City of Davao Lungsod ng Dabaw Dakbayan sa Dabaw Ciudad de Davao
—  Highly-Urbanized Independent City  —
Official seal of City of Davao Seal
Nickname(s): MONICKER
Motto: Campaign Slogan Love, Peace and Progress City Tourism Campaign Life is Here
Map of Davao City and the province of Davao del Sur
City of Davao Map of Davao City and the province of Davao del Sur
Coordinates: 7°3′52″N 125°36′28″E / 7.06444°N 125.60778°E / 7.06444; 125.60778Coordinates: 7°3′52″N 125°36′28″E / 7.06444°N 125.60778°E / 7.06444; 125.60778
Country	Philippines
Region	Davao Region (Region XI)
Districts	1st to 3rd Districts of Davao City
Barangays	182
City Type	Highly-Urbanized Independent City
Incorporated (town)	1848
Incorporated (city)	March 16, 1936
Government
• Mayor	Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio (LP/Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod)
• Vice Mayor	Rodrigo R. Duterte (LP/Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod)
Area
• Highly-Urbanized Independent City	2,444 km2 (944 sq mi)
• Urban	293.78 km2 (114.57 sq mi)
• Metro	4,041.39 km2 (1,560.39 sq mi)
Elevation	22.3 m (73.2 ft)
Population (2010 LGPMS Census)
• Highly-Urbanized Independent City	1,449,296
• Rank	2nd in the Philippines 1st in Mindanao
• Density	590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
• Urban	1,397,233 (95.42%)
• Metro	2,274,913
• Agglomerated LGU's	2,854,711
Demonym	Davaoeño
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
Area code(s)	082
Languages	Davaoeño, Tagalog, English, Spanish/Chabacano, Boholano, Ilonggo, Bagobo, Mansakan, Kapampangan, Japanese, Chinese, other various dialects
Website	www.davaocity.gov.ph

The City of Davao, the de facto capital of Mindanao (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Dabaw ; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Dabaw ; Spanish: Ciudad de Davao) is the largest city in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines.

Davao City is also one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province. The city serves as the regional center of Davao Region (Region XI) and the metropolitan center of Metro Davao. It has a population of 1,449,296 according to 2010 NSO Census, making it the country's largest city outside Metro Manila and the second overall with the cities of Metro Manila combined. In recent years, Davao City has emerged as the financial-capital, investment and tourism hub for the entire southern Philippines. The City Mayors Foundation ranks Davao City as the 87th fastest growing city in the world,^[1] and it has been listed by the Foreign Direct Investment Magazine as the 10th "Asian City of the future".^[2]

History[link]

Name's history[link]

Local historians of Davao claim that the word davao came from the phonetic blending of the word of three Bagobo subgroups when referring to Davao River, an essential waterway which empties itself into Davao Gulf near the city. The aboriginal Obos who inhabit the hinterlands of the region called the river, Davoh; the Clatta or Guiangans called it Duhwow, or Davau, and the Tagabawa Bagobos, Dabu. To the Obos, the word davoh also means a place "beyond the high grounds", alluding to the settlements located at the mouth of Davao River which were surrounded by high rolling hills. When asked where they were going, the usual reply is davoh, while pointing towards the direction of the town. Duhwow also refers to a trading settlement where they barter their forest goods in exchange for salt or other commodities.

Spanish conquest and administration[link]

Conquest of the area[link]

Spanish influence was hardly felt in the Davao until 1848, when an expedition of 70 men and women led by Don Jose Cruz de Uyanguren, a native of Vergara, Guipuzcoa, Spain, came to establish a Christian settlement in an area of mangrove swamps that is now Bolton Riverside. Davao was then ruled by a chieftain, Datu Bago, who held his settlement at the banks of Davao River (once called Tagloc River by the Bagobos). The chieftain was the most powerful datu in the area during that time. When Uyanguren met with the Mandaya chieftain Datu Daupan, he allied with the chieftain to help defeat Datu Bago, who treated their neighbors Mandayas as tributary barangays. Uyanguren attempted to defeat Datu Bago, but failed when their ships were outmaneuvered in crossing the narrow channel of the Davao River bend, where the Bolton Bridge is now located. Three months after the battle, he was forced to build the causeway that connects to the other side of the river, but Datu Bago's warriors raided the causeway and harassed the workers. However, a few weeks later after the battle, Don Manuel Quesada, Navy Commanding General of Zamboanga, arrived with a company of infantry and joined in the attack against Datu Bago’s settlement.

Establishment of the town[link]

After Uyanguren defeated Datu Bago, he renamed the region Nueva Guipúzcoa and founded the town Nueva Vergara, which was Davao, in the year 1848, in honor of his home in Spain, and became its first governor. He himself was reported to have peaceful conquest of the entire Davao Gulf territory at the end of the year, despite lack of support from the Spanish government in Manila and his principals during the venture. He attempted to make peace with the neighboring tribes—the Bagobos, Mansakas, Manobos, Aetas, etc. -- to urge them to help develop the area; his efforts to develop the area, however, did not prosper.

The region under a new governor[link]

By 1852, due to intrigues by people in Manila dissatisfied with his Davao venture, Marquis de Solana, under Governor General Blanco's order, took over Uyanguren's command of Nueva Guipúzcoa (Davao) Region. By that time, the capital town, Nueva Vergara, which is Davao, had a population of 526 residents and while relative peace with the natives prevailed, population expanded very slowly that even in the census report of 1855, the Christian inhabitants and converts increased to only 817, which included 137 exempted from paying tributes.

