the number of fishermen.154 However, Badiang, Barangay Sinawilan has the fastest growth in seaweed production in the Digos area. RDC- Davao indicated the potential of seaweed production to become a major industry of the region including soft shell crabs which have earned a growing market interest in the recent years. Seaweeds were exported to France, Korea, China and Hong Kong as food thickeners.155 153 Ibid. A Profile of City of Digos 2000, pp.42-44, ibid Davao del Sur Socio Economic and Physical Profile, pp. 69-71 154 Ibid, A Profile of City of Digos 2000, p.44 RDC – Davao Region about Fisheries p, 33 155 88 The tables found in the appendix presents the production of agricultural crops, livestock and poultry and marine-related food sources per metric ton as bases of agricultural produce in Digos City. This was the 2011 updated agricultural production from the PPDC Data which increases its enterprise towards other industries in manufacturing, retailing and packaging out of these produce. (see Appendix E, Table 8, 9, 10 and 11) 3. Commerce and Trade Industry The commerce and industry sectors are the main driving forces that have transformed Digos from a predominantly agricultural area into a strategic regional center and agro-industrial economic city in the Davao region. The strategic location of Digos City at the crossroads between three cities is considered one factor that propelled the growth in business and industry sectors; a shift from the agriculture-based economy. Trade and marketing promotion are essential to generate viable levels of demand for businesses to succeed in a very competitive environment among other existing cities in the region. Given the competitiveness of neighboring cities, Digos City provides the center outlet among other businesses in Davao del Sur. Deemed to bring the financial services and marketing hub of goods produced in peripheral municipalities. The number of business and industrial establishments increased considerably during the span of five years from 1995-2000.156 (see Appendix E, Table 12) There are 2,871 commercial and industrial establishments operating in Digos City as of 2012 and even increased with 3,141 number of establishment as of 2013.157 The commercial establishments are engaged in wholesale and retail trade, repair shops, CENRO – Profile of Digos City p. 17, Brief Profile of LGU – Digos City. No paganation 156 157 89 manufacturing, banking and finance, hotels and restaurants. Industrial activities include tiles, pottery, nata de coco, crafts, hollow blocks, footwear, ice making and pancit making and other small scale industries These also include bakeries, rice and corn mills, food processing, concrete hollow blocks making, construction supplies dealers, livestock and poultry production, etc.158 a. Manufacturing, Food Processing, Engineering, IT and Nakayama Corp. The manufacturing business includes the establishments engaged in metal and woodcraft, toys and housewares making, feedmills and ice plants. A feedmill and processing and packaging plants owned by GADECO are fully operational in Digos. Food processing that includes fruit, meat, vegetable processors, bakeries, candy factories and sauce factories among others have increased at 130%.159 Another plant operating in Barangay Tiguman, Digos is the Davao Dragon Fortune Corporation which was established for the feed milling of corn and rice. Pure Coir MPC located in Brgy. Colorado also established coconut fiber and peat production. The Nakayama Technology Corporation is a private company categorized under Granite Manufacturers and is located in Cogon, Diversion Road, Digos City. One of the emerging global manufacturers and exporters of Insulated Exterior Wall Panels (Eco Wall), a group of companies that deliver innovative Wall System (home bricks, siding board and granite panels) developed by Nakayama. Long and experienced in the trade, primarily, the Nakayama Group of Companies came to be internationally known as a home bricks exporter in Digos. Its 2,000 work force of IT Specialists and experts including the field workmen in the 70,000 sq. km. Industrial Firm is all from Digos. 158 Davao del Sur Socio Economic and Physical Profile p. 76 A Profile of City of Digos 2000, p45-46 159 90 These IT servicemen support the quality of products and service by utilizing state of the art Design Software.160 Another thing that is looked into in this study is the growing foreign investors seeking investment partnership in Digos like the delegation composed of honorary consul from Jerusalem Shimon Weinbaum, LR Group chief executive officer Naftaly Weiz, Israel Co. CEO Ronny Weiz and Tahal Group director Lior Frumkes from Israel. On December 4, 2013 they visited Digos City, Davao del Sur to conduct an investment forum from the business sector, academe and national government agencies that are trade components of the society in Digos. These groups of investors are currently engaged in industrial farming and Information Technology-related business engagements. This one-of-a-kind visit and partnership is a bilateral economic mission that aims to foster a sisterhood agreement particularly on technical manpower-sourcing.161 Another incoming venture of the city is the on-going procedural term on putting an Export Economic Zone. Akihiro Ushimaru, president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Mindanao Inc., told the Business Mirror on Friday, that it has already submitted its application to the Philippine Export Zone Authority (Peza) to develop an industrial and export processing zone in Digos City. The Japanese business chamber in Mindanao is awaiting the approval for its application to operate and is keen on putting up labor-intensive ventures in the area.162 160 http://www.manta.com/member/join/?emid=mvjln78&rld=http://www.manta.com/ic/mvjln78/ph/nakayam a-technology-corporation&rl=only_mm access on Saturday, December 14, 2013, 7:43:53 PM 161 http://r11.pia.gov.ph/index.php?arti....8sRvRn4u.dpuf and http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?art....Xk8bCx4Z.dpuf access on Friday, February 14, 2014, 12:22:09 PM 162 Due to the tax incentives granted to locators in industrial and export processing zones is a major attraction to Japanese investors who are keen on setting up shop in the area, the minimal cost of doing business. http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/ind...-economic-zone access on Friday, February 14, 2014, 12:22:09 PM 91 b. Financial Institution and Insurance Companies There are now 56 banks, pawnshops and lending institutions in Digos City. Almost all of the banks are established as branches in Digos City. 163 Banks and its location are listed in Table 13 while pawnshops and other lending institutions are listed in Table 14 & 15. Insurance companies are categorized as offering life, non-life and preneed services.164 (see Appendix E, Table 13, 14 and 15) c. Recreation, Malls, Wholesale and Retail, Hotels and Restaurants This category includes cinema, video-viewing houses, bowling lanes, beach resorts and entertainment parks. In 2000, 64 establishments were operating in Digos City, which actually an increase from the former 28 establishments.165 With an increase of 1,416 as the number of establishments at this time, as of 2012 there are three shopping malls in Digos (Gaisano Grand Mall, Gaisano Center and Puregold Digos) and other existing department stores in the city (MC Square, Novo Plaza, Happy Place, Unicity, RS Center point, Pas-Roy Merchandise and among others). In connection, Henry T. Sy - SM mall owner is said to open a branch of SM Mall in Digos which is another positive outlook towards the coming years. Digos City itself is a burgeoning place with several proposals for huge malls including SM Digos (along the National Highway fronting Nakayama Tech), another much bigger Gaisano Grand Mall (which standing today along MacArthur Highway in Tres De Mayo), KCC Mall and NCCC Mall (at the back of the NFA in San Jose), and Robinson's Place in Tiguman.166 163 Davao del Sur Socio Economic and Physical Profile p.78 Ibid p.46-47 165 OCPDC. A Profile of City of Digos 2000, p47 166 https://www.blogger.com/next-blog?navBar=true&blogID=5899135502350050025 access on March 09, 2014 9:38 A.M. 164 92 With the establishment of the Crisbelle hotel and restaurant in late 1999, there are now several hotels, restaurants and lodging houses in Digos City. There number constitutes an increase in the total number of businesses in the city (A&B Hotel &Café, Arnado's Hotel, Hotel Yncierto, Jared's Lodge, Digos Travel Lodge, Barcelona Inn, Cowboys Inn, Camp Sabros Mountain Resort, Mt. Apo Highland Resort, Tribo Bagubo Woodlands Resort, Pasig Eco Tourism Islet etc.). Including this portion are the wide arrays of fast food chains especially two Jollibee, Chowking, Dimsum Diner and other food related services. There are also existing resto bars, chicken stations, barbeque houses in the city perpetuating in numbers. d. Mills Rice and corn mills are categorized as large mills which usually have a multipasses feature and mechanical drying system as accessories and small single pass units. Large rice and corn mills such as the NFA-owned mill, are located in Barangays San Jose, Tres de Mayo, San Miguel, Sinawilan, Cogon and San Agustin. Small Rice/Corn Mills are located in barangays proximate to rice and corn farmlands. There are 25 rice and corn mills in Digos City; about half are categorized as large mills.167 The entry of the multi-million investments in the Provincial Agri-Industrial Center (PAIC) changed the agri-based economy of Digos towards the industrial production of agricultural goods and products. Apparently, the existing commercial establishments and trade counterparts increases annually as Digos City has the most number of registered commercial establishments for the entire province of Davao del Sur. 167 OCPDC. A Profile of City of Digos 2000 p.48 93 4. Infrastructures and Utilities a. Road Network In 2011, the entire city of Digos has a total road network of 322.799 kilometers. It is broken down into national, provincial, city and barangay roads. The following table shows that among the type of roads, barangay roads are the longest in terms of length while the national roads are the least. There is an increase in road development due to the various rehabilitation that implemented by the National Agencies concerned. Various road concreting works were implemented and completed in response to the increasing demand for convenient mobility in transportation. Hence, farm to market roads and streets are widened. All of which are maintained either by the City Government and or by the barangays concerned since most are concrete and gravel roads.168(see Appendix E, Table 16)169 b. Waterworks and Power Light The Digos Water District (DWD), a government-owned and controlled corporation serves the urban center and the nearby barangays of safe and potable water by putting up additional pumping stations and reservoirs. In the 2010 Annual Report, DWD‘s Total Revenues for 2010 posted an increase of Php 7.01 million or 9.73 percent from Php72.06 million of 2009 to 2010‘s Php 79.07 million revenues. 