DAVAO REGION

“REGION 11”

Davao Region, formerly called Southern Mindanao ,is an administrative region in the
Philippines, designated as Region XI. It is situated at the southeastern portion of Mindanao,
comprising five provinces: Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and
Davao Occidental.

The region encloses the Davao Gulf, and its regional center is Davao City. Dávao is the
Hispanicized pronunciation of daba-daba, the Bagobo word for "fire".

-Provinces:

Compostela valley,

Davao del Norte,

Davao del Sur,

Davao Oriental, and

Davao Occidental.

-Cities:

Davao City,(Urbanized City) 2,443.6 sq.

Digos City,

Mati City,

Malita City,

Samal City, and

Tagum City

-municipalities: 43

-Barangays: 1,162

- Congressional Districts: 11

-Land Area: 20,357 sq.km

-Dialects: Cebuano, Tagalog, Dabawenyo, Hiligaynon, Bagobo, Tagacaolo, Manobo,

-Population: 4,468,563 persons

ACCESS ROUTES: AIRPORTS, PORTS, MODE OF TRANSPORTATION

Francisco Bangoy International Airport, also known and still commonly referred to as Davao
International Airport, is the main airport serving Davao City in the province of Davao del Sur
and Davao Region in the Philippines. It is the busiest airport in the island of Mindanao and the
third busiest in the Philippines after Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and Mactan-
Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. The airport has a single 3,000-meter
precision runway.

BRIEF HISTORY:

Francisco Bangoy International Airport began operations in the 1940s with a donation of land
in Barangay Sasa, located in the Buhangin district of Davao City, by Don Francisco Bangoy, the
patriarch of an influential family who later served as the city's congressman. At the time it began
operation, the airport merely consisted of a 1,200-meter unpaved grass runway and quonset huts
serving as terminal buildings. At the time, and throughout much of the 1940s and 1950s, both
Philippine Airlines and the Philippine Air Force provided air service to the city.

The 11 tribes in Davao

(Bagobo-Klata, Ata, Obu-Manuvu, Matigsalog, and Bagobo-Tagabawa, Sama, Maranao,

Klata-Guiangan occupy a small territory from Catalunan to Calinan and are considered as forest
dwellers.

ATA or “dwellers in highlands” are a mixture of the Negritos and Malays. They depend on
hunting for their livelihood. They are known as sensitive and vindictive but can be easily
pacified.

Ovu-Manuvo are known for their fine jewelry, weaponry and intricate casting. They consider
these things to have souls as souls also possess inanimate objects.

Matigsalog or river people are considered to be the most aboriginal inhabitants of Mindanao
occupying the Agusan river valley in Compostela.
Tagabawa occupies the districts of Marilog, Baguio, Calinan, Tugbok and Toril. They are also
called Bagobo.

Sama people values togetherness and are known to be peace-loving. Majority of them live in
coastal barangays.

Maranao or the people of the lake are brave and historically offered sacrifices in defense of their
homeland and their Islam religion.They are proud of their rich literature called Darangen and
known for their expertise in wood and metal craft.

Kagan people are agriculturists who plants rice, corn, abaca and coconut. Kagan who live in the
coast practices fishing. Kagan is derived from the word kaog that means whisper.

Iranun are considered the fiercest pirates in the Malay world, living a typical maritime lifestyle
as sea invaders. Now they are known as fishermen and long-distance traders.

Maguindanaoan are known as the people from the flood plain in Mindanao. Living mostly
along the mouths of the rivers, they blocked the Spanish colonizer’s efforts at bringing the other
tribes of Davao within the Christian fold. Now, they are in the three districts of Davao.

Tausog people dominate the island of Sulu. They are known as the people of the current for their
courage and bravery.

“BRIEF HISTORY”

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

-First contact of the region by Europeans

The Davao Gulf area is the first region in the country that is in contact with the Europeans,
with such contacts taking place as early as 16th century. The Portuguese are the ones who
preceded the Spaniards, who are the ones to colonize the region albeit much later, in sighting and
visiting the region.

In 1512, Francisco Serrano was shipwrecked in the shallow waters and coral reefs of Cape of
San Agustín, located in what is now the province of Davao Oriental.