In 1867, the original settlement by the side of Davao River (end of present Bolton Street) was relocated to its present site with the Saint Peter’s church (now San Pedro Cathedral) as the center edifice on the intersection of San Pedro and Claveria Streets.

In the meantime, in response to the Davaoeños persistent demands, Nueva Vergara was renamed "Davao". The name is derived from its Bagobo origins: the Tagabawa who called the river "Dabo", the Giangan or Diangan who called it "Dawaw", and the Obo who called it "Davah", with a gentle vowel ending, although later usage pronounce it with a hard "v" as in "b". The pioneer Christian inhabitants of the settlement understandably were the proponents behind the official adoption of the name "Davao" in 1868.

The arrival of a group of three Jesuit missionaries in Davao in 1868 to take over the mission from the lone Recollect priest in the Davao Gulf area, marked a systematic and concerted effort at winning souls over the native inhabitants to the folds of Christian life. Through their zeal and frequent field work, the Jesuit fathers gradually succeeded in winning souls over the different indigenous tribes to live in reducciones, or settlements, thus easily reached for instructions in Christian precepts and practices.

By the 1890s, even the Muslims were starting to become Christian converts, through the efforts of their own datus, Datu Timan and Datu Porkan, although many others remained steadfast in their faith to Islam. Fr. Saturnino Urios who labored among the Moros of Hijo in 1892 further swayed the latter’s faith that led to the splitting of their population. Those who wanted to live among the Christians left Hijo and were resettled in Tigatto, Mawab, and Agdao, under the supervision of Don Francisco Bangoy and Don Teodoro Palma Gil, Sr. respectively. These separatist groups generally refer to themselves today as Kalagans.

American administration[link]

Initial growth of the town[link]

A few years after the American forces landed in 1900, private farm ownership grew and transportation and communication facilities were improved, thus paving the way for the region's economic growth.

During the early years of American rule which began in late December 1898 the town began to mark its role as a new growth center of the Philippines, which it will be a city for the next 38 years. The American settlers, mostly retired soldiers and investor friends from Zamboanga, Cebu, Manila and the U.S. mainland immediately recognized the rich potential of the region for agricultural investment. Primeval forest lands were available everywhere. They staked their claim generally in hundreds of hectares and began planting rubber, abaca and coconuts in addition to different varieties of tropical plants imported from Ceylon, India, Hawaii, Java and Malaysia. In the process of developing large-scale plantations, they were faced with the problem of lack of laborers. Thus, they contracted workers from Luzon and the Visayas, including the Japanese, many of whom were former laborers in the Baguio, Benguet road construction. Most of these Japanese later became land-owners themselves as they acquired lands thru lease from the government or bought out some of the earlier American plantations. The first two decades of the 20th century, found Davao one of the major producers of export products --- abaca, copra and lumber. It became a regular port of call by inter-island shipping and began direct commercial linkages abroad - US, Japan, Australia, and many other countries. Some 40 American and 80 Japanese plantations proliferated throughout the province in addition to numerous stores and business establishments. Davao saw a rapid rise in its population and its economic progress gave considerable importance to the country’s economy and foreign trade.

Japan-town, Davao City circa 1930s.

A Japanese entrepreneur named Kichisaburo Ohta was granted permission to exploit vast territories which he transformed into abacá and coconut plantations. The first wave of Japanese plantation workers came onto its shores in 1903, creating a Little Japan. They had their own school, newspapers, an embassy, and even a Shinto Shrine. On the whole, they established extensive abaca plantations around the shores of Davao Gulf and developed large-scale commercial interests such as copra, timber, fishing and import-export trading. Filipinos learned the techniques of improved cultivation from the Japanese so that ultimately, agriculture became the lifeblood of the province's economic prosperity.

From town to city[link]

Because of the increasing influence of the Japanese in the trade and economy of region, on March 16, 1936, Romualdo Quimpo, the congressman from Davao filed Bill no. 609 and was subsequently passed as Commonwealth Act No. 51 creating the City of Davao from the Town of Davao (Mayo) and the Guianga District. The bill further called for appointments of the local officials from the president.^[3]

Davao was formally inaugurated as a chartered city on October 16, 1936, by President Manuel L. Quezon. The City of Davao then became the provincial capital of the then undivided Davao Province. It was one of the first two towns in Mindanao to be converted into a city, the other being Zamboanga. By that time the city's population was 68,000.

The city at war[link]

On December 8, 1941 Japanese planes bombed the city. Japanese occupation started in 1942.

In 1945, American and the Philippine Commonwealth forces liberated Davao City from Japanese forces. The longest and bloodiest battle during the Philippine Liberation occurred in the city during the time of the Battle of Mindanao. World War II brought considerable destruction to the new city and numerous setbacks to the earlier economic and physical strides made before the Japanese occupation. Davao was among the earliest to be occupied by the invading Japanese Forces, and they immediately fortified the city as the bastion of Japanese defense. It was subjected to constant bombing by the returning forces of Gen. MacArthur, long before the American Liberation Forces landed in Leyte in October 1944.

Philippine administration[link]

After the Second World War, though the forces of the Empire of Japan inflicted a heavy toll over the city and its citizens during the war, the city still continued on its economic growth. Its population rose to 112,000 in 1946; its Japanese inhabitants, which consist 80% of the population of the city that time, were incorporated to the Filipino population; some of them are totally expelled from the country. The city resumed its role as the premier agricultural and economic hub of Mindanao. Logs, lumber, plywood, copra and banana products gradually replaced abaca as the major export product.