92 percent of the 2010 total operating revenues came from water tariffs charged to customers while the remaining 8 percent came from fines and penalties, meter rentals, miscellaneous service revenues and other water revenues.170 Water source in remote barangays are those of spring and hand pumps. Springs were developed through the aide of foreign countries 168 CPDC. A Profile of City of Digos 2000. Chapter VI- Infrastructure and Utilities. Digos City, pp.51-52 PPDC. Davao del Sur Socio economic and Physical Profile. Pp. 25-27 170 Digos Water District. Annual Report 2010 . Digos City., p.10 169 94 implemented by different government agencies.171 The status of electrification of the 26 barangays are energized and the electric power needs of the residents of Digos is provided by the Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DASURECO) through the direct power source from the National Power Corporation-Power Sector Assets & Liabilities Management Corporation (NPCPSALM) & Therma Marine, Inc.172 c. Communication Digos‘ Information and Communications Technology (ICT) have the potential to facilitate economic development and aid in the delivery of social services. ICT facilities—such as fixed lines, mobile phones, and the Internet— serve as tools to access relevant information and communication services has an existing telephone system operated by PILTEL that provides services to the urban center for both domestic and commercial services.173 The RCPI/Bayantel Communication Services and PT&T TELEFAX/Telephone Services are all present in the city.174The residents availed of the services of telecommunication/cellular and internet lines even WIFIs. Major communication and network providers Globe Telecom, Smart, Sun Cellular, and Red mobile are all established in the city with wide arrays of postpaid and pre-paid reloading stations. On the other hand, Bureau of Post is still the major agency that provides telecommunication and postal services to the residents of the city notwithstanding the existence of high technology in communication. Aside from the government owned 171 A Profile of the City of Digos 2000. Chapter VI. p.54 Davao del Sur Socio Economic and Physical Profile. Chapter III. Province of Davao del Sur., pp.52-53 173 OCPDC. A Profile of the City of Digos 2000. about Communication, Chapter VI., p. 57 174 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digos access on Saturday, December 14, 2013, 7:43:03 PM 172 95 facility in telegraph network, there are also privately owned companies providing airmail, cargo firms and express messengerial services, and telegraphic services for the residents of Digos.175 There are several radio stations and television channels for greater mass media engagement in the city, about 13 radio stations and 8 cable tv & home channels (local and nationwide). There are AM broadcast radio stations in the locality namely: DXDS, DXML, DXMA and among others, providing entertainment and news basically concerning what is happening in the city, as well as the entire province. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has the potential to facilitate economic development and aid in the delivery of social services. ICT facilities—such as fixed lines, mobile phones, and the Internet— serve as tools to access relevant information and communication services that can help provide crucial knowledge inputs to enable productive activities in rural and poor households, make markets more accessible, increase the reach and efficiency of the delivery of social services, and give people a chance to influence policy and decision-making. d. Accessibility and Linkages The transportation towards the city is accessible both by air through international airports (the Davao City International Airport and General Santos International Airport) and sea through seaports (the Sasa Wharf in Davao City and Makar Wharf in General Santos City) serve as the nearest point of entry, an hour‘s drive away from the capital City of Digos. Cotabato City airport serve as an alternative entry. 176 The position and 175 OCPDC. A Profile of the City of Digos 2000. Ibid. 57-58 Digos City Brochure. City of Digos 176 96 accessibility of the city is undeniably the crossroad for economic development in the province of Davao del Sur. Digos City has two existing land transport terminals. The Central Public Market Terminal (Paradahan) located at Digos Public Market along the Mezzanine Buildings and in Terminal II (Digos City Satellite Terminal) located at Brgy. Aplaya is a modern bus terminal complex and serves as a jump off point for any traveler who may wish to go anywhere to the neighboring provinces or tour around the city itself. Concrete- paved highways connects Digos City towards the tri-cities (Davao, General Santos and Cotabato) and other provinces.177 The 285-km- world standard road networks (National Highways) that interlinks Digos City with the neighboring provinces provides efficient transport for the products of Southern Mindanao to the major ports in the Davao Region and SocSkSargen. Moreover, there are 3 national roads connecting Digos to other provinces and cities namely: Gensan- Malungon Road, Cotabato- Kidapawan Road and Davao City Road. This fast tract over land highways provides convenient ride in order to exchange purchased goods and services for movable economic activities. 5. Education, Training and Human Resources a. Education and Training In the field of educational services, Digos City is the center of education in the province. The educational institutions that cater to all levels, both private and public, are distributed in Zone I, II and III comprising the urban core of the city. On the other hand, Visitor‘s Guide. 177 97 all barangays have its public pre-school178 and elementary schools that caters to basic learning programs. These are the number of public schools present in this new born metropolis like Ramon Magsaysay Central Elementary School, Don Mariano Marcos Elementary School, and Digos Central Elementary School while some of the public schools are situated in distant barangays and communities. Public high schools offered and enhanced by Department of Education (DepEd) through several programs like Engineering and Science Education Program (ESEP), Special Program in the Arts (SPA) an additional subject to those students with artistic inclination, and Special Education held also to those students who wants to study during weekends.179 This elementary and secondary institution delivers valuable assistance enriched in peace and order, educational ties and upliftment, sports and recreations and most especially the beautification program in the city. Higher education institutions (HEI) in Digos consists of 4 tertiary level: the private catholic sectarian school of Cor Jesu College (CJC- formerly Holy Cross of Digos Boys Department), the pioneer collegiate institution of the University of Mindanao – Digos Branch (UMDB), the state college of Southern Philippines Agri-Business Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST) and the primer tertiary school of Polytechnic College of Davao del Sur (PCDS). All these HEIs have achieved notable accreditation standards.180 Aside from these colleges, other sporadic vocational and technical schools (PITS, SMCC, ACTS, DITE, MINTS, SSMTI, CCS, HHTI, TDTI, ICC 178 As of 2011, there are 58 day care centers with 64 day care workers and 2,057 number of children served as per data coming from Department of Social Work in Development Office, Davao del Sur Socio-Economic and Physical Profile 2009-2011, p.106 179 NSCB - 2001 Factsheet - 12 New Cities Created, July-December 2000. 180 Based on PACUCOA accredited programs and PAASCU (Phil. Association Of Accredited Schools, Colleges and Universities) accreditation level. http://dictionary.sensagent.com/digos%20city/en-en/ 98 with exception of STI Digos) located in Digos also offer courses based on services like technical and mechanical training in specialized fields. Accordingly as of 2012, the city provides 36 public pre- schools, 19 private preschools, 36 public elementary schools, 9 private elementary schools, 3 public secondary schools with 2 extension schools, 4 private secondary schools, 1 state tertiary, and 9 private tertiary institutions. Making the city enshrined as having one of the highest literary rates among the component cities in the Philippines with a literary rate of 90.3% (person able to read and write) and functional literacy rate at about 88.86%. Moreover, Digos has a City Library equipped with books of various publications and fully airconditioned, since it started its operation under the present state last January 2002. There is also an Information Center that shows documentaries and highly informative insights and announcements whether in public fora, in schools and through public meetings in every barangay. Information dissemination about the Anti-Drug Campaign Program is premised in various activities of the Information Center.181 (see Appendix E, Table 17) b. Human Resources In terms of human resources, Digos City has an abundant labor resource due to the population increase in the city. As Table 18 (See Appendix F) shows, the incremental status of population per barangay annually has a total number of 149, 891. According to the report of RDC-Davao Region provided to the Human Resources Development Office: People are active agents who build up capital, harness natural and man-made resources, mobilize socio economic and political alliances, and push the region‘s development agenda. Essentially, the labor force provides the skills that propel agriculture, industry, services and governance. The region‘s development potential, thus, depends highly on the quality of its human capital.182 181 OCPDC. A Profile of City of Digos 2000 , p 60. Davao Regional Development Plan 2011-2016, p.111 182 99 The population growth rate characterizes a wide sector of consumers and an abundant supply in human labor resources needed by the city as well as in the agricultural plantations and business firms. Thus availability of Digoseños purchaser/consumer and man-power attracts investors in retailing, food, services and other businesses. This means that more investments in the city, brings more employment for the people and an increase in the revenue collection and fiscal income of the city. The table 19 shows the labor force in terms of the City‘s population which covers both sexes ages 15 and over recorded at 96,461 of which 62,352 were recorded to be in the labor force. Those employed labor force consists 54,500 while 7,852 were unemployed. 