In 1538, Francisco de Castro, a Portuguese captain, was driven by strong winds to the
southeastern coast of Mindanao. He baptized several chieftains in the area.

Around January 1546, Francis Xavier, a Jesuit priest, left Malacca and went to Molucca
Islands, then called the Spice Islands, where the Portuguese had some settlements, and for a year
and a half he preached the Gospel to the inhabitants of Amboyna, Ternate, Baranura, and other
lesser islands.

It is claimed by some that during this expedition he landed on the island of Mindanao, which is
confirmed by some writers of the seventeenth century, and in the Bull of canonization issued in
1623. It is also said that he is the one to have preached the Gospel in Mindanao.

-Spanish administration

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

-American administration

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

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

-Wartime Japanese occupation

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

-Philippine administration

Davao province

Even before the Philippine independence in 1946, the entire region was already a single province
called Davao Province, with Davao City serving as its capital. The province was one of the
largest provinces in the Philippines during that time, spanning more than 20,000 square
kilometres (7,700 sq mi). It lasted from 1920 until 1967, when the province was split into three
provinces in May 1967: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental. After the division,
Davao City was officially named its regional center.

Southern Mindanao & Davao Region

Region XI, then known as Southern Mindanao, originally covered 6 provinces (Compostela
Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, South Cotabato and Sarangani), and
the cities of Davao, Digos, Panabo, Tagum, Samal, General Santos and Koronadal.[20] Surigao
del Sur was moved to the newly created region Caraga on February 23, 1995.

On September 2001, Executive Order No. 36 was enacted which reorganized the regions in
Mindanao. Region XI, then known as Southern Mindanao, was renamed Davao Region, and the
provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani, and the cities of General Santos and Koronadal were
moved to Region XII.

Davao de Oro (Cebuano: Bulawang Dabaw), formerly known as Compostela Valley (Cebuano:
Kawalogang Kompostela) or its short form ComVal, is a province in the Philippines located in the
Davao Region in Mindanao. The province used to be part of Davao del Norte until it was made
independent in 1998.

It is the fourth newest province of the Philippines, behind Zamboanga Sibugay, Dinagat Islands, and
Davao Occidental. Its capital is Nabunturan. The province borders Davao del Norte to the west,
Agusan del Sur to the north, and Davao Oriental to the east. To the southwest lies the Davao Gulf.
The first elected governor was Jose Caballero, formerly a lawyer for a mining group in the province.

The province was known as Compostela Valley from its inception until December 2019, after voters
in a plebiscite ratified the law which changed the name of the province to its current name.

Brief history:

Davao de Oro, the 78th province in the country, was carved out of Davao del Norte Province by
virtue of Republic Act No. 8470, signed by President Fidel V. Ramos on January 30, 1998. It
was established as Compostela Valley.On March 7 of the same year, the law was ratified through
a plebiscite conducted in the twenty-two (22) municipalities of the mother province.

The name originally proposed for the province was Davao del Norte, the former name, or so it
was thought, of the mother province.

Geography

Davao de Oro covers a total area of 4,479.77 square kilometres (1,729.65 sq mi) occupying the
northeastern section of the Davao Region. The province borders Davao del Norte to the west,
Agusan del Sur to the north, and Davao Oriental to the east. To the southwest lies the Davao
Gulf.

Language or Dialect:

The primary language spoken in the province is Cebuano. Secondary languages include Kalagan,
Mansaka, Mandaya, Ata Manobo, Dibabawnon, Tagalog, and English.

Festivals:

Kaimonan Festival is an annual festival that starts on June 17 to the last Saturday of the same
month. Kaimonan is a mansaka term for "thanksgiving".

Bulawan festival or festival of gold is Davao de Oro’s annual celebration of thanks giving, a
unified government, sustained good harvest, abundant resources and a promise of golden future.
The Province of Davao de Oro is formerly known as Compostela Valley.

The Higalaay Festival is a festival held each year in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, every 28th
day of August, celebrating the feast day of St. Augustine – patron saint of the city.