Thirty years later, in 1967, the Province of Davao was subdivided into three independent provinces, namely Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. The City of Davao was grouped with Davao del Sur and was no longer the capital. However, it became a center of trade for Southern Mindanao. Over the years, Davao has become an ethnic melting pot as it continues to draw migrants from all over the country, lured by the prospects of striking it rich in the country's second largest city.

From the 1970s to present, Davao became the Regional Capital of Southern Mindanao and with the recent reorganization, became the regional capital of the Davao Region (Region XI) and the Highly urbanized city in the Province of Davao del Sur.

Demographics[link]

Population[link]

The estimated population of the city is 1,449,296 in 2010 according to 2010 NSO Census. Metro Davao, with the city as its metropolitan center, has about 2,274,913 people in 2010, making it as the third most populous metropolitan agglomeration in the Philippines and the most populous and cleanest city in Mindanao; also as of 2010, the total population of the city's local government agglomeration (including other LGUs outside Metro Davao such as Sto. Tomas and Kapalong in Davao del Norte and Bansalan in Davao del Sur) is estimated at about 2,854,711. However, an estimated number of between 2-4 million people are in Davao City during the daytime for work or business activities.

Ethnicity[link]

People living within Davao City are colloquially called Davaoeños. Davaoeños are a mixture of Filipino, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic races who lived in the city scores of years ago. Many Davaoeños who are of other Asian descent reside and seek business here in the city. Most Davaoeños are of mixed Visayan and Lumad descent.

Language[link]

Davaoeño, a dialectal variant of Cebuano, is the most widely spoken language in the city, while the Tagalog itself comes a distant second. English is the medium of instruction in schools and is widely understood and spoken especially in the business community and for all official documents. Bistaglish, an informal mixing of the above languages, is spoken as well.

Religion[link]

The largest group is the Roman Catholic at 63.9% of the population, other Christian groups such as Protestant churches (Evangelicals, Born Again, Members Church of God International (MCGI), Kingdom of Jesus Christ) comprise 8%, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) comprises 5% of the population and the remaining 30.1% belong to other non-Christian faiths (Islam, Buddhism, animism)

Culture and heritage[link]

Easy assimilation is an integral essence of multi-cultural Davao. Being a chartered city, it has grown appreciating differences in culture and tradition by numerous ethnic groups that integrated easily to the local tribes already present during its infancy as a city.

Spanish culture[link]

Like most cities in the Philippines, Christians largely populate Davao. Christian churches and chapels dot the city's landscape along with some temples, mosques, and other places of worship.

Another Spanish influence that remains is the observance and celebration of barrios, or villages, of the day of their respective patron saint called "fiesta". It is in these celebrations where songs, dances and other forms of arts and merrymaking from cultures have evolved creatively into the sights and sounds of Davao now. Such showcases point to its ultimate climax as the celebration of all celebrations — the weeklong Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival.

Davao Kadayawan Festival[link]

The first inhabitants of Davao are the Lumad groups. Every year, the Kadayawan Festival is celebrated as a way of thanks giving for the bountiful harvest. It is also a way to honor the tribes of Davao. The recognition of the tribes today is based on the organized ethnic groups residing in Davao City. A deputy mayor is appointed for each organized group.

Asian cultures[link]

Chinese culture[link]

Chinese cultural influence is prominent in Davao City. This was shown as both Filipinos with Chinese blood and ethnic Chinese show the way they live in Davao Chinatown, the main Chinese community in Mindanao. The community, also known as Mindanao Chinatown, is the only Chinatown in the island. At around 44 hectares, it is at the center of numerous business establishments, of which a great majority is owned by Chinese Filipinos who were either born in the country or naturalized Filipino citizens who trace their roots to mainland China. These business establishments include about 30 banks, a wide variety of restaurants offering not only Chinese cuisine but also some authentic Oriental cuisines such those of Korean, Filipino, Japanese, and many others. Chinese themed malls and shops also pockmark this business enclave of the City of Davao which is globally known as the international gateway and most progressive city of Mindanao. It is the only Chinatown in the Philippines with its own seaport: Sta. Ana Wharf. The Davao Chinatown encompasses the areas of Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, Monteverde Avenue, Sta. Ana Avenue, and Leon Garcia Street.

Japanese culture[link]

Japanese cultural influence, like the Chinese, was prominent in the city. Davao City was also known as the Philippines' Little Japan. Before and even after the World War II until now, there are many Japanese residing in the city, most of them with mixed Filipino blood and are now considered citizens of the Philippines. Most of these people live in Davao Japantown and Little Tokyo in Toril; they also have several business establishments in the city, most of which are also located in Chinatown. The city has the largest Japanese community in the country.

Media[link]

Davao City, having over 1 million night-time population and an estimated 4 million day-time population is home to many media outlets. Large media networks like ABS-CBN Broadcasting, GMA Network, Inc., TV5, PTV, IBC-13, and ETC-9 maintain their respective local stations and branches for viewership, commercial and news coverage purposes. Most of these stations broadcast local news and public affairs as well as entertainment and dramas to cater the local viewers.

Moreover, there are cable television operations in the city offering for a free worldwide array of television stations for news, sports, science and technology, movies and documentaries, history and natural sciences, action and sci-fi, lifestyle and fashion, cartoons and children's shows, entertainment and showbiz-oriented programs and more.