6. Health, Nutrition and Quality of Life In terms of health services, Digos City has a strong network of 32 Barangay Health Centers under the direct supervision of 1 City Health Office. It also has various hospitals and clinics of specialized fields and lying in centers spread within 26 barangays. All barangays in Digos have its own barangay health center complementing the number of hospitals in the poblacion area in addition to two health centers strategically situated in Barangay Aplaya, Kapatagan, San Miguel, Tres de Mayo, Zones II and III where greater population are identified in order to provide easy access towards government health programs. On the other hand, the health and wellness status among Digos residents is regarded as satisfactory because of the presence of health facilities. There are 4 major tertiary hospitals in the city containing 3 private and 1 city/district hospitals, another 4 100 secondary hospitals and 4 primary clinics.183The 4 classified tertiary levels serves with the highest rank that can be given to hospitals and the other two levels are considered cooperative hospitals offering few services. The available hospital facilities include: Authorized Bed Capacity – 679 with Intensive Care bed, 38 reserved bed and 2 private hospitals consist of mobile ICU and 35 various clinics of Specialized Fields. Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital is a government owned hospital under the administration of the local government unit located in the city itself and the sole hospital with a blood bank. It should be noted that heath related concerns must be put priority in the general appropriation to allocate equal opportunity in health care and medicine. However, the higher percentage could be attributed to some clients/patients coming from neighboring municipalities who wanted to avail of the services in Digos. (see Appendix E, Table 19) Recently, the Philhealth management has enjoined advocacy in medical health membership among all Filipino people whether or not they are employed, in the same manner that it encouraged all hospitals to recognize their medical program and if possible accommodate all types of clientele. This is however, a nationwide program especially designed for poor patients. In addition, the present administration has supported full advocacy of the medical care in the local level, which started in all barangays with subsidy in its medical contributions.184 Needless to say, health is one factor for city development owing to the quality of life among Digoseño constituents. Another thing that needs to be looked into is the threshold of food sufficiency (food supply and content), whereof Digos has a favorable 183 The Medical personnel ratio for physicians, dentists, nurses, midwives, nutritionists/dieticians according to the standard set from Department of Health (DOH) City Health Office and Development. Inventories of Facilites. Digos City, no pagination. 184 OCPDC. A Profile of the City of Digos 2000 about Health, Nutrition and Family Planning 2000 , p 63 101 climate which helps increase the production of goods and allows the flow of cheap food stuffs in the market. Since Digos is abundant in food crops and various vegetables sources from the fertile land in Kapatagan, it has enough supply of rice, corn, mangoes, bananas, tomatoes, carrots, petchay, sayote, cabbage and meat whereby some went for exports (except in aquatic products were some sufficient supply in the city comes from Brgy. Sinawilan, Badiang, Cogon and Sittio Punta Biao).185 Furthermore, LGU – Digos‘ social development promotes health and well-being in a manner that is accessible to different recreational grounds, natural parks, beach resorts, spacious school grounds and sports gym186 including the wide space of Rizal Park and Plaza Complex that can accommodate outdoor activities. The plaza provides aerobics and dance exercises known in the local term as ―hataw‖, which is performed every morning while others jog inside the park. On the other side, the Digos gym provides sports games to those inclined with basketball and volleyball type of leisure activity. 7. Tourism Industry The Davao Region is a growing tourism destination, with tourism receipts and tourist arrivals recording annual increases of ten and eleven percent, respectively. It has a wide array of tourism facilities such as hotels, resorts, restaurants, cafes, malls, medical facilities, as well as, land, sea and air transport. Digos City has been closely interacted between the rich bounty of nature and the inter-cultural mixture of its people. This place infuses an endowment of great tourist potentials waiting to be discovered through and by its inherent and distinctive tourist destination spots as entity of tourism industry in the 185 On the record of 2000 Digos Profile p. 44. The fish production in the city decrease from its required consumption due to the decrease in the number of fishermen. Other fish source and aquatic products were supplied from neighboring municipalities, like from the fish cage and fish pens located in Brgy. Bato and Tagabuli, Sta. Cruz. 186 OCPDC. A Profile of City of Digos 2000. Digos City, pp53-54 102 country. In relation, the city maximizes the tourism development with regards to its geographical location, transportation intersections, service facilities and the wide variety of its cultural heritage. It is placed in a very strategic position interlinks within the main city hubs in southern and central part of Mindanao island, namely: Davao, General Santos, Kidapawan and Cotabato. The abundant natural resources have contributed its potential to become another tourism gateway of the south. It may become the new cultural destination of the 187 country for its obtained rich arts, colorful heritage and special character. The crossroad section of Digos City paved the way for the growth of the tourism industry in the area; it is accessible by roads and linkages towards tourist hotspots. Also the different food stalls and restaurants located in these intersecting roads offer the wide variety of Digos native home delicacies. The following are the events and tourist hotspots that are identified by the Tourism Office on bases of Priority Tourism Destination Areas (TDA‘s). a. Cultural Attraction These major tourist destinations are further subdivided by cultural attraction like the Binaton Bagobo Village. It is a well-defined area of the Bagobo community located in Binaton where their ethno linguistic arts, traditions and cultural practices are being religiously observed. This indigenous cultural community recognizes their practices and way of life as a cultural group within the metes and bounds of the indigenous people‘s right act and of other existing laws. Nevertheless, the unveiling ethnographic feature and peculiarities of the Bagobos were further enriched by them as a people. Another attraction is the Badiang Mat Weaver’s Village which is accordingly a flourishing industry in the part of the country. Mats with the outmost intricate designs are developed by the local folks for export and domestic consumption. The Provincial 187 Tourism Development Plan, Davao del Sur 2000-2010, foreword. 103 tourism office recognizes the vicinity were many suppliers and exporters frequently visit the place for its quality and updated designs done by skilled and well-trained craftsmen. Now, this local cottage industry is profitable in Sittio Badiang, Brgy. Sinawilan, Digos, Davao del Sur.188 b. Man-Made Attraction Claire- John Beach Resort is one attraction that is located at Owangon, Punta Biao. Another one is the San Vali Centerpoint Mountain Resort which is for the athletic and health conscious individuals as they can take a lap or more at the Olympic size swimming pool. Dawis Beach Resort is a privately owned resort that borders the coastline where people as far as North Cotabato and some parts of Maguindanao gather for family picnics; rooms for convenient overnight stay or group gathering using various outdoor recreation facilities and function halls are offered in this resort. The Aplaya Beach Resort serve as gateway for beach goers who love to frolic along the Davao Gulf coastline. Camp Sabros situated in Sitio Baras, Brgy. Kapatagan is a camp site in an immense natural beauty of forest and wildlife. As trekkers exit from the Mt. Apo Natural Park, they could also drop by in the city‘s pride, Camp Sabros Zipline, to complete their adventure. This is an 820 meter line, the longest zip line in the country traversing along the top of pine trees with the majestic Mt. Apo looming on site. Also they can visit, the Agong House situated in the vicinity of Sitto Baras, showcasing the renowned Mindanaoan artist, sculptor, art photographer, painter and performance artist Kublai Millan and his fascinating work of art creations. According to him, ―The Agong House is my statement. Every part of the house speaks for my search for a higher truth, a wish for a better world.‖ This is a home turned into a creation where remarkable designs of 188 Provincial Tourism Development Plan, Davao del Sur, p. 35. 104 Agongs spectacularly are exposed and a vernacular form of architecture inspired from the indigenous people of Mindanao. The place is also surrounded with gigantic sculptures which will surely amaze guests and visitors alike from the different parts of the country. Mount Apo Highland Resort at Lake Mirror and Hillside is a good site for backpackers and for those who are nature lovers that likes to climb Mt. Apo. At the Highland Resort, one may enjoy swimming, horseback riding, trekking, fishing and boating. Ang Tribu Bagobo Woodlands is the Tribal Cultural and Research Center located in the shadow of Mt. Apo189 The Benedictine Monastery and Retreat Houses is a unique blend of traditional and modern living between religion and agricultural faming among the people inside the Monastery owned by Benedictines. This place is popularly known for its fresh milk, choco milk, cheese and the palatable food served to their guests and students during their retreats with additional affordable novelty items for souvenirs.190 c. Natural Hot Spots Napan Falls which is a breathtaking 25 foot waterfalls situated in Brgy. Goma, is 10.9 kilometers away from the city proper. Virgin Falls is a sanctuary of beauty complimented with an array of exotic and untouched natural resources. Bacoco Falls is characterized by clear water considered as a possible potable drinking water source. Mahilak Falls is a forested area with natural cascading falls and caves. The location is in Sittio Manikan, Brgy. Goma, Digos City. Dulangan Cascading Falls is a marvelous falls consisting of five pristine cascading falls located 8.7 kilometers from the town site, Brgy. Dulangan and this untouched natural heritage can be reached by means of all types of 189 City Investment Promotion Office and City Tourism Office. Explore and Experience… DIGOS CITY. Digos City, 2013 pp. 7-9 and the Provincial Tourism Development Plan, Davao del Sur, pp. 32-33. 