Davao del Norte (Cebuano: Amihanang Dabaw) is a province in the Philippines located in the
Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Tagum City. Davao del Norte also includes Samal
Island to the south in the Davao Gulf.

Before 1967, the five provinces—Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao
Occidental, and Davao Oriental—were administered as a single province named Davao. The
Davao Region is coterminous with this former province.

Davao del Norte is also known as "the banana capital of the Philippines."

Brief history:

Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro, together with Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental and Davao
del Sur used to be a whole province simply known as Davao. This original province was split
into three: Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur when Republic Act No. 4867
(authored by Representative Lorenzo S. Sarmiento, Sr.) was signed into law on May 8, 1967 by
President Ferdinand Marcos.

Davao del Norte originally comprised thirteen municipalities: Asuncion, Babak (now in Samal),
Compostela, Kapalong, Mabini, Mawab, Monkayo, Nabunturan, Panabo, Pantukan, Samal,
Santo Tomas and Tagum. On May 6, 1970, six more municipalities were created: Carmen,
Kaputian (now in Samal), Maco, Montevista, New Bataan, and New Corella.

Geography:

Davao del Norte covers a total area of 3,426.97 square kilometres (1,323.16 sq mi) occupying
the north-central section of the Davao Region. The province borders Agusan del Sur to the north,
Bukidnon to the west, Davao de Oro to the east, and Davao City to the south.

Samal City is the only municipality or city in the province not situated on Mindanao island. The
city covers the entire Samal and Talikud Islands within the Davao Gulf.

Language or Dialect:

Cebuano, Davawenyo, Mansaka, English

Festivals:

Panagtagbo Festival one of the most impressive festivals held just in the outskirts of Davao
City and this side of the Mindanao island, The festival was held every 7th of March to celebrate
the foundation of the city of Taguim, Davao Del Norte’s capital. As the name implies,
panagtagbo stands for a gathering of the people of the city despite their diverse backgrounds and
ethnic origins, and proceedings has it that the first set of municipal officials were unveiled in
1941. Civic activities contain most of Panagtagbo’s events, but other events worth watching out
are a citywide loveliness pageant parading the city’s most stunning gals, an inter-city sports
tournament, and a parade complete with a street dance showcase.

Banana Festival, held each March 18 to 19 in Baco, Oriental Mindoro, is a festival of the wealth
of bananas. It features the distinctive assortments of banana like the Senorita, the Latundan, the
Lacatan and the Saba. It also includes a banana cookfest and a “saba”- roused road moving
rivalry and magnificence exhibition. Merriments agree with the town holiday held to pay tribute
to the supporter, St. Joseph. The celebration highlights road moving and an agri exchange
reasonable for feature Davao del Norte as a “banana nation”.

The word “kaimonan” literally translates to “gathering.” Kaimonan Festival is a gathering of

Davao del Sur (Cebuano: Habagatang Dabaw) is a province in the Philippines located in the
Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital and largest city is Digos. The province is bounded by
Davao del Norte to the north; Davao Occidental to the south-east; North Cotabato and Sultan
Kudarat to the west; South Cotabato and Sarangani to the south-west ;and the Davao Gulf to the
east.

Brief history:

The beginnings of both Davao Region and Davao del Sur were associated with the foundation of
Davao, which was the first town to be founded in southern Mindanao in 1848, following the
conquest of the area by José Uyanguren of the Basque province of Gipuzkoa, Spain (Guipúzcoa
in Spanish). In 1849, Nueva Guipúzcoa province was founded in the region conquered by
Uyanguren in what is now Davao Region, with Davao, then called Nueva Vergara, as the
provincial capital. Uyanguren became the provincial governor, but he failed in his efforts to
develop Nueva Guipúzcoa.

Thirty-six years after the foundation of Davao, the town of Santa Cruz was founded on the 5th
day of October, 1884. It is the first town to be founded south of Davao and is now the oldest in
the province.