Aside from the 24 national daily newspapers available, Davao City has 20 local newspapers. Among the widely read are the Sun Star Davao and Mindanao Times. The country's main Islamic news journal, The Voice of Islam, was founded in 1973 and published in this city. One of the most read weekly tabloid on the other hand is The Mindanao Journal which is published by Serafin Ledesma Jr., one of the foremost columnists in the region.

Cultural heritage sites and tourist attractions[link]

There are several cultural heritage sites in the city,^[4] such as museums like Davao Museum (in Insular Village, Lanang), Mindanao Folk Arts Museum (Philippine Women's College, Juna Subdivision, Matina), Davaoeño Historical Society Museum (at Magallanes and Claveria Streets), Philippine-Japan Museum (Matsuo Compound, Calinan), and Japanese historical sites like Japanese Tunnel (used by Japanese forces during World War II), Japanese Cemetery (burial site used in the 1900s, Furukawa Fiber Plant (used by Yoshizo Furukawa as abaca and banana plantation), and many others.

Geography[link]

Mt. Apo overlooks Davao City

.

The land area of Davao City is 2,443.61 square kilometers. It is divided into three congressional districts, which are further divided into 11 administrative districts containing a total of 184 barangays.

Almost 50% of its total land area is classified as timberland or forest. Agriculture uses about 43%. This is reflective of the fact that agriculture is still the largest economic sector. Big plantations that produce banana, pineapple, coffee, and coconut eat up a large chunk of the total land area.

Location[link]

Davao City is approximately 588 miles (946 km) southeast of Manila, 971 kilometres (524 nmi) by sea.

As of 2010^[update] built-up areas used for residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial purposes represent about 10% of the total land area. Under the approved land use plan built-up and settlement area will cover 15% of the total area, while agricultural will be maximized with 67.19%. The remaining 17.68 will be devoted to forestry and conservation.

Climate[link]

Davao City is typhoon-free. The city enjoys a weather that remains balmy all year round. It is characterized by a uniform distribution of rainfall, temperature, humidity, and air pressure. It has no pronounced wet or dry season. Weather predictability makes it highly conducive to agricultural production. Temperature ranges from 21 to 35 degrees Celsius and average rainfall is up to 2,000 mm yearly.

Cityscape[link]

Considering all the elements of Mindanao's business and economic center, Davao irrevocably solidifies the city's burgeoning cosmopolitan urban landscape — a much-welcomed addition that will further define Davao's identity as Asia's city of the future.^[6] With estimated urban area of 293.78 km², or about 12% of the city's total land area, it is the largest city in Mindanao. Davao is bustling with commercial and industrial activities and a teeming nightlife with a large range of entertainment venues. Being the hub of commerce, health, education and tourism, the city draws visitors from everywhere. Travelers are bound to enjoy in this city which is a melting-pot of cultures with people coming in not just from within the country and other countries.^[7] Around 95.42% of the inhabitants live in the city's urban center. However, as the population is pushed up by rapid migration growth, its urban landscape is rapidly expanding with sprawl spreading in all directions inland.

There are several commercial centres across all districts around the metropolis: Poblacion (main city centre), Davao Chinatown, Bajada, Lanang, Matina, Ecoland, Agdao, Buhangin, and at the southern edge are Toril, and Mintal.

Davao City has the most number of high rise buildings of 10 to 19 storeys in Mindanao; most of them are hotels while the rest are mix-use office complexes. The Marco Polo Hotel is the tallest in Mindanao standing at 19 storeys above ground. The Landco Pacific Building is the tallest mix use office complex in Mindanao standing at 18 storeys. Several domestic and foreign business firms, mainly the Carlson Group in partnership with SM Prime holdings, Ayala Land Corporation, SM Prime Holdings, J.G. Summit, Filinvest, Landco, D.M. Consunji, and the Red Planet group of Air Asia, among others, are putting up high-rise condominiums and hotels driving the economy into a real estate and construction boom. Several high rise projects are under construction, such as the 27 storey Abreeza Residences [4], 12 storey Kukun hotel [5][6], 12 storey JTC hotel [7], 10 storey Northpoint condominium [8][9], a 200-room Park Inn by Radisson of the Carlson Group [10], and a 10 storey budget hotel of the Malaysian based Red Planet Group, Tune Hotel [11] which is set to open by the third quarter of 2013 [12]. Other major proposals to be launched in the second quarter of 2012 are Avida land's 27 storey and 23 storey twin tower condominiums to be launched in May [13][14], the 27 storey Abreeza Place (the first of four towers x 27 storeys condominiums)[15][16] by Alveo land is set to be launched in May, 10 storey Ateneo de Davao University Tower is set to commence construction in May [17], and the posh 35 level Aeon Twin Towers is set to break ground in December.[18] These are anticipated to transform city's skyline and landscape denser with more tall buildings in the coming years.

Accessibility[link]

By land[link]

The common modes of public transportation are multicabs, jeepneys, tricycles, buses, and taxis. Multicabs and jeepneys ply 82 designated passenger vehicle routes around the clock. Tricycles ply the routes that are outside the main streets of the city. Taxis have several routes in and outside Davao City. In mountainous areas, the habal-habal passenger motorcycle is the main mode of transportation.

Davao City offers a wide bus network connection to major cities and provinces, not only in Mindanao but even as far as Manila and Pasay City in Luzon. The city is accessible by bus to and from points in Mindanao like Cotabato, Monkayo, Kidapawan, Midsayap, Digos, General Santos, Koronadal, Isulan, Tacurong, Tagum, Cagayan de Oro, Surigao, Butuan, and with Manila in Luzon.