190 Provincial Tourism Development Plan, Davao del Sur, p. 34 105 transportation vehicles. Lumayan Spring is a potential resort with underground springs. This is located in Brgy. Balabag, 11.3 kilometers from Digos proper from the jump off point in Sittio Bandira. Marawer Hot and Cold Spring situated at about 5 kilometers from Brgy. Kapatagan, has a steaming water that gushes out of a hill surrounded with second growth forest. And lastly, Mt. Apo National Park, a vast forested area teeming with mountain lakes, falls and springs. The park was declared protected under the NIPAS 191 and it also features the majestic Mt. Apo whose peak rises 3,100 above sea level. Mt. Apo is considered as the country‘s highest peak and the king of all Philippine mountains. The trek towards the peak of Mt. Apo could be staged via Kapatagan-Sabwag area located 30 kilometers, northwest of Digos Poblacion.192 This is the home of the world‘s largest eagle and king of Philippine skies which can be seen at the hinterland mountain of Apo, the monkey eating eagle. d. Festivals (Pista Kadig‟garan, Padigosan, Kapatagan into Dorong Festival and Paskohanong Kasaulogan & other Religious Church Fiestas) Araw ng Digos- Pista Kadig‟garan Festival (September 8) In commemoration with the City‘s Charter Day on September 8, 2000, pursuant to Republic Act no. 8798, the Pista Kadig‘garan is declared as its official festival. Pista Kadig‘garan is a Bagobo term for ―Feast of Goodness.‖ It is a celebration which intends to showcase fun, merriment and gaiety in a carnival like event displaying a diverse and progressive Digos City. Pista Kadig’garan can be exemplified in a festive presentation in which the theme concept must be communicated through Bagobo dance steps with a touch of modern or ethno 191 NIPAS-Act of 1992 National Integrated Protected Areas System- which encompass outstanding remarkable areas and biological import public lands that are habitats of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, biogeographic zones and related ecosystems, whether terrestrial, wetland or marine, all of which shall be designated as ―protected areas‖. R.A. 7586. Sangguniang Panglungsod. The Book of Ordinance 2000-2010., pp 273274. 192 City Investment Promotion Office and City Tourism Office. Explore and Experience… DIGOSCITY. Digos City, 2013 pp. 9-10. 106 stylized choreography highlighted with the use of native materials endemic in the City of Digos. The merriment and gaiety of the carnival like festival is the people‘s thanksgiving towards life sustaining water which signifies the grandiosity of this social event.193 Series of activities are in line in this weeklong festivity. It starts with the opening of ―Taboan sa Dakbayan‖ which displays the city‘s abundant products followed by various cultural shows, sports activities and culminates with the ―Letchonan‖ and ―Hudyaka sa Kadalanan.‖194 Padigosan Festival (July 19) Digos became a municipality on July 19, 1949. While it is proper and fitting to celebrate the city‘s anniversary every year, Digoseños believe that July 19 should also be considered as one of the special days of Digos City. It was therefore resolved to declare July 19 as the Padigosan Festival of the City of Digos and in order to make the celebration more festive, it should be utilized to display the city‘s abundant products and showcase the rich cultural heritage of its inhabitants.195 Kapatagan Festival (March) into Dorong sa Kapatagan Festival (June 14-19) Today Kapatagan festival became the Dorong Festival sa Kapatagan which is a new vibrant festivity during the 14-19th day of June. This socio-cultural event expressed also a thanksgiving festivity to and among the Bagobos with their contribution as part of the entire cultural communities of Lumad in Mindanao showcasing their cultural beliefs and crafts. It also displays the different variety of agricultural products which the inhabitants sowed and nurtured including vegetables and other root crops (pechay, sayote, kamote, carrots, cabbage and etc.) and fruits (marang, durian, lansones and many more). 193 Edgardo C. Elera. City Investment Promotion Officer and City Tourism Officer. CIPO Ibid with Explore and Experience… DIGOSCITY p.11. 195 Ibid with EC Elera. Festivals in Digos City 194 107 Paskohanong Kasaulogan (December) and other Religious Church Fiestas- The population of Digos City is predominantly Roman Catholic. Paskohanong Kasaulogan with the Digos City Government‘s initiative is to bring out every Digoseño family and residents to the Spirit of joyous Christmas in the city through several competitions. The Saulogan fiesta celebrated every third week of January particularly on 15 in commemoration of the Bisayan people the Pit Señor Santo Niño of Cebu which symbolizes historical events, the coming of Spaniard in the Philippines and introducing the new faith. Another celebration would be the feast day of San Isidro Labrador on May 15 which is spearheaded by the parochial church of San Isidro. Digos as a whole commemorate the patron saint of agriculture since Digos is an agricultural city. The feast day of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace devotion to the Virgin Mary- Lady Mediator is also celebrated every August 22. 8. Cottage Industries a. Matti Pottery Industry Davao del Sur has 11 kinds of mineral resources. Among the metallic mineral is clay which is abundant in Barangay San Agustin. These three varieties of clay noted as brown to dark brown gray to dark gray with some shades of brown and brick red colored clay.196 These clays were traditionally done and processed in Brgy. Matti and it has been renowned for pottery since time immemorial. With this, Digos came to be known as the ―Clay Capital of Mindanao‖ where customers of clay products come from different parts of Mindanao. Through this economic pursuit, the city gained momentum by virtue of a festival known in the past as ―PULAPOK Festival or the Pula nga Lapok.‖ Today, it can be easily located along the highway amidst the array of stalls and potteries. 196 Davao del Sur Socio Economic and Physical Profile 2009-2011, Chapter 1. General Background pp. 11-12 108 b. Other Cottage Industries [1] SM Ceramics – a flourishing family-owned business located in Mabini, Brgy. Zone III. It started from humble beginnings and became known for the peculiar intricate designs of their products that are of export quality. Locals patronized the craft as souvenir for any occasions like debut and wedding giveaways including home decors. Today, it has a steady market in key cities and big department stores in the country. [2]Babatalias Banig Bags - an exporter and a place frequently visited by many suppliers. Its quality and updated designs are done by skilled and trained craftsmen. It is a local cottage industry profitably located in the vicinity in Sittio Badiang, Brgy. Sinawilan. [3] RER Bamboo Crafts- It is the bamboo handicrafts at its best. [4] Zaniti Arts and Crafts-they are the manufacturer of Loofah Products and Loofah related raw materials (sponges and novelties) located at Brgy. San Agustin.197 c. Food Products and Food Related Industries [1]Crave Food Products – located at Christian Village, Tienda Aplaya as they produce local Nata de Coco, Kaong and other fruit preserves. [2]Mer’s Kitchenette- a restaurant and the best of Digos delicious home delicacies, the famous Mer‘s Bibingka for pasalubong and other kakanin (native delicacies) all over the Davao Region. [3]Prangles- a restaurant and the home of the best cakes and pastries related products in Digos. [4]Rhoda’s Milky Durian- where Durian candies amass and tastes like no other; it is considered as the home of Durian candies in Digos. [5]San Roque Mango Processors – they are the producers of dried mangoes and mango puree and lastly among all food stores and restaurants located in the heart of the Digos City poblacion. Ibid with Explore and Experience… DIGOSCITY p.12 197 109 CHAPTER VII SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION A. Summary Digos was a place of convergence for several ethnic groups; primarily the Tagabawa Bagobos, Kaagan, B‘laan, Manobo, Tagakaolo and Moro (Kalagan, Samales and Maguindanao) who settled along the Southern foothills of Mt. Apo. These natives lived with a subsistence economy and practiced the primitive way of slash and burn farming. They also engage in fishing, hunting and livestock raising. It was because of these natives that the name Digos was coined. It came from the Bagobo word ―Padigos‖ which means ―to take a bath.‖ A story was related that when some Spanish soldiers headed by one Lopez Jaena Pacheco reached the area, they asked the natives they met along the way where they were bound to and they answered ―Padigos.‖ The Spaniards who misunderstood the natives‘ answer thought that the place they have reached was called ―Padigos.‖ In 1848, Davao became pacified and made a colony of Spain through the efforts of Jose Oyanguren. Digos was then a barrio belonging to the town of Sta. Cruz which was founded on October 5, 1884 together with other municipalities in Davao del Sur today until the American occupation. The coming of the Spaniards introduced missionary works and the propagation of Christianity to the natives; a Kalagan chieftain was said to have been baptized along with his followers in Digos. During the American period, barrio Digos served as the American cattle ranch and agricultural plantation of abaca, coconut and other cash crops. This place was identified as the plantations of W.H. Gohn and Kelly Co., Mindanao Plantation Co. Burdett A. Crumb, and other American planters (located in the interior of Tiguman) including Don Pedro Estrada. Hired Japanese laborers and workers also made their presence in the Davao area as they acquire lands through the lease and outright purchases of those agricultural plantations by the Americans. Japanese entrepreneurs also came in Davao to engaged business and trade. Not long enough, it became the home of many migrants from the Ilocos Region and Visayas; majority of which were Cebuanos that settled permanently in the area by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 51 (Creation of Davao City) & 441 (NLSA). With the influx of Christian Filipino migrants who were politically and economically determined to develop Digos through farming, fishing and commercial business trading, it then became a regular municipality through the initiatives of Cong. Apolinario Cabigon by virtue of Presidential E.O. No. 236 on July 19, 1949 with Benito R. Rabor as its first appointed Mayor. With the fundamental role of the Local Government Unit, both the political leaders and the rest of the Digoseños who determined to improve the socioeconomic and political status of Digos worked with cooperation and participation for its conversion into cityhood. This proposed conversion was forwarded by Gov. Rogelio E. Llanos and was initiated by Mayor Arsenio A. Latasa. Finally, the charter of the city of Digos was enacted on July 14, 2000 when President Joseph E. Estrada signed into law R.A. 8798 which formally declared Digos‘ cityhood. It was then supported by a majority vote equivalent of 87% in the plebiscite held on September 8, 2000. With the supervision and leadership of the Digos municipal and city mayors which started in 1949 up to the present, the overwhelming challenges was faced by the local government and the people as the prime actors to achieve its goals. Moreover, to accelerate local economic growth, infrastructure development, access to quality health, 70 education, social services and improve living conditions among Digoseños. However, in the