Background

Davao del Sur was created by the defunct Congress on May 8, 1968 under Republic Act No. 4867. Prior to this period, the history of the undivided province of Davao was its history including that of Davao City, the capital of old Davao. It started functioning as a province on July 1, 1967 comprising 10 municipalities with Digos as its capital.

The province derives its name from the word “Daba-Daba”, a Bagobo word used to refer to the “Sacred Brass” which belongs to the legendary Bagobo chieftain name Dato Duli.

Davao del Sur lies on the southeastern portion of Mindanao between 125°12” and 125°43” East longitude and between 5°20” and 6°58” North latitude. Including Davao City, it has a total land area of 637,762 hectares. It is bounded on the North by the Davao Province, on the East by the Davao Gulf, on the West by the provinces of Sarangani and South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato and on the South by the Mindanao Sea.

Davao City is a sprawling metropolis of over 1.1 million people located in the Southeastern part of Mindanao. It is one of the largest cities in the world with a land area of 244, 361 hectares.

The city has abundant source of potable water. Located in a typhoon-free zone, its tropical weather is characterized by even distribution of climatic elements all year round.

Strategically located in the Asia-Pacific rim, the city serves as a gateway to the world. It is a key player in the flourishing industrial hub called the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA. On the west, the city’s boundary line cuts through the highest peak in the country, the inactive Mt. Apo at 3,142 meters above sea level.


Land Classification

65% of the province’s terrain is rolling plains and mountainous with ranges running southward. Among the mountain ranges, Mt. Apo is the longest and highest with an elevation of 2,953 meters above sea level. About 45% of its total land area is classified as alienable and disposable, mostly devoted to agriculture. On the other hand, 55% is classified as forestland, with majority of the areas covered with residual forest and tree plantation. A large portion accounts for the proclaimed protected area of the province, which is the Region XI side of Mt. Apo Natural Park. This was declared Integrated Protected Areas System on July 21, 1991 by then President Aquino.

Total Area	637,762
Certified A & D	287,231
Forest Land	350,351
Old Growth	10,345
2nd Growth (Residual)	34,182
Mossy	6,987
Mangroves	1,075
Plantations	4,572
Brushlands	79,314
Open / Grassland	15,865
Cultivated Areas	198,281

Soil Type

Soil in Davao del Sur and Davao City is classified as dark brown to light reddish brown and reddish brown to dark grayish brown. It is slightly compact, columnar clay loam with few boulders present. Generally, its composition is silty clay loam. It is suitable for crops like corn, abaca, sugar cane, fruit trees and coconut. Uncultivated area is covered mostly of cogon, talahib and second growth forest.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISION
Davao del Sur
No. of districts	2
No. of Cities	1
No. of Municipalities	14
No. of Barangays	337
Davao City
No. of districts	3
- composition	11
No. of cities	1
No. of barangays	180

Fast Facts

Davao del Sur

Provincial Capital	Digos City
Governor	Benjamin P. Bautista
Vice-Governor	Romualdo C. Garcia
Income Classification >	First Class
Population >	758,801
Land Area (in hectares) >	393,401
Climate (Davao del Sur and Davao City)	Tropical,  Characterized by annual uniform distribution of rainfall, temperature, humidity and pressure. Annual Rainfall – from 836 mm. to 4,480 mm. Temperature – annual average of 26°C in lowland Relative humidity -76% to 90%.
Major Dialects/Languages >	English, Cebuano,  Boholano, Ilongo, Manobo, Boholano, Davaoeño
Municipalities	Sta. Cruz, Bansalan, Hagonoy, Magsaysay, Matanao, Padada, Malalag, Malita, Sulop, Kiblawan, Sta. Maria, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Balut & Sarangani
Natural Resources	Forests, agricultural lands, natural park, mineral deposits, coastal areas.

Davao City

Mayor	Rodrigo R. Duterte
Vice Mayor	Luis Bonguyan
Income Classification	First Class
Population >	1,147,116
Land Area (in hectares) >	244,361
Major Dialects/Languages	English, Cebuano, Tagalog, Davaeño
Congressional Districts >	Poblacion, Buhangin, Bunawan, Paquibato, Agdao, Baguio, Calinan, Marilog, Toril, Tugbok & Talomo
Natural Resources >	Forests, agricultural lands, coastal areas

Congressional Highlights


Davao del Sur


1st District

Municipalities	Land Area (has.)	No. of Brgy.	Population (CY 2000)
Digos City	26,787	26	125,171
Bansalan	15,775	24	51,781
Hagonoy	11,664	22	43,871
Magsaysay	16,987	22	43,172
Matanao	20,240	33	46,916
Padada	4,503	17	24,112
Sta. Cruz	27,772	18	67,317
Total	123,728	162	402,340

Local Government Officials

Congressman	Douglas Ra. Cagas
Municipal Mayors
Digos City	Arsenio A. Latasa
Bansalan	Peter Melchor J. Arches
Hagonoy	Jose M. Superales
Magsay	Arthur D. Davin
Matanao	Pablito C. Albarracin
Padada	Antonio N. Razonable
Sta. Cruz	Jerome A. Undalok

2nd District

Municipalities	Land Area (has.)	No. of Brgy.	Population (CY 2000)
Don Marcelino	40,730	15	33,403
J. Abad Santos	73,443	26	57,147
Kiblawan	39,007	30	41,275
Malalag	18,612	15	33,334
Malita	51,259	30	100,000
Sarangani	10,618	12	18,391
Sta. Maria	20,478	22	45,571
Sulop	15,526	25	27,340
Total	269,673	175	356,461

Local Government Officials

Congressman	Claude P. Bautista
Municipal Mayors
Don Marcelino	Fidel P. Sasuman
J. Abad Santos	Alexander B. Wangkay
Kiblawan	Jaime F. Caminero
Malalag	Givel  M. Mamaril
Malita	Franklin P. Bautista
Sarangani	Jerry T. Cawa
Sta. Maria	Rudy P. Mariscal
Sulop	Restituto Ornales

Davao City


1st District

District	Land Area (has.)	No. of Brgy.	Population (CY 2000)
Poblacion		40	33,639
Talomo		14	284,100
Total	60,175	54	417,739

Local Government officials

Congressman: Prospero C. Nograles

Councilors :

• Ma. Belen Acosta
• Angela A. Librado
• Leonardo R. Avila III
• Emmanuel Galicia
• Pilar C. Braga
• Bonifacio Militar
• Nilo G. Abellera
• Peter T. Laviña

2nd District

District	Land Area (has.)	No. of Brgy.	Population (CY 2000)
Buhangin		11	193,519
Bunawan		8	95,007
Paquibato		14	37,904
Agdao		11	91,397
Total	77,732	44	417,827

Local Government Officials

Congressman: Vincent de Joya Garcia

Councilors:

• Jimmy G. Dureza
• Danilo C. Dayanghirang
• Diosdado A. Mahipus
• Ricardo B. Cabling
• Susan Isabela C. Reta
• Gerald B. Bangoy
• Nenita R. Orcullo
• Dante L. Apostol

3rd District

District	Land Area (has.)	No. of Brgy.	Population (CY 2000)
Baguio		8	24,379
Calinan		19	67,077
Marilog		12	42,736
Toril		25	108,054
Tugbok		18	69,304
Total	106,454	82	311,550

Local Government Officials

Congressman: Ruy Elias Lopez

Councilors

• Wilberto E. Al-ag
• Rene Elias C. Lopez
• Domingo G. Dalodo
• Victorio S. Advincula
• Conrado C. Baluran
• Jose Louie P. Villafuerte
• Jesus Zozobrado
• Paz C. Mata

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