The DPWH is proposing to build the Tagum-Davao City-Digos Light Rail Transit, which will be the first on Mindanao island, and the construction of the Davao-Samal Bridge, which will be like the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge in the United States, to begin in 2017.

By sea[link]

Davao is connected to Manila by a series of roll-on roll-off or inter-island ferry connection.

The city is served by domestic passenger ferries at Sasa Port and Sta. Ana Wharf, both of which are the international seaports of Port of Davao, the busiest port in Mindanao.^[8] This port could service both inter-island and international shipments. It is in the Davao Gulf and its port of entry has two approaches; one is at Pakiputan Strait between Davao and the water west of Samal Island.

• Sulpicio Lines twice weekly from Manila.
• SuperFerry twice weekly to Manila.

By air[link]

Davao City has direct flights to major cities in the Philippines and some Asian cities. Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao International Airport) is served by the following airline carriers:

• Airphil Express flies to Manila 16 times weekly, Cebu & Cagayan de Oro twice daily, Iloilo City four times weekly, Zamboanga& Clark thrice weekly.^[9]
• Cebu Pacific has 4 flights weekly to Cagayan de Oro, 5 daily flights to Cebu City, 2 daily flights to Iloilo City, 8 daily flights to Manila, and once daily flight to Zamboanga City
• Philippine Airlines has 5 daily flights to Manila.^[10]
• SilkAir has 5 flights weekly to Singapore.^[11]
• Zest Airways flies 2 daily flights to Manila^[12]
• Tiger Airways provides thrice weekly flights to Singapore.
• AirAsia goes once daily to Clark.

Silk Air Airbus A320 at Davao International Airport

Economy[link]

Davao City is considered as Philippines' Asian City of the Future and the Crown Jewel of Mindanao since the city is the most important financial and trade center and the richest city in Mindanao in income.^[13] It is also the largest city in the BIMP-EAGA Economic Circle, a subregional economic cooperation initiative in Southeast Asia.

Like the rest of the country, Davao City operates on an economic system that is market-oriented, although pricing mechanisms remain regulated in a few sectors (particularly on basic commodities) to protect consumers. The competitiveness of the market has been enhanced through the dismantling of protection for "infant industries" and the breakdown of industries with monopolistic or cartel tendencies. As of year 2010, the city's agricultural sector accounts for roughly 48% of the city's economy, industrial sector at 16%, and commercial and service industries may account at around 35%.

International economic front[link]

On the international front, the economy has been opened to global competition. Through a tariff, private investments has Davao City's economy is steadily increasing in the last two decades. The city has shifted counting investments from millions in the 1980s to billions in the '90s and pool of skilled workforce. With close to 1.5 million people as the primary market base, the city is conducive to business as evidenced by the presence of the country's big companies. Inflow of investments has been remarkable in the last ten years. Exports in the city is now a thousand dollar industry with a growing niche market for its products. The stable banana and flourishing pineapple industries are among the country's leading export commodities. The annual income of Davao City in 2010 was more than 4.2 billion pesos and is reported to increase to 5.1 billion pesos in the year 2012; its gross domestic product (GDP) is Php 21,914,645,328 — Php 15,696 per capita based on a regional survey in 2009.

The productive linkages between established businesses and Davao City community to build the competitive quality has consistently maintained single-digit inflation rate since 1993. With flourishing investments and exports, the low inflation rate serve as concrete illustration of the remarkable gains from Davao City's sustained competitiveness nurtured by high level of responsiveness of the local government which put to priority focus in facilitating business-friendly initiatives and ensuring a peaceful and prosperous environment.

The city government is marking P4.13 billion for this year's budget, about P80 million lower than last year’s, without introducing new taxes. In fact, Davao City is the fifth richest city in the Philippines, making the city as the richest in the country outside Metro Manila.^[14] Davao City ranked 87th as the world's fastest growing city by the City Mayors Foundation, which is based in London, United Kingdom and Freiburg, Germany. According to them, the city has a projected average annual growth of 2.53% during the 15-year period, which made Davao the only city in the Philippines to make it on the top 100.^[15]

Fruit cultivation industry[link]

Having been hailed as the Fruit Basket of the Philippines,^[16] the city is one of the world's leading producers and exporters of mangoes, pomeloes, banana, coconut products, papaya, mangosteen, and flowers ever since it became an international net exporter in 1987. The city's rich fertile volcanic soil makes it most suitable for sustained production of the freshest and tastiest tropical fruits in the Philippines. Since the fruits are locally produced, the prices are comparably much cheaper than anywhere in the country.

Government[link]

Main article: Districts of Davao City

Unique to the local government set-up of the city is the designation of a deputy mayor by the city mayor. Although an appointed official only, the deputy mayor serves as a direct link to the city mayor, especially for people living outside the city proper. The deputy mayor also serves as the city mayor's representative in community events. The functions of the position are considered complementary to the functions of the city vice-mayor, given the large territorial jurisdiction of the city.

The present mayor is Sara Duterte-Carpio. The former mayor, Rodrigo Duterte, now sits as vice mayor.

Davao City has 182 barangays with three legislative districts. The city government of Davao is now proposing to add two more congressional districts to better serve the ever-growing population.

City officials (2010-2013)[link]

• City Mayor: Hon. Sara Z. Duterte (lawyer)
• Vice Mayor: Hon. Rodrigo R. Duterte (lawyer)

House of Representatives of the Philippines

• 1st District: Hon. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles
• 2nd District: Hon. Mylene J. Garcia-Albano
• 3rd District: Hon. Isidro T. Ungab

Security and civil defense[link]

The city government has invested millions of pesos to ensure the security of people living and working in Davao City. Aside from the usual forces of the Philippine National Police, a special military task force has been formed to insulate the city from terrorist attacks and other forms of criminality. The Task Force Davao is affiliated with the Philippine Army and is headed by an army colonel.