Geography:

Davao del Sur covers a total area of 2,163.98 square kilometres (835.52 sq mi)[4] occupying the
southwestern section of the Davao Region in Mindanao. When Davao City is included for
geographical purposes, the province's land area is 4,607.59 square kilometres (1,779.00 sq
mi).The province is bounded by Davao del Norte to the north; Davao Occidental to the south-
east; North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat to the west; South Cotabato and Sarangani to the south-
west ; and the Davao Gulf to the east.

The province is composed of sandy beaches and outlying islands, agricultural plains and valleys,
rainforests, swamps, rolling hills and mountains, including the Philippines' highest peak, Mount
Apo, which is at 2,954 metres (9,692 ft) above sea level.

Language or Dialect:

Cebuano, Kalagan, Ata Manobo, Obo, Tagabawa, Matigsalug, Giangan, English

Festivals:

Dorongan Festival is a thanksgiving celebration honoring the child Jesus known to the FIlipinos
as Santo Niño. A Sinulog-based celebration, Dorongan Festival is Bansalan’s way of reliving the
tradition and culture of the Visayans whose devotion to the miraculous Santo Niño is
widespread. The population of Bansalan is said to have roots in Cebu and other towns in the
Visayas.

Bansaulog Festival, which signifies “Kasaulogan sa Bansalan”, seven days in length festivity
held each twelfth to eighteenth of September situated in Bansalan, Davao del Sur out of
appreciation for the town’s Foundation Day, with Drum and Lyre Presentation , Cheerdance
Presentation, Street Dancing Presentation displaying the Bagobo social legacy, Little Miss
Tourism Pageant, Hiphop Dance Competition and Agri Day exhibiting.

The Sinab’badan Tribal Festival will be held on the 5th and 6th of September this year. It is
one of the prized festivals of the town of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur. In fact, both local and
foreign tourists flock to the province to celebrate this festivity with the locals.

The Sinab’badan Tribal Festival is a merriment dedicated to the unity of various tribes in the
municipality. Here, the art, music, dances and other cultural features of the different indigenous
groups are showcased. It is a great spectacle of the rich culture of the town of Sta. Cruz and its
tribes.

Davao Occidental (Cebuano: Kasadpang Dabaw) is the 81st and newest province in the
Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao.Its capital is the municipality of Malita. To
the east lies the Davao Gulf. It also shares a water border with the Indonesian province of North
Sulawesi to the south.

According to Article IX Section 48 of the provincial charter, the first set of elective officials
were elected on May 9, 2016, the next local elections following the foundation of the province.

Brief history:

Davao Occidental was created through Republic Act 10360 enacted on July 23, 2013,
comprising five of the eight municipalities that constitute the 2nd district of Davao del Sur. RA
10360 was passed by the House of Representatives and Senate on November 28, 2012, and
December 5, 2012, respectively, and signed by President Benigno Aquino III on January 14,
2013.A plebiscite was held on October 28, 2013 along with the barangay elections and the
majority of votes cast were "Yes", ratifying the province.

Geography:

Davao Occidental covers a total area of 2,163.45 square kilometres (835.31 sq mi)occupying the
southwestern tip of the Davao Region in Mindanao. The province is bordered on the northwest
by Davao del Sur; west by Sarangani and northeast by the Davao Gulf.

The topography of Davao Occidental is hilly, rugged and sloping, with nearly the whole province
consisting of mountains. Its eastern shoreline consists of cliffs and beaches with hills
immediately on their backs. Coconut trees and hardwood trees mostly dominate the provincial
mainland.

Language or Dialect:

Cebuano, Sangirese, Sarangani, English

Festivals:

Kap’yaan Festival is a festival of the Day of Establishment of the town of Jose Abad Santos in
the area of Davao Occidental. The festival held each eighteenth to twentieth of February,
establishing Anniversary of the production of the region. It is additionally a thanksgiving
festivity for the great year and abundant gather of the region's items like pineapple, rice, corn and
more. The 2014 Kap'yaan Festival was not just commended on account of the abundance of the
region yet additionally the lavishness of its way of life too, authorities said.

The Gaginaway Festival, a celebration of unity and bountiful blessings celebrated by the
Malitaños every full moon of November, based on the traditional custom and belief that full
moon is at its brightest during this period and that the "lumads" love to have a festival of merry-
making, enjoying the beautiful view of the moon shining brightly on them.