history of Digos, it experienced two tragic events like the Digos Massacre on September 25, 1989 and the bombing of the Digos City Satellite Terminal on July 24 & September 1, 2008. B. Conclusion In conclusion, Digos today positions itself as an investor‘s place in Mindanao both for domestic entrepreneurs, foreign investors and multi-national corporations as it looks forward to the growing trends of industrialization grounded from its competitive advantage. The researcher identified internal and external factors which invigorated the capacity of Digos towards its goal of development by mobilizing its resources. Internal factor is the natural features: 1) strategic location 2) abundant natural resources, 3) suitable climate and 4) people. While external factor is the human-made features: 1) Government Incentives and Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), Foreign and Local Investment and 2) Cost of Doing Business. Another portion presents the industries and socio-economic conditions of Digos City in terms of the areas of: 1) good governance, 2) agriculture, 3) commerce and trade industry, 4) infrastructure and utilities 6) education, human resources and training, 7) health and quality of life, 7) tourism industry; and lastly 8) cottage industries. It is also the important function of their leaders from the period of 1949 and at present to consolidate local policies and investment strategies for the development of Digos itself. Noticeably, majority of the mayoral heads became provincial executives or Governors, Congressmen, Board Members and among others in Davao del Sur. As such, their influence in the expansion of Digos as a core or center of agricultural market, trade 71 and commerce, banking and finance, education and services strategically located in the heart of Davao del Sur has been appreciated by the rest of the province and translated into votes for their election to higher offices. These elected officials exercise an important role in making Digos as the gate city in the Davao Region as well as in Southern Mindanao. The role played by different sectors along with the local officials is a dominant factor in the exercise of their rights in the decision-making process towards local affairs. So to speak, the local constituents‘ involvement became crucial to its conversion as a component city of Davao del Sur and as an agro- industrial based economic city in the Davao Region. Lastly, Digos is a crossroad for the tri-cities of Davao, General Santos, and Kidapawan and an opening portal as Gate City for both the regions of the Davao Region and SocSkSarGen Region. Digos even became one of the key cities together with Tagum, Panabo, Island Garden City of Samal and Mati located around the Davao Region. The city‘s physical and economic potentials can be seen through its existing agricultural industries and commercial business engagements. Thus, it is entirely possible that Digos City will eventually be considered as the Industrial City of South Davao in the coming years. C. Recommendation The City of Digos is known as the component capital of Davao del Sur. It is therefore, one of the premiere center cities in Davao Region as a whole. This study is a pioneering one since the researcher has not found any historical study about Digos City. The researcher acknowledges the limitation of the study due to the limited written records that led to the difficulties on the part of the researcher to come up with a comprehensive 72 study. And on the basis of discussions, the student researcher would like to recommend the following: 1. In-depth studies should be done on Digos City by concentrating on the areas of: Political, Economic and Socio-Cultural history among others. 2. Valuable records should be kept intact in the City Library and City Information Office for future researches and update the Profile of Digos City. 3. The City Government of Digos should commission an institution towards writing the comprehensive history of Digos. 4. There should be annual reports from the Local Government Unit in terms of achievements/contributions of Barangay Captains, City Councilors and City Mayors in the development of Digos City. 5. To conduct a study on the various ethnolingistic groups known today as Lumad and Moro tribe of Digos City putting emphasis on their socio-economic condition and their contribution to Digos in order to promote social equality and economic development. 6. Further studies on the areas of Digos Industries and the role of Foreign Investors, the BIMP-EAGA, and Digos Local Government Performance. 73 BIBLIOGRAPHY A. Public Documents A Profile of City of Digos 2000. Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator, 2001. Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan. City Tribal Council. Digos City n.a. Davao Regional Development Plan 2011-2016. Regional Development Council XI. Republic of the Philippines: Region XI, Davao City, 2011. Davao Region 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Davao Region, 2010. Digos City Investment Promotion Center Brochure. City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office, 2013. Digos City Tourism Brochure. Office of the City Tourism, 2013. Explore and Experience…Digos City. City Investment Promotion Office and City Tourism Office, 2013. Provincial Coastal Resource Management Plan 2001-2005. Provincial Government of Davao del Sur, 2001. Revised Comprehensive Land Use Plan (2011-2020). Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator, Digos City, Davao del Sur. Socio Economic and Physical Profile 2009-2011. Provincial Government of Davao del Sur. Office of the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, 2009. Socio Economic and Physical Profile of Sta. Cruz 2013. Office of the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. 2013. Tourism Development Plan Davao del Sur 2000-2010. Digos City Provincial Tourism Office, 2000. Ugmad. Official Publication of the City Government of Digos. Vol.1, No.1, 2002. 115 B. Books Agoncillo, Teodoro A. History of the Filipino People. 8th ed. Quezon City: Garotech Publishing, 1990. Abinales, Patricio N. Making Mindanao Cotabato and Davao in the Formation of the Philippine Nation – State. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press,2000. Dabbay, Gloria P. Davao City Its History and Progress. _______________. 1995. De Leon, Hector S. Textbook on the Philippine Constitution. Quezon City: Rex Printing Company, Inc., 2008. Gloria, Heidi K. The Bagobo: Their Ethnohistory and Acculturation. Quezon City: New DayPublishers, 1987. Heywood, Andrew. Politics. London: MACMILLAN PRESS LTD. 1994. Kellogg, William O. American History the Easy Way, New York, USA: Barron‘s Educational Series, Inc. 3rd edition, 2003, p. 56 National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Oral and Local History Writing: Seminar – Workshop Proceedings (2007-2008). Manila: NHCP, 2011. National Historical Institute. The Making of A Nation. Manila: NHI, 2004 Rostow, Walt Whitman. Stages of Development. London: Cambridge University Press, 1982. Santiago, Miriam D. Local Government Code Anotated. Quezon City: Central Professional Books, Inc. The Presidential Commission for the Rehabilitations and Development of Southern Philippines. Bagani Man of Dignity. Manila: PCRDSP, 1980 The Sangguniang Panglungsod. The Book of Ordinance 2000-2010. City of Digos Tiu, Macario D. Davao 1890-1910 Conquest and Resistance in the Garden of the Gods. Quezon: UP, 2003 _____________ Davao Reconstructing History from Text and Memory. Davao City: ADDU. 2005 Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations. 116 6th ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1996. Ulindang, Faina A. EDCOR and Counter Insurgency A Study of the Economic Development CCRPS (EDCOR) Settlement in Mindanao (1950-1970). Quezon: UP, _______ Yu- Jose, Lydia N. Japan Views the Philippines 1900-1944. Quezon City: ADMU Press, 1999 Zaide, Sonia M. The Philippines A Unique Nation. 2nd ed. Quezon City: All- Nations Publishing Co., Inc, 1999. Jose, Ricardo T. and Ikehata Setsuko. The Philippine Under Japan. Manila: ADDU University Press, 1999. Reforma, Mila and Raul de Guzman. Government and Politics of the Philippines. Manila: __________________, 1987. Zaide, Gregorio F. and Sonia M. History of the Republic of the Philippines. Manila: National Book Store, Inc., 1987. Zaide, _____________________Philippine Government. Manila: National Bookstore, 1984 May, R.J., Lulu respell and Mark Turner. MINDANAO: Land of Unfulfilled Promise. Quezon City: New Day Publishers, 1992. Ulindang, Faina A., Jonathan Catubig, Emmalyn Tangal-Catubig, Juvannie Caballero, Kimberly Apatan, Rodolfo Alonzo, Jane Jacobe-Asperin, Aminah Sumagayan Usodan, Melodia Udtohan and Eduardo Casas. Sourcebook for Philippine History and Institution. Marawi: Nogrub Book Sales and Publishing, 2006. C. Journals and Magazines CSSH Graduate Research Journal. Resistance Movement from the Iliana Bay to the T‟boli in Lake Sebu During the Filipino-American War (1899-1902): A Preliminary Survey by Ben J. Kadil. Volume 2 No.3-4, 2000. Philippine National Historical Society. The Journal of History: Selected Papers on Cities in the Philippine History. Quezon City: PNHS, Inc., 2000. Philippine National Historical Society. The Journal of History: National Consciousness through Local History. Quezon City: PNHS, 1991. Special Millennium Edition 2001. Davao Historical , Cultural, Ecological, 117 Economic… Davao City: ARJ Printing Press, Inc., 2001. D. Thesis and Dissertations Apatan, Kimbely F. Local History of the Municipality of Trento, Agusan del Sur (1972-2002). Undergraduate Thesis, Mindanao State University, Marawi City, March 2003. Casas, Eduardo R. Factors Influencing Demographic Movements in Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur (1927-1942): A Case of Oral and Local History Documentation of a „Frontier – Life‟ Settlements.CSSH Graduate Program, Mindanao State University, Marawi City, April 2003. Ganciña, Joey E. Politico-Economic History of Bislig City, 1986-2000. Undergraduate Thesis, Mindanao State University, Marawi City, March 2013. Marohombsar, Al-Fahd T. The Boom City of the Southern Philippines: A Study on the Economic Development of General Santos City. Undergraduate Thesis, Mindanao State University, Marawi City, March 2009. Tafalla, Joven C. Power Structure in Decision- Making Process: A Case Study on the Conversion of the Municipality of San Francisco into a Component City. Undergraduate Thesis, Mindanao State University, Marawi City, March 2006. E. Unpublished Material and Manuscript Dofiles II, Teodorico N. Four Mayor Biographical Entries: Benito Rabor, Angel Loyola, Rogelio Llanos and Joseph Peñas. personally handed through his students research in their history subject, wherein he served as Alumni President and faculty of Cor Jesu College. Elera, Edgardo C. City of Digos Festivals. personally handed by him at City Tourism Office, wherein he served as head of the City Investment and Promotion Officer and City Tourism Officer. Gonzales, Fr. Perseus D. General Characteristics of the Diocese of Digos. Diocese of Digos –Digos City transferred personally by him as soft copy at Mary Mediatrix of All Grace Cathedral, wherein he served as Parish Priest. Rodil, Rudy B. A Preliminary Study of the Evangelization of Davao, 1868-1890. Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology. n.a. transferred personally by Ms. Sharon O. Bulaclac as soft copy at Mindanao State UniversityMain Campus, were she served as faculty in History Department, CSSH. 118 F. Online/Internet Resources: http://www.digoscity.gov.ph http://www.google.com http://rdc11.net http://sunstar.com.ph http://nsbc.gov.ph http://wikipedia.com http://Mindanao.com http://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digos G. Interviews Alegado, Fortunato (70 years old), former Digos MPDC and Cor Jesu College Faculty, Interview at Mabini Ext., Digos City on October 14, 2013 Barba, Eduardo (82 years old), former BIR employee and brother of late Mayor Rogelio Barba. Interview at Balintawak St., Digos City on December 27, 2013 Barba, Edzel, Philippine Ambassador to Iraq, nephew of the late Mayor Rogelio A. Barba. Interview at Balintawak St., Digos City, December 27, 2013. Cagas, Gary Ralota, Barangay Captain of Zone III. Interview at Brgy. Hall, on December 26, 2013 Camasura, Juanito Jr., (72 years old), former Mayor of Digos and Congressman of Davao del Sur. Interview at Rizal Avenue corner Angeles Drive, Digos City on December 30, 2013 Curayag, Francisca (86 years old), resident for 70 years in Digos. Interview at Llanos St., Digos City on December 27, 2013 De la Calzada, Eleonora (65 years old), retired teacher, interview at Mabini Ext., Digos City on December 30, 2013 Gonzales, Manuel (67 years old), a physician, former Mayor, former Vice Mayor 119 and former Provincial Board Member. Interview at Gonzales Maranan Clinic and Hospital, Zone I, Digos City on January 2, 2014 Lañas, Arnulfo (47 years old), Engineer, OCPDC- Research and Statistics (GIS). Interview at City Planning and Development Coordinator Office, Digos City Hall on October 14, 2013 Leal, Marilou (56 years old), College Professor, Chairperson of Social Sciences Department, Cor Jesu College, Digos City. Interview on October 18, 2013 Llanos, Fe (72 years old), widow of former Mayor Rogelio E. Llanos and Retired Education Supervisor, DepEd Davao del Sur. Interview at Lim Ext. San Miguel, Digos City on October 16, 2013 Llanos- Cobias, Mary Catherine (47 years old), DWD Supervising IRMO- Industrial Relations and Management Officer. She is also a daughter of former Mayor Nonito E. Llanos Jr. Interview at Digos City on October 14, 2013 Llanos, Milagros City Councilor and Widow of late Governor Raul Llanos. Interview at Gallerde St. corner Llanos St., Digos City on December 30, 2013 Melendez, Elena (74 years old), staff of Barangay Zone III. Interview at Burgos St., Digos City on December 26, 2013 Peñas, Bernardino (94 years old), former Tiniente del Barrio and present Brgy. Captain. Interview at Balutakay (San Jose) and Igpit, Luna Ext. Digos City on January 4, 2014 Putong, Allan Cudera 52 years old, former Provincial General Services Officer- PGSO head. Interview at Brgy. Tres de Mayo, Digos City on January 4, 2014 Putong, Eddie Cudera, (51 years old), policeman, interview at Provincial Headquarter Tres de Mayo, Digos City on January 2, 2014 Quiday, Loteta (62 years old), Kaagan Tribal Chieftain and the heir of Ompo Payan. Interview at Roxas Ext., Digos City on December 3, 2013 Rabanes, Restituta (85 years old), widow, resident for 85 years in Digos. Interview at Mabini St, Digos City, on October 21, 2013 Suario, Erlinda (67 years old), Widow of Atty. Leonardo Suario. Interview at Suario Building- Central Public Market, Digos City on December 23, 2013 Ypil, Alexander (50 years old), Engineer, Digos CPDC Head, Interview at Brgy. Cogon, Digos City on January 3, 2014 120 APPENDICES 121 APPENDIX A MAPS AND CITY‟S OFFICIAL SEAL Map 1. Map of Mindanao Map 2. Map of Davao del Sur Showing City of Digos 122 ©Office of City Planning and Development Coordinator Map 3. Map of Davao del Sur Official Seal of Digos City 123 ©http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digos access on December 09, 2013, 5:56:31 PM Map 4. Regional Spatial Strategy, Davao Region 2010-2020 124 ©Regional Development Council XI. Davao Regional Development Plan 2011-2016 APPENDIX B Letter to Respondents Mindanao State University College of Social Sciences and Humanities Marawi City 9700, Philippines HISTORY DEPARTMENT Dear Sir/Ma’am: Greeting s of peace! I am a graduating student and presently conducting a study entitled DIGOS: THE GATE CITY OF THE SOUTH (1949- 2013) for my undergraduate thesis. I believe that the study can contribute to the development of our locality. It is also one way to promote the importance of writing local history in the entirety of national history. In this connection, the researcher would like to ask your cooperation in gathering important data. I would like to request you to be my respondent as a person who could supply the relevant information of my study. Thank you very much and God bless. Very Respectfully Yours, Jovanie Kief M. Putong AB- History Researcher Noted by: Prof. Kimberly F. Apatan Prof. Melodia S. Udtohan 125 APPENDIX C Letter of Instruction 807 TO : The Minister of Natural Resources, Diliman, Quezon City The Minister of Human Settlements, Metro Manila The Director of Lands, Manila The Municipality of Digos , Davao del Sur The Municipal Mayor ,Digos, Davao del Sur To facilitate the implementation of the social reform program of the Government designed to improve the economic conditions of human settlements in our country and the life of our people, the following instructions are hereby issued: 1. The Minister of Natural Resources is hereby directed: a) To set aside the whole are of 800 hectares, more or less, of public lands situated in the poblacion of the Capital Town of Digos, Davao del Sur, popularly known as the "Crumb Estate", as reserve for the expansion of the townsite of the Municipality of Digos, Province of Davao del Sur, and for other public purposes; b) To promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out effectively the subdivision and distribution of the property among the actual occupants thereon as listed in Annexes B and C of the Order of then Secretary Tanco, dated February 25, 1972 and other persons affected, according to the guidelines set forth herein; 2. The Director of Lands: a) To cause the subdivision survey of the aforesaid area (Crumb Estate) in accordance with the Land Use Plan of the Municipality of Digos prepared in coordination with, and with the assistance of other Government agencies concerned; b) To dispose the residential lots under the provisions of R.A. No. 730, whenever applicable, and commercial and industrial lots in accordance with the provisions of Chapter IX of the Public Land Act in the following manner; 1) To sell one lot to each of the actual occupants listed in Annexes B and C of the Order of then Secretary Tanco, dated February 25, 1972 and to each of their children who are 18 years of age or over or head of the family; to each of the heirs of B.Z. Crumb and to each of their children who are 18 years of age or over or head of the family; and to each of the 22 defendants in Civil Case No. 344 of the Court of First Instance of Davao and to each of their children who are 18 years of age or over or head of the family; 2) Actual occupants, including the heirs of B.A. Crumb, listed in the aforesaid order of then Secretary Tanco, whose occupancies are or have to be converted into roads, plazas or set aside in favor of any government agency or to be disposed of in favor of any government agency or to be disposed of in any person or entity, shall be reimbursed by the aforesaid government agency or entity or other persons who will own or make use of the said portions, of the value of the occupants' respective improvements on the land in accordance with the appraisal to be made by the provincial assessor or the value declared by the actual occupants, whichever is lower; 3) All proceeds realized or to be realized from the sale or disposition of the subdivided lots shall accrue to the general fund of the Municipality of Digos to be used solely for the development, maintenance and improvement or beautification of the areas subdivided; 4) Actual occupants of areas which are not or have not yet in the meantime been developed as part of the townsite expansion or disposed of may continue occupying the same and enjoying their improvements thereon, subject to the supervision and control of the Bureau of Lands, in coordination with the Sangguniang Bayan of Digos. 3. The Municipality of Digos. a) To develop the area phase by phase or in its entirety as its funds and resources may warrant within the shortest period possible but not beyond the year 2,000. 4. The Director of Lands or his duly authorized representative, the Municipal Mayor of Digos or his duly authorized representative, the Minister of Human Settlements, or her duly authorized representative, and two representatives of the actual occupants of the area to be appointed by the Mayor are hereby constituted as a Committee, with the Municipal mayor of Digos or his duly authorized representative, as Chairman, to coordinate with other government agencies in the implementation of this Letter of Instructions. Done in the City of Manila, this 9th day of February, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-nine. Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos (signed) 126 APPENDIX D REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8798 AN ACT CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF DIGOS, DAVAO DEL SUR PROVINCE, INTO A COMPONENT CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF DIGOS ARTICLE I General Provisions Section 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the ―Charter of the City of Digos.