Emergency[link]

The city government maintains a 24-hour emergency response system patterned after the 9-1-1 system used in the United States. People can dial the 911 number to report emergencies and criminal incidents (except for Smart land line subscribers).

Rules and regulations[link]

A curfew on minors is observed. All business establishments, in particular bars and discos, are mandated by a city ordinance to refrain from selling alcoholic drinks beyond 2:00 am. Also, motorcycle drivers with no helmets and motorists with defective lights are not allowed to enter or drive in the city. Regular checkpoints in key parts the city and at the boundaries are conducted 24 hours to ensure the strict implementation of traffic rules.

The use of fireworks and other similar pyrotechnics, as well as smoking, is strictly prohibited in most of the city. Davao has been lauded by the World Health Organization for enacting a smoke-free policy.^[17][18] Even outdoors, if you are under a roof of any kind, you are prohibited from smoking. Violators are made to pay hefty fines, perform community service, serve jail time, or a combination of the three. Littering is also prohibited.

Controlling crime[link]

Under Rodrigo Duterte's leadership as mayor from 2001 to 2010, the city itself has maintained its peace and stability. The crime rate dropped dramatically from 2.3 in 1995 to 0.8 in the year 2008 that local tourism organizations dub it as "one of the most peaceful cities" in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia.^[19] However, the locally feared Davao Death Squad gained notoriety for doing vigilante killings in the city, which at the same time also threatened the civilian population and future criminals; this earned Duterte the nickname "The Punisher" by Time magazine because of extreme criticism by human rights groups and by Amnesty International for tolerating extrajudicial killings of corrupt officials and criminals. Nevertheless, the said death squad only does crimes to other criminals and, although crime rates are slowly rising beginning in the year 2008, police forces are capable of handling many notorious crimes such as murder and theft that made the crime rate drop back to the lowest rate registered by the Philippine National Police Davao Regional Division.

Public Safety and Command Center[link]

The Public Safety and Command Center (PSCC), the first in the Philippines, serves as the new headquarters of the 911 and the nerve center for the 17 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed in 16 strategic areas, covering entry and exit points and populated areas in the downtown areas, and the traffic signalization for the entire city.

The PSCC is in Sandawa, Matina, Davao City.^[20]

Foreign relations[link]

The influx of foreign visitors and the presence of expatriates and migrants in the city have prompted the governments of Japan, Palau, Malaysia, Indonesia and the United States to open consular offices in Davao. An honorary consulate of the European country of Czech Republic was also established.^[21]

The US Embassy in the Philippines opened a virtual consulate where inquiries regarding visa issuances, foreign relations concerns and travel to the United States can be made on the Internet by e-mail and chat. The virtual consulate website is maintained in coordination with Ateneo de Davao University, University of Mindanao, University of the Immaculate Conception, Holy Cross of Davao College and AMA Computer College.

Physical infrastructure[link]

The Davao International Airport's Air Traffic Control Tower is considered as the most advanced ATC in the Philippines.^[22]

The presence of basic infrastructure in the city (such as airport, seaports, roads, bridges, telecommunications, condominiums, malls and first-class hotels) has sustained the economic growth in the last 10 years. Due to the city's unprecedented growth, a clamor for higher capacity infrastructures resulted to a number of modernization projects now ongoing to meet the demands of the new millennium.

Airport[link]

The Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao International Airport) is the largest and busiest airport in Mindanao; it has the second longest single runway in the island after that of General Santos International Airport. Expansion and modernization began in 1998. Today, the new DIA (opened in December 2003) has begun accommodating larger jets such as the Boeing 747, the Airbus A330 and the Airbus A340.

Roads and bridges[link]

Construction of more roads and bridges is underway. The construction of the city's third major road — the Buhangin Underpass — was completed in the first quarter of 2003. The Traffic Management and Computerization Scheme was implemented and now considered as one of the most modern in Asia.^[23] Davao City is ranked no. 5 among cities in Asia with better traffic flow based on vehicles per kilometer of city road. The DPWH is preparing the Master plan for the Expressway Tagum City – Davao City – Cotabato City.

Seaports[link]

The Port of Davao has two government seaports (Sasa International Wharf and Sta. Ana Domestic Wharf) and nine privately owned ports. In addition, the Toril International Fish Port Complex accommodates small and large-scale fishing activities as well as provide among others cold-storage facilities.

Telecommunications[link]

Communication links within the key business areas are adequate. With the deregulation and privatization policies of the Philippine government, the number of telecommunications player is projected to increase as well as offer affordable telecommunications services to subscribers/clienteles.

Leading telecommunications companies put facilities in Davao City paving clear connections from and to various destinations in the Philippines and all over the world. The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Bayan Telecommunications Corporation (Bayantel), Globe Telecom, Smart Communications and Sun Cellular operate vital transmission towers in the city.

Internet service providers[link]

There are six Internet service providers in Davao City offering dial-up, dedicated and DSL types of service. The city has over a hundred Internet cafés in strategic areas where one can surf, chat, play games, send and view e-mails, and engage in e-commerce using the latest computer innovation and technology. Most internet cafés in the city prohibit watching pornography, website hacking, and letting students in during class hours.