BINUYUGAN FESTIVAL

Maitum, Sarangani Province | May 27

“Binuyugan” comes from the Ilocano word “buyog” which could be understood as
“accompanied by or coupled with.” This is clearly presented through street dancing competition
which presents a diverse interpretation depending on the cultural background of participating
barangay. Agro Trade Fair is another principal attraction held inside the Maitum Forest Park
showcasing local products.

Davao Oriental (Cebuano: Sidlakang Dabaw) is a province in the Philippines located in the
Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Mati, and it borders the province of Davao de Oro to
the west, and Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur to the north. The province is the traditional
homeland of the Mandaya and Kagan people.

Davao Oriental is the easternmost province in the country with Pusan Point in the municipality
of Caraga as the easternmost location. The Philippine Sea, part of the Pacific Ocean, faces Davao
Oriental to the east. Part of the province lies on an unnamed peninsula that encloses the Davao
Gulf to the west.

The province is the top producer of coconut and copra in the country, earning the province the
title Coconut Capital of the Philippines.It is also home to Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Brief history:

The present territory of Davao Oriental was covered by the historical region of Caraga, which
was under the Sultanate of Maguindanao. The Spaniards established a permanent settlement in
the region in 1591, and in 1844, the area was ceded by the Sultanate to Spain. An expedition was
sent by the colonial government in Manila in 1847 to control the region, led by the Spaniard Jose
Oyanguren, who settled in the town of Davao and organized the surrounding areas into the
province of Nueva Guipozcoa in 1849. The province existed until 1858, when the politico-
military commandancias of Davao and Bislig were created in its place. Bislig was incorporated
into the District of Davao two years later.

Geography:

Davao Oriental covers a total area of 5,679.64 square kilometres (2,192.92 sq mi)[7] occupying
the eastern tip of the Davao Region in Mindanao. The province is bordered by Davao de Oro to
the west, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur to the north, the Davao Gulf to the southwest, and
the Philippine Sea to the east and southeast.

The Eastern Pacific Cordillera mountain range encompasses the province. To the east of the
range lie narrow strips of coastal areas, which feature several inlets and bays.The province
encloses the Davao Gulf to the southwest.

Language or Dialect:

Davawenyo, Cebuano, Kalagan, Mandaya, Kamayo, Mansaka, English

Festivals:

Banayan Festival It is a thanksgiving celebration for bountiful harvests among the people of the
municipality celebrated. Activities include: agri-industrial fair/exhibit, cultural/tribal shows and
presentations, ethnic/tribal street dancing competition, sportsfest. Banaybanay is the rice granary
of Davao Oriental. Banayan Festival is a tribute to the town’s main product – rice. The
municipality is the rice bowl of Southern Mindanao.

Sambuokan Festival October is a merry month in the City of Mati in Davao Oriental as the
Matinians celebrate their most colorful and much awaited Sambuokan Festival. It is a week-long
celebration of the people of Mati in thanksgiving for the year’s blessings of bountiful harvests
and in observance of the founding anniversary of the City every 29th of October.

Sambuokan is a Mandaya word taken from the term “buok” which means “one” meaning unity
and oneness among the people of Mati. Mandaya is an indigenous tribe in Mindanao that inhabits
mostly the hinterlands of Davao Oriental.

Mandaya Songs Festival Proud of their rich culture and heritage, the Mandaya people coming
from different parts of the Davao Region hummingly trooped to this beautiful coastal town of
Davao Oriental to celebrate their uniquely colorful and soulful songs and music which they aim
to popularize in mainstream media in a bid to strengthen their sense of identity in this culturally-
diverse society.

The Mandaya Songs Festival features a song-writing contest with its lyrics written in Mandaya
language and blended with our national language which is Tagalog.

Economy

Davao de Oro was billed as the second richest province in the Philippines by the Commission on
Audit by year 2017.[13] That year, its provincial government posted a record high of ₱18.75
billion worth of assets, the largest in whole Mindanao.[14] The economic drive which brought
the province to this status was caused by numerous business establishments, banana plantations,
and vast gold and silver mines across the province, further augmented with its up-to-date
transportation infrastructure.