‖ Section 2. The City of Digos. – The Municipality of Digos shall be converted into a component city to be known as the City of Digos, hereinafter referred to as the City, which shall comprise the present territory of the Municipality of Digos, Davao Del Sur Province. The territorial jurisdiction of the City shall be within the present metes and bounds of the Municipality of Digos, as follows: Bounded on the East along lines 1-3 by Municipality of Sta. Cruz; on the SE, along line 3-4 by Davao Gulf; on the South along 4-5 by Municipality of Hagonoy; on the SW, along line 5-6 by Municipality of Matan-ao; on the West along line 6-7 by Municipality of Bansalan; on the NE, along line 7-8-1 by Municipality of Sta. Cruz. Beginning at a point marked “1″ on plan as a peak point of 1582 elevation; thence Southerly along the watershed line through the ridge of Higpit Range to point 2; thence Southeasterly along Quibanban (Sirawilan Creek) to point 3; thence Southerly, along the shoreline of Davao Gulf to point 4; thence Due West, along Northern boundary line of Municipality of Hagonoy to point 5; thence Northeasterly, along Eastern boundary line of Matan-ao point 6; thence Northerly, along Mati River to watershed line at the Peak of Mt. Apo as point 7; thence Southeasterly, from the peak of Mt. Apo to the source of the first branch of Tagulaya River downstream and to its fourth junction as point 8; thence Southerly, along the fourth branch of Tagulaya River, upstream to its source and straight to the peak of 1582 elevation, the point of beginning; Containing an area of twenty-eight thousand seven hundred ten (28,710) hectares more or less. The reference boundary computation are based on the approved map of the proposed City of Digos, Davao del Sur dated 4 April 1999 by the Regional Technical Director (LMS-DENR, Region XI) and the Regional Executive Director (DENR, Region XII, Davao City). Point 1 as the Peak Point, 1582 Elevation; point 2 is the source of Quibanban (Sinawilan) Creek; point 3 is the junction of Quibanban (Sinawilan) Creek and the shoreline of Davao Gulf; point 4 is intersection of the shoreline of Davao Gulf and the Northern boundary line of Municipality of Hagonoy; point 5 is the intersection of the Northern boundary line of the Municipality of Hagonoy and the Eastern boundary line of the Municipality of Matan-ao; point 6 is the intersection of the boundary line between the Municipality of Matan-ao and the Municipality of Bansalan and the course of Mati River; point 7 is the Peak point of Mt. Apo, 2838 elevation; and point 8 is the junction of Tagulaya River and its fourth branch. The foregoing provision shall be without prejudice to the resolution by the appropriate agency or forum of existing boundary disputes or cases involving questions of territorial jurisdiction between the City of Digos and the adjoining local government units. R.A. No. 8798, Digos City Charter 127 APPENDIX E Tables Table 1 Digos City Population and Land Area Digos City Population and Land Area (per barangay) BARANGAY Year POPULATION 2000 2007 11,316 1,157 2,501 4,513 1,901 2,859 1,591 3,835 2,906 8,052 3,775 405 587 3,888 2,687 1,684 4,903 9,745 806 4,103 1,078 1,119 10,174 12,175 8,497 18,199 124,456 14,775 1,206 2,765 5,559 2,276 4,244 1,592 3,469 3,078 8,403 4,319 286 773 5,093 3,175 1,895 5,419 12,148 839 4,820 1,140 1,239 14,590 14,052 9,439 18,920 145,514 2010 % to total pop. Populati on Growth 2000-10 Urban/ Rural % 20.4% R/U NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLD Land Area (Has.) As of 2010 28,710 15,409 10.28 36.1 Urban 3,228 250 1,226 0.82 6 Rural 327 1,450 2,034 1.36 - 18.7 Rural 712 3,425 5,993 3.99 32.8 Rural 1,290 483 2,323 1.55 22.2 Rural 538 723 4,584 3.06 60.3 Urban 808 175 1,329 0.89 - 16.5 Rural 450 4,313 3,676 2.45 - 4.1 Rural 1,085 3,200 3,471 2.32 19.4 Rural 822 450 10,162 6.78 26.2 Urban 2,277 8,598 4,679 3.12 23.9 Rural 1,068 663 567 0.38 40 Rural 115 372 772 0.52 31.5 Rural 166 275 5,328 3.55 37 Urban 1,217 420 2,873 1.92 6.9 Rural 761 381 2,143 1.43 27.3 Rural 477 283 6,072 4.05 23.8 Urban 1,396 300 13,813 9.21 41.7 Urban 2,759 310 951 0.63 18 Rural 228 438 4,539 3.03 10.6 Rural 1,160 381 1,277 0.85 18.5 Rural 305 487 1,625 1.08 45.2 Rural 318 412 15,475 10.32 52.1 Urban 2,873 468 13,754 9.18 13 Urban 3,466 174 8,071 5.38 -5 Urban 2,420 98 17,745 11.85 - 2.5 Urban 5,153 181 149,891 100.00 20.4% 35,419 28,710 Sources: NSO & CPDC Horizontal Population Growth from year 2000 to 2010: (2010-2000/2000*100) Total Number of Population (2010) 149,891 Total Population Density (2010) 599 Total Number of Household (2010) 35,419 Average Household Size (2007) 4.56 Aplaya Balabag Binaton Cogon Colorado Dawis Dulangan Goma Igpit Kapatagan Kiagot Lungag Mahayahay Matti Ruparan San Agustin San Jose San Miguel San Roque Sinawilan Soong Tiguman Tres de Mayo Zone I Zone II Zone III TOTAL 128 Table 2 Soil Type and Distribution in Digos City, 2000 LAND AREA (HAS.) 2,368 SOIL TYPE Sandy Loam Sandy Loam LOCATION SUITABLE CROPS Aplaya, Dawis, San Jose, San Miguel,Tiguman, Tres de Mayo, Zones I, II and III. Rice, Corn, Coffee, Sugarcane,Banana,Coconut, Rubber, Abaca Fruit trees (Mango, Durian, Lanzones, Pomelo),Vegetables and Rootcrops Same with San Miguel Sandy Loam 2,281 Balabag, Igpit, Sinawilan 22,918 Binaton, Cogon, Dulangan, Goma, Kapatagan, Kiagot, Lungag, Mahayahay, Ruparan , San Agustin, San Roque and Soong Sandy Clay 1,143 Colorado, Matti TOTAL 28,710 SiltyClay Loam Most Crops (Vegetables and Rootcrops), Coffee, Fruit Tress (Marang, Lanzones, Durian), AgroForest Products and Pastures Most Crops and Pastures Source: CPDO, Bureau of Soils Table 3 Slope Classification and Area Coverage in Digos, 2000 SLOPE CLASSIFICATION 0 – 8% 8 – 18% LAND AREA (Has.) 11,093.00 4,420.00 % TOTAL 38.64 15.40 18 – 30% 30 – 50% 50% and above TOTAL 9,636.00 3,561.00 33.56 12.40 28,710.00 100.00 LAND USE Land suited for Urban Development Land suited for Specialized Agriculture Land suited for Plowable Type of Agriculture Land suited for Non- Plowable Agriculture such as Pasture lands Source: Bureau of Soil Table 4 Existing General Land Uses, Digos City, 2000 LAND USE CATEGORY A. Built-up Area B. Agricultural C. Agro-Industrial D. Institutional E. Industrial F. Forest G. Uncultivated Land/Open Grassland H. Rivers and Creeks I. Fishponds J. Denuded Mountains Total AREA (HECTARES) 2,734.00 8,359.00 52.50 53.85 2.00 1,447.15 12,527.50 644.81 61.19 2,828.00 28,710.00 Source: OCPDC, Digos City 129 PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL AREA 9.52 29.12 0.18 0.19 0.01 5.04 43.63 2.25 0.21 9.85 100.00 Table 5 Existing Urban Land Use 2010 USE Urban uses Agriculture Agro Industrial Creeks/Rivers Fish Pond Forest / Forest Categories Grassland / Pasture Quarry Tourism Buffer / Easement Special Uses AREA (hectares) 2,149.92 12,302.34 6.84 251.12 79.26 2,231.53 11,576.07 8.42 21.40 59.64 23.56 Sources: For Existing Land Use – City Planning and Development Coordinator, Digos City Table 6 Digos City Population per Barangay 1980, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2007, 2010 Digos City Population (per barangay)OCPDC & NSO BARANGAY Year Aplaya Balabag Binaton Cogon Colorado Dawis Dulangan Goma Igpit Kapatagan Kiagot Lungag Mahayahay Matti Ruparan San Agustin San Jose San Miguel San Roque Sinaawilan Soong Tiguman Tres de Mayo Zone I Zone II Zone III TOTAL POPULATION 1980 4,092 1,219 2,774 2,604 1,559 1,034 689 3,445 1,194 5,478 2,016 361 347 1,776 1,699 800 1,858 3,012 540 2,068 575 757 3,039 6,630 7,702 12,468 69,736 1990 6,775 944 1,887 3,657 1,669 2,037 902 3,260 2,129 6,318 3,147 428 419 3,111 2,458 1,222 3,726 4,655 689 3,177 779 910 4,913 8,692 8,909 19,651 96,464 1995 9,431 872 2,250 4,014 1,758 2,460 1,113 2,892 2,356 6,408 2,430 397 474 3,681 1,938 908 4,406 6,712 719 3,643 665 546 5,741 12,192 8,524 19,574 106,104 130 2000 11,316 1,157 2,501 4,513 1,901 2,859 1,591 3,835 2,906 8,052 3,775 405 587 3,888 2,687 1,684 4,903 9,745 806 4,103 1,078 1,119 10,174 12,175 8,497 18,199 124,456 2007 14,775 1,206 2,765 5,559 2,276 4,244 1,592 3,469 3,078 8,403 4,319 286 773 5,093 3,175 1,895 5,419 12,148 839 4,820 1,140 1,239 14,590 14,052 9,439 18,920 145,514 2010 15,409 1,226 2,034 5,993 2,323 4,584 1,329 3,676 3,471 10,162 4,679 567 772 5,328 2,873 2,143 6,072 13,813 951 4,539 1,277 1,625 15,475 13,754 8,071 17,745 149,891 Table 7 Local Government of Digos Regular Income (As of 2011 and 2012) Digos City Regular Income (As of 2011) Regular Income (As of 2012) LGU Income Internal Revenue Allotment(IRA) Local Sources 555,352,395.25 425,835,457.00 79,185,468.05 512,969,000.00 368,487,978.00 78,395,244.00 50,331,470.20 66,086,778.00 1,110,704,790.50 1,025,938,000.00 Other Sources-Economic Enterprise Total Source: Brief Profile of LGU- Digos City 2011 & 2012 ***excluding the LGU –Digos City expenditures Table 8 Area Planted for Agricultural Crops and Its Production, Digos City Davao del Sur, CY 2011 DIGOS CITY NO. OF FARMERS PHYSICAL AREA (HAS.) 754 2,694 1900 1,052.30 1,473 1535 160 70 AREA PLANTED (HAS.) AREA HARVESTED (HAS.) TOTAL PROD'N (MT) AVE. YIELD/ HA. (MT) 2,104.60 2,945 1535 2,104.60 2,945 1535 12,085.30 12,538 21490 5.74 4.26 14.00 70 70 840 12.00 2,808.35 537.5 1,490.00 642.00 456.00 71.64 58 28.00 12,746.09 4,381.03 22,926.93 17,880.00 7,241.76 24,168.00 93.13 92.8 33.60 123,770.55 1.56 42.65 12.00 11.28 53.00 0.85 1.60 1.20 - Food Crops 1. Rice 2. Corn 3. Vegetables 4. Root Crops /Tubers 5. Coconut 6. Sugarcane 7. Mango 8. Banana -Local - Export 9. Abaca 10 Rubber 11. Coffee TOTAL 1,590 288 1760 622 4 117.00 243 133 10, 265 Commercial Crops 2,834.54 2,834.54 537.5 537.5 1,490.00 1,490.00 642.00 642.00 456.00 456.00 140.50 76.05 320.8 320.8 108.00 108.00 10,659.64 13,119.49 * - CY 2010 data Source: MAO/CAO/OPAG/PPDO/ DASUCECO 131 Table 9 Livestock and Poultry Population By Municipality/City Davao del Sur, 2011 Municipality/City Bansalan Digos City Don Marcelino Hagonoy Jose Abad Santos Kiblawan Magsaysay Malalag Malita Matanao Padada Sta. Cruz Sta. Maria Sarangani Sulop TOTAL Cattle Carabao Hogs Goat/Sheep Chicken 3,675 5,985 422 2,759 399 5,250 3,312 4,736 3,048 5,455 4,662 2,646 5,562 89 5,061 53,061 2,038 3,121 45 920 315 3,102 1,084 1,964 1,265 2,321 1,246 268 31,870 154 1,260 50,973 11,364 73,215 6,468 3,390 5395 14,498 28,767 5269 94,446 8,113 14,063 2,204 17,004 1,652 7,049 292,897 19,178 58,367 3,612 7,568 3,511 20,349 6,237 1,625 14,903 13,102 10,162 3,762 7,355 3,323 15,811 188,865 126400 285,590 21,340 29,857 9,503 15,146 367,682 54,602 155,638 35,643 102,104 495,125 38,807 6,636 43,043 1,787,116 Other Poultry Specie 3,939 9,563 5,714 5,188 7,940 5,634 16,995 1,378 8,638 6,197 11,028 3,879 4,520 968 3,336 94,917 SUFFICIENCY LEVEL OF LIVESTOCK MEAT (BEEF, PORK) and POULTRY MEAT (CHICKEN) DIGOS CITY, PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL SUR, CY 2011 Digos City 2011 Pop"n Production Supply Demand Surplus/ Sufficiency Projected (Heads) (MT) (MT) Deficit Level % 158,120 5,985 243.89 705 (461.33) 35 Cattle 110,684 73,215 4,045.13 783 3,262.59 517 Pork 158,120 285,590 285.59 843 (557.19) 34 Poultry Source: OPAG/ PPDO/PVO Note: Only 70% are pork-eating Population Table 10 Fisheries Data By Municipality/City- Davao del Sur, CY 2011 MUNICIPALI TY/ City No. of Fisherm en Boat Color Code Digos City Don Marcelino Hagonoy JAS 583 5,747 212 5,499 Malalag Malita Padada Sta. Cruz Sta. Maria Sarangani Sulop 1,073 2,920 482 1,516 2,899 5,202 39 Gold Maroon Orange Brown Yellow Green Black Blue Yellow Red Purple Green Total 26,172 Total No. of Fishing Banca 612 1,660 212 750 No. of Motorized Banca Production (MT) 158 916 169 285 163.79 1,748 33.06 205.28 No. of NonMotorized Banca 454 744 143 465 548 659 375 977 1,070 904 34 88 315 140 517 688 299 19 72.86 362 144.02 286.75 78.79 362.8 3,292.86 7,801 3,594 37,567.000 Source: Municipal Fishery Profile/OPAG 132 Producti on (MT) Total Production (MT) 300.6 2,313.50 87.25 298.31 464.39 4,061.00 120.31 503.59 342 344 235 460 382 605 15 261.47 609.80 217.06 111.96 12.46 333.28 9.82 334.33 971.60 361.08 398.71 91,254.00 694.78 9.8235 4,189 4,555.52 99,173.61 Table 11 Mariculture Data by Municipality /City DAVAO DEL SUR, CY 2011 OYSTER MUNICIPALITY Area (has) No. of Growers Producti on (MT) Digos Area (has) 37.5 SEAWEEDS No. of Production Growe (MT) rs 280 6,714.79 FISH CAGE Area (has) No. of Growers Production (MT) 1.06 20 915 0.6062 11 531.39 4.072 19 200 7.39 70 1,577.90 41.2 31 2,336.19 0.36 24 0.9829 54.69 175 5561.47 Area (has) FISHPEN No. of Productio Growe n (MT) rs Don Marcelino Hagonoy JAS Malalag 1.24 78 71.000 Malita 7.42 65 82 108 0.00 59 7 70.7 7.43 89 178.70 Padada Sta. Cruz 24.57 190 672.3600 Sta. Maria Sarangani Sulop 2.6 10 48.674 Total 3.84 88 119.67 62.08 470 7,387.15 Source: Municipal Fishery Profile/OPAG Table 12 Commercial Establishment Statistics of Digos City, 2012 TYPE 1,416 PERCENT OF TOTAL 49.32 98 3.41 56 1.95 70 2.44 45 1.57 941 32.78 245 8.53 2,871 100.00 NUMBER Wholesale and retail, including repair shops Manufacturing Banking and finance Hotel and Restaurant Agricultural Services Others TOTAL Source: Survey of Establishments 2012, Office of the City Treasurer 133 Table 13 List of Banks and Location as of December 31, 2011 Digos City Digos City Name of Bank Allied Banking Corp, Digos Branch Peninsula Rural Bank Inc. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of Phil Islands Cooperative Bank of Davao del Sur D'Asian Hills Bank, Inc. Development Bank of the Phil. Enterprise Bank, Inc. First Tagum Rural Bank, Inc. Landbank of the Philippines Metropolitan & Trust Company, Digos Br. One Network Rural Bank, Inc. People's Bank of Caraga, Inc. Philippine National Bank, Digos Branch Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Rural Bank of Digos, Inc. Rural Bank of Koronadal, Inc. United Sugarcane Planters of Davao del Sur (USPD) Bansalan Coop Society (BCS) Location Luna St., Zone 3 Luna Ext., Zone 3 Rizal Ave., Zone 2 Rizal Ave., Zone 2 Magsaysay St., Zone 3 Vinzon St., Zone 3 Quezon Ave., Zone I AB Bldg., Rizal Ave., Zone 3 Crispino Bldg., Magsaysay St., Zone 3 Estrada St., Zone 2 Estrada St., Zone I Rizal Ave., Zone 3 Rizal Ave., Zone 3 Quezon Ave., Zone I Rizal Ave., Corner Roxas Ext., Zone 2 Rizal Ave., Zone 3 Luna St., Zone 3 Rizal Ave. Quirino Ave. Source: CPDO as of 2011 Table 14 Other Financial Institution, Digos City, 2000 NAME Apo Davao CARP KING Cooperative DNE Pawnshop Earniest Capital Lending Davao del Sur Pawnshop Crispino Pawnshop Four V's Pawnshop & Jewelry Store Tagum Montaña Pawnshop, Inc. ORO del Sur Pawnshop L.A. Aguirre Pawnshop Patriarch Credit Assistance & School Supplies AZER's Pawnshop Radio Wealth Finance Co. RD Pawnshop, Inc. RD Pawnshop, Inc. RD Pawnshop, Inc. LHUILLER I LHUILLER II DRPC EXQUISITE Pawnshop & Jewelry, Inc. Philacor Credit Coop. P. S. LHUILLER Pawnshop De Leon Pawnshop Audofel's Lending Services Mindanao Capital Corp. RD Credit Corp. LOCATION Public Market Rizal Avenue Rizal Avenue Jose Abad Santos Street Jose Abad Santos Street Public Market Public Market Magsaysay Street Rizal Avenue Rizal Avenue Jose Abad Santos Street Rizal Avenue Rizal Avenue Roxas Street Gen. Luna Street Rizal Avenue Luna Extension Luna Extension Public Market Public Market Rizal Avenue Rizal Avenue Jose Abad Santos Street Rizal Avenue Lapu-lapu Street Rizal Avenue 134 Rizal Avenue Public Market Rizal Avenue Rosever Pawnshop Aguirre ELP Dalton Pawnshop & Jewelry Source: Licensing Division, Digos City Table 15 Insurance Companies and its Location , Digos City, 2000 NAME OF INSURANCE COMPANIES J. Ancheta Insurance Agency Loyola Life Plan Insular Life Assurance Co. Ltd. D.F. Gilvero Insurance CAP Pension CAP Education Prudential Life Plan Ayala Plans Inc. Philam Life Insurance CAP Life Professional Group Plans Inc. RPR Gen. Insurance Agency Source: OCPDC, Digos City LOCATION Lapu-lapu Street Rizal Avenue Rizal Avenue Lapu-lapu Street Rizal Avenue Rizal Avenue Gen. Luna Street Rizal Avenue Rizal Avenue Rizal Avenue Rizal Avenue Lapu-lapu Street Table 16 Existing Road Network by Administrative Classification and Municipality/City (in Kms.) Davao Del Sur, CY 2009-2011 Municipality/City Davao del Sur Bansalan Digos City Don Marcelino Hagonoy Jose Abad Santos Kiblawan Magsaysay Malalag Malita Matanao Padada Sarangani Sta. Cruz Sta. Maria Sulop Digos City Provincial Road Network City Road Network Administrative Classification National Province Municipal City 284.599 419.048 292.819 69.503 38.20 20.723 31.172 24.268 68.85 69.503 43.500 19.100 7.161 74.055 22.847 19.784 35.200 42.900 18.900 24.000 11.517 21.700 13.680 15.623 67.947 33.760 30.869 6.717 33.584 11.729 3.783 17.566 17.472 32.000 28.681 31.656 17.001 14.218 36.00 9.425 8.640 22.274 19.964 Type of Pavement Concrete Asphalt Gravel 28.368 40.482 46.211 0.321 22.971 Source: PPDO,PEO 135 Total Barangay 2,753.013 377.100 131.840 160.000 150.620 76.500 284.350 236.315 82.610 222.000 239.671 128.622 32.000 106.435 239.450 285.500 3,848.615 436.263 322.799 222.60 255.527 131.484 346.15 271.832 133.613 354.576 291.58 168.39 64.00 214.335 299.093 336.378 Total Earth - 68.850 - 69.503 Table 17 Population Composition by School-Age, Working-Age, Dependent-Age Group and Sex, Year 2007 Male Female Age Group Both Sexes No. Percentage % No. Percentage % Sex Ratio 14,556 19,259 12,854 14,955 90,793 96,461 7,501 9,866 6,414 7,421 45,489 48,067 51.53 51.23 49.90 49.62 50.10 49.83 7,055 9,393 6,440 7,534 45,304 48,394 48.7 48.77 50.38 50.38 49.90 50.17 1.06 1.05 1.00 0.99 1.00 0.99 48,384 5,668 24,830 2,578 51.32 45.4 23,554 3,090 48.68 54.52 1.05 0.83 School going population Pre-School (3-6) Elementary (7-12) Secondary(13-16) Tertiary (17-21) Working Age (15-65) Labor Force (15 and Over) Dependent Population Young (0-14) Old (65- Over) Source: NSO/ CPDC 2007 Table 18 Labor Force Population by Sex and Employment Status, Year 2007 Digos City Population (15Over) Male Female Total 48,067 48,394 96,461 Employed 21,158 27,343 54,500 Labor Force Percentage % Unemployed 49.83 3,913 50.17 3,939 100 7,852 Percentage % 49.83 50.17 100.00 No in the Labor Force 16,996 17,112 34,109 Source: CPDO Survey of Households Table 19 Field Health Personnel - PHO, Year 2011 Digos City City Health Office Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital MED TECH SANI TARY INSPEC TOR Nutri tionist BNS 4 3 1 - 39 - 2 3 2 - 1 - - - PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE MID WIFE DENTIST PRI GOV'T. VATE PHARMACIST PRI GOV'T. VATE 29 2 28 1 27 28 - 1 DOCTORS GOV'T. PRI VATE Source: PHO- Provincial Health Office 2011 136 Trained Hilot DENTAL AIDE PICTURES 137 APPENDIX F PICTURES DIGOS MAYORS Hon. Benito R. Rabor (July 19, 1949- December 31,1949) Hon. Angel A. Loyola (January 9, 1950- December 31, 1955) Hon. Nonito D. Llanos, Sr. (January 1, 1956- August 31, 1955) Hon. Gregorio de la Calzada (September 1, 1967- December 31, 1971) Hon. Jesus A. Ralota, Sr. (January 1, 1972 – June 16, 1978) Hon. Nonito E. Llanos, Jr. (June 17, 1978 – March 26, 1982) Hon. Rogelio A. Barba (March 27, 1982 – March 2 1986) Hon. Juanito G. Camasura (March 3, 1986 – March 27, 1987) Hon. Manuel K. Gonzales (March 24, 1987 – November 30, 1987) Hon. Diosdado M. Ypil (December 1, 1987 – February 1, 1988) Hon. Rogelio E. Llanos (February 2, 1988 – March 23, 1992) Hon. Juanito O. Morales (March 24, 1992 – June 30, 1992) Hon. Arsenio A. Latasa (July 1, 1992 – June 30, 2010) Hon. Joseph R. Peñas- (July 1, 2010- concurrent) (From Left Down Right Up) 138 ©City Information Office photo taken by the researcher DIGOS FIRST MUNICIPAL OFFICE – COMITA HOUSE 1ST ANNIVERSARY – MUNICIPALITY OF DIGOS CITY HALL OF DIGOS 139 ©Jovanie Kief M. Putong American Forces During World War II The Parang- Digos – Davao Trail ―A‖ Company, 34th Regiment, 24th Victory Division 140 ©file:///E:/digos%20picture/mckenna_jungle_grapevine_files/24TH%2520ASSOCIATION2%2520DECAL2x2x72.png access on Wednesday, January 08, 2014, 5:25:26 PM STILL FRESH IN MEMORY DIGOS MASSACRE (September 25, 1989) DIGOS SATELLITE TERMINAL BOMBING (July 24 & September 1, 2008) 141 © http://www.indybay.org/ access on Saturday, December 14, 2013, 7:44:14 PM © www.arcanemind.com access on Monday, February 10, 2014, 1:27:42 PM 142 ©edited by Jovanie Kief M. Putong VEGETABLE FARMS IN BRGY. KAPATAGAN, DIGOS CITY NAKAYAMA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION- MODERN FACTORY OF BRICK-TILE & SIDING BOARD 143 ©http://www.skyscrapercity.com/external.php?typ=RSS2 access on Tuesday, January 07, 2014, 8:07:41 AM ©edited by Jovanie Kief M. Putong BUSINESS DISTRICT OF DIGOS CITY EARLY DAWN AND NIGHT VIEW DIGOS STREET 144 ©http://www.skyscrapercity.com/external.php?typ=RSS2 access on Tuesday, January 07, 2014, 8:07:41 AM ©edited by Jovanie Kief M. Putong GLIMPSE AT THE TOP OF MOUNT APO TOURISM HOTSPOTS ©https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/390991_3035768940359_1993473596_n.jpg 145 ©https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/421703_380394005310326_1079056227_n.jpg Access on Friday, February 14, 2014, 12:22:09 PM ©http: //www.skyscrapercity.com/external.php?typ=RSS2 access on Tuesday, January 07, 2014, 8:07:41 AM THE RESEARCHER WITH THE RESPONDENTS Mayor Joseph R. Peñas Current City Mayor Barangay Captain Gary Ra. Cagas Nephew of late Mayor Jesus A. Ralota Atty. Juanito G. Camasura Former OIC Municipal Mayor Doctor Manuel K. Gonzales Former OIC Municipal Mayor 146 ©Jovanie Kief M. Putong Gloria Llanos Daughter of the late Mayor Rogelio E. Llanos City Health Officer Mrs. Mary Catherine A. Llanos- Cobias Daughter of the late Mayor Nonito E. Llanos Jr. DWD Supervising IRMO Mr. Eduardo A. Barba Ambassador Edzel Barba Brother of the late Mayor Rogelio A. Barba and Former BIR Employee Nephew of the late Mayor Rogelio A. Barba and current Philippine Ambassador to Iraq 147 ©Jovanie Kief M. Putong Engr. Alexander de Castro Ypil Mrs.Eleonora T. De la Calzada Nephew of late OIC Mayor Diosdado M. Ypil Daughter-in-Law of late Mayor Gregorio Current OCPDC Head Dela Calzada and retired School teacher Mr. Fortunato Alegado Tatay Bernardino Peñas Former MPDC – Digos, Local Historian Former CJC Academe Former Tiniente del Bario, Brgy. Captain and the father of Joseph R. Peñas 148 ©Jovanie Kief M. Putong From Left to Right: Loleta L. Quiday, Kaagan Tribal Chieftain; Mr. Edgardo C. Elera, City Tourism Officer and City Investment and Promotion Officer; and Mrs. Franscisca A. Curayag, local resident Digos National High School Araling Panlipunan Faculty Mr. Allan C. Putong and Family former Provincial General Services Officer-PGSO head 149 ©Jovanie Kief M. Putong CURRICULUM VITAE PERSONAL PROFILE NAME: JOVANIE KIEF MATUNTON PUTONG DATE OF BIRTH: JULY 8, 1989 AGE: 24 PLACE OF BIRTH: MABINI 1ST ST., DIGOS CITY CAMPUS ADDRESS: 4TH ST., MSU MAIN CAMPUS -MARAWI CITY HOME ADDRESS: MABINI 1ST ST., DIGOS CITY, DAVAO DEL SUR SEX: MALE CIVIL STATUS: SINGLE NATIONALITY: FILIPINO RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION:ROMAN CATHOLIC ETHNICITY: BOHOLANO, ILOCANO, WARAY FATHER‘S NAME: FELIX CALIPES PUTONG MOTHER‘S NAME: MARIA ERNITA MATUNTON PUTONG EDUCATIONAL BACKROUND UNDERGRADUATE: BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY CUM LAUDE SECONDARY: ST. MARY‟S ACADEMY OF STA. CRUZ (FORMERLY HOLY CROSS ACADEMY OF STA.CRUZ) CLASS WITH HONOR ELEMENTARY: TAGABULI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TAGABULI, STA. CRUZ, DAVAO DEL SUR CLASS VALEDICTORIAN 150