Shopping malls[link]

There are several malls located in the city. Notable ones are SM City Davao, Abreeza, G Mall Davao, NCCC Mall Davao, Gaisano South Mall, Victoria Plaza and Robinsons Cybergate. Another SM, a Premium super regional mall [19] under the name SM Lanang Premier is on the rise [20] in Lanang along J.P. Laurel Avenue and is due to open in the last quarter of 2012. When it opens it will be the fifth mall along this major road and the second SM Supermall in the city. The mall is said to be upscale [21] and the biggest mall [22] in Mindanao [23] with gross floor area covering more than 144,000 square meters. Abreeza Mall, which is owned by Accendo Corp, a joint venture of Ayala Land Inc and ANFLOCOR, opened in May 12, 2011, and another mall called Starmall (a shopping center owned by real estate magnate and politician Senator Manuel "Manny" Villar) will soon rise in the thriving district of Mintal.

• Abreeza Mall. This is a large shopping world-class mall complex at J.P. Laurel Avenue, in Davao City, Philippines; the mall has a gross floor area of 112,350 sq m. (1,209,335 sq ft). It is the first Ayala Shopping Center located in Mindanao. It opened on May 12, 2011. It is owned by Accendo Commercial Corporation, a joint venture company of Ayala Land and Anflocor. The 3-storey mall lies on a 4-hectare space of the 10-hectare commercial complex. Also in the same complex stands a 4-storey Robinson's Mall. At least three hectares of the entire property will be sold for residential or commercial purposes, including a hotel. The business process outsourcing (BPO) center is set to cover 18,000 m2 (190,000 sq ft). Two BPO buildings are also being constructed. When these projects are done, the mall will have a floor area from the original retail floor area to probably 130,000 m² (1,400,000 sq ft).
• SM City Davao is located in Quimpo Blvd., Ecoland Subd., Brgy. Matina in this city. It is a shopping mall owned and developed by SM Prime Holdings, the largest mall developer in the Philippines; it is also part of the SM Malls Quadruplets. The mall serves as the pioneer SM Mall in the Mindanao region, opened to the public in November 2001. Approximately 500 shops are open every day in this mall. The mall has also a van terminal to accommodate transient travelers going in and out of the city. At a land area of about 132,000 m² (1,420,000 sq ft) and a gross floor area of 125,000 m² (1,350,000 sq ft), it is the 10th largest mall in the country, the second largest SM Supermall in the Visayas-Mindanao region, and the largest SM Mall in the entire Mindanao island. Its facade and interiors have similarities to SM City Batangas, SM City Cagayan de Oro, and SM City Pampanga. It also has an open-wide parking area.
• NCCC Mall of Davao is a shopping center along MacArthur Highway in the city owned by New City Commercial Corporation, which is a Davao City-based mall and retail outlet developer with branches in different Metro Davao cities and in Palawan.
• NCCC Mall of Davao Magsaysay Main is in Chinatown along Ramon Magsaysay Avenue. NCCC stands for "New City Commercial Corporation". Built in 1978, this mall has a supermarket and a department store. It has two floors which features many restaurants, shops, and eateries. It's the second biggest of three NCCC malls in the city. It was the original NCCC Mall and the oldest mall built in the city.
• Gaisano Mall of Davao is a major shopping mall located on J.P. Laurel Avenue in the Bajada area of Davao City. At about 120,000 m² (1,300,000 sq ft), is the largest of all the Gaisano Malls located all over both the Visayas and Mindanao, as well as the second largest mall in the city and the 11th largest mall in the country. Managed by DSG Sons Group, the mall has four floors of stores and restaurants. Like SM City Davao, it has its own department store, a supermarket on the ground floor, and a cinema on the top floor. It also has a gaming arcade.
• Gaisano Grand City Mall (also known as Gaisano South City Mall and JS Mall) is located at Ilustre street, downtown of Davao City. The mall has a gross land area of 74,765m². While the mall is smaller than the much bigger Gaisano Mall of Davao in Bajada, it has three floors with many stores and restaurants. a department store, a supermarket, and a cinema. It has been used in the past for several festivals including the Eiga Sai Festival for Japanese film lovers.
• Victoria Plaza Mall Davao was built in the 1992 and is one of the oldest malls in Davao City. It is located along J. P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City. It has total gross land area of 81,000 m² (870,000 sq ft); the mall was the largest outside Metro Manila from 1992 up to 1995. The two-story mall has a supermarket, a department store, a hardware store, and a cinema.
• Davao Chimes Mall is an upscale shopping complex located along Sales Street, Chinatown. The mall is noted for its most costly of commodities and luxurious brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Coach, Figaro, Red Ribbon, etc. Other high-end shops sell designer watches, jewelry, and appliances. The restaurants are exotic and offer international cuisines from countries, such as Malaysia, India, Singapore, and Vietnam.
• Robinsons Cybergate Davao is a two-story mix-use complex of retail and Business Process Outsource facility located in the northern part of the city along J.P. Laurel Avenue. Main retail anchor is the Robinsons supermarket, which is known to sell health items and products imported from United States. The mall also features a department store, and several restaurants. It has a gross land area of 14,000m².

Socio-cultural environment[link]

Health and hospital[link]

The average life expectancy of Davaoeños is 70 for females and 65 for males. There are about 31 hospitals with a total of 1,963 beds in Davao City. Very affordable medical services are made available to poor residents through the Southern Philippines Medical Center, which has the most hospitals beds at 1,200.