The province possesses one of the largest gold deposits in the Philippines, with 10 out of its 11
towns having one or more gold mines in each,[15] the largest of which is at Mt. Diwalwal in the
town of Monkayo. The town of Nabunturan, the provincial capital, is also home to the biggest
gold ring in the Philippines, "The Solidarity Ring."

The main sources of livelihood in the province are agricultural products such as the merchandise
of rice, coconut, cacao, coffee, papaya, mango, pineapple, durian and banana. Some residents in
the province have fishponds and culture their own fish like tilapia and milkfish.

Economy

Davao del Norte is a primarily agricultural, but also engages in mining, forestry, and commercial
fishing.

The principal crops of the province include rice, maize, banana, coconut, abacá, ramie, coffee,
and a variety of fruit and root crops. Davao del Norte is the country's leading producer of
bananas, with many plantations run by multinationals Dole and Del Monte, and local producers
such as Lapanday, TADECO, and Marsman. Davao del Norte is also one of Mindanao's leading
producer of rice.

Davao Gulf, to the south of the province, provides a living for many fishermen. Some of the fish
products include brackish water milkfish, tilapia, shrimp, and crab; and freshwater catfish and
tilapia.

Davao del Norte is a major producer of gold, and its mining resources include silica, silver,
copper and elemental sulfur. Small-scale gold mining activities thrive in several areas. There are
also numerous active quarries of commercial quantities of gravel, sand, and pebbles for
construction.
Tourism is also a major part of the economy of Davao del Norte. There are a lot of beaches on
Samal Island, the most famous of which is Pearl Farm Beach Resort. Banana Beach Resort is the
most famous beach outside of Samal Island.

Commerce is also a major part of the economy of Davao del Norte. There are lot of shopping
malls in Tagum.

Economy

Davao del Sur Because of its favorable climate and fertile soil, Davao del Sur is primarily an
agricultural province. It is popularly known as Coconut Country since coconut is its major
commercial crop. Its rice and corn production is more than sufficient for its population. Other
crops grown are bananas, cacao, ramie, coffee, fruits and vegetables.

Davao City is the commercial center of southern Mindanao. Foreign and domestic vessels load
and unload goods at its port.

Davao Gulf is the major fishing grounds of the city. There are eleven coastal municipalities
facing the Philippine Sea.

Logging has supported a wood-processing industry but rapid forest depletion is a cause of
concern.

Economy

Davao Oriental is the top coconut and copra (dried coconut meat) producer in the Philippines.It
also is a major producer of abacá, and exports crude oil and copra pellets.

On March 20, 2018, Davao Oriental signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with
Pionaire Finance Limited, a Hong Kong-based foreign firm for a $27-billion industrial park

Economy

The shores of Malita as seen from the hilltops.

The main industries in Davao Occidental are aquaculture and agriculture. Economic produce in
the province include fish, bananas and coconuts which are then exported to several major cities
within southern Mindanao, including Davao City. Rice farms are only limited to the few flat
lands in the province due to its mountainous and thickly forested nature.

The capital town of Malita is the province's main commercial hub.

Tourism has started to gain traction in the province, with potential tourist destinations mostly
concentrated at the province's coastal beaches and the Sarangani and Balut islands in the south.
http://davao.da.gov.ph/index.php/about-us/regional-profile

https://www.msn.com/en-ph/lifestyle/style/getting-to-know-the-11-tribes-of-davao/ar-AAFkEPT

https://www.facebook.com/davaocitygov/posts/1597040797014103

http://nro11.neda.gov.ph/davao-region/

http://rsso11.psa.gov.ph/article/davao-region-population-almost-49-million-results-2015-census-
population

http://www.traveltothephilippines.info/2019/10/28/join-in-the-festivals-of-davao-del-sur/

http://www.traveltothephilippines.info/2017/08/24/watch-the-colorful-festivals-of-davao-del-
norte/

http://www.traveltothephilippines.info/2019/04/21/festivals-to-watch-or-join-in-davao-oriental/