On the other hand, hospitals such as the Davao Doctors Hospital, San Pedro Hospital, Brokenshire Memorial Hospital, Ricardo Limso Medical Center, and Davao Medical Center now known as the Southern Philippines Medical Center are training hospitals that offer specialized medical care services. Davao Regional Hospital in neighboring Tagum City offers the same quality specialized physician training and health services.

Psychiatric hospitals, psychotherapy clinics and counselling centers are also found in the city, directed and manned by internationally-trained counselors, psychologists, psychometricians and psychiatrists.

In Davao City, there are six large tertiary hospitals: Davao Doctors Hospital, San Pedro Hospital, Brokenshire Memorial Hospital, Davao Medical School Foundation Hospital, Ricardo Limso Medical Center, and Southern Philippines Medical Center formerly Davao Medical Center.

Education[link]

The government provides free education at the primary (grade school) and secondary (high school) levels. Government scholars from all over the region enjoy free college education in state-run universities such as the University of the Philippines Mindanao and the University of Southeastern Philippines. The literacy rate of the country is 93.9%. Davao City has a literacy rate of 98.05%.

Universities and colleges[link]

Davao City is the education hub in Mindanao. The University of the Immaculate Conception (formerly Immaculate Conception College) is the first Catholic school in the island of Mindanao founded in 1905 by the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary Sisters (RVM). The University of Mindanao (formerly Mindanao Colleges) is the oldest university in the region and the first private and non-sectarian university in Mindanao which was chartered as a university on December 1966. Davao City also has the Mindanao's only University of the Philippines campus, situated in Bago Oshiro, Mintal.

Notable institutions in Davao offering tertiary education include:

• University of the Philippines Mindanao (public)
• Ateneo de Davao University (private-catholic)
• University of Mindanao (private-non sectarian)
• University of the Immaculate Conception (private-catholic)
• Holy Cross of Davao College (private-catholic)
• San Pedro College (private-catholic)
• Davao Doctors College (medical)
• Davao Central College (non-sectarian)
• Brokenshire College (medical)
• Philippine Women's College of Davao (private-non sectarian)
• University of Southeastern Philippines (public)

Other schools in the city are St. Peter's College of Toril run by the congregation of the Presentation of Mary Sisters, Davao Central College, Inc., Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School, Assumption College of Davao run the Missionaries of the Assumption, Holy Cross College of Sasa run by the TDM sisters, Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku (or Mindanao International College), Stella Maris Academy of Davao (SMAD) run by the Hijas de Jesus, Holy Child School of Davao (now Holy Child College of Davao), Philippine Academy of Sakya, Davao Christian High School, Davao Central High School, Our Lady of Fatima Academy (OLFA) run by the RVM Sisters, Rizal Special Education Learning Center, Davao Merchant Marine Academy (DMMA), Agro Industrial College Foundation of the Philippines, MATS College of Technology, John Paul II College, AMA Computer College-Davao Campus, STI College of Davao, Rizal Memorial College, Jose Maria College run by the church founded by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Joji Ilagan Career Center Foundation Inc.(JIB) run by Joji Ilagan-Bian and Rogationist Academy - Davao run by the congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus and Colegio De San Ignacio (or CDSI).

The Davao Medical School Foundation is the oldest medical school in Mindanao and is ranked one of the best medical schools in the Philippines.

Many religious organizations established their schools of theology for the formation of their pastors, ministers and priests. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Davao has their Saint Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary and the Saint Francis Xavier College Seminary. The United Church of Christ in the Philippines has its UCCP Pag-asa School of Theology. The Baptist churches established their own, the Southern Philippines Baptist Theological Seminary, Inc., the General Baptist Bible College and the Missionary Baptists has the Philippine Missionary Baptist Seminary - Asia Institute of Theology at Circumferential Road, Marfori Heights, Davao City. Other fundamental churches have Christian Colleges of Southeast Asia Foundation located in Tulip Drive cor. Quimpo Blvd., Juna Subdivision, Davao City and the Mindanao Christian Foundation College and Seminary, Inc.

The city has contributed much to the southern Mindanao's ever-increasing pool of masters and doctorate degree holders helping the city gain the distinction of having one of the highest numbers of Masters in Business Administration (MBA) graduates in the region.

The city is considered the center for learning and education in the southern Philippines. Currently, it has 374 elementary schools, 107 secondary schools including the Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus which is one of the most premiere A-1 schools in the Asian Region, and 46 colleges and universities.

Sports[link]

There are sports facilities in Ateneo de Davao University, Almendras Gymnasium, University of Southeastern Philippines, and UM Matina Campus; the city, however, does not have a sports complex. Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpi is proposing a new sports complex.

The proposed sports complex which will be built in Mintal, Davao City is on a turbulent ride. There are six families occupying the area of which the sports complex will be built and they refuse to vacate. There is an ongoing legal dispute, and no sign of amicable settlement. Meanwhile, the money intended for this project is diverted in the city’s traffic signalization program.

The city mayor wishes to finish her term seeing a world-class sports complex in the city. However, she has stated that the new facility will have to wait as she will have to tackle more important projects, such as the beautification of the City Hall and the building of a new convention center, and the said sports center is expected to follow.

Sister cities[link]

There are 10 sister cities of Davao as designated in Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):

Friendship cities[link]

• Uijeongbu, South Korea^[24]
• Incheon, South Korea^[24]

See also[link]

• Silicon Gulf
• Mindanao
• Metro Davao
• Davao Region
• Cagayan de Oro

Ranking[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Davao City Government Website
• Local Governance Performance Management System

		Panabo City, Tagum City
	Cotabato		Island Garden City of Samal
		Davao City    East
		Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur

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