Davao City
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| Davao City Lungsod ng Dabaw Dakbayan sa Dabaw Metro Davao |
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| Motto: "Love, Peace, and Progress" | |||
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| Country | Philippines | ||
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| Region | Davao Region (Region XI) | ||
| Province | None | ||
| Districts | 1st to 3rd Districts of Davao City | ||
| Barangays | 184 | ||
| Incorporated (town) | 1848 | ||
| Incorporated (city) | October 16, 1936 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Rodrigo Duterte (Hugpong/PDP-Laban) (2007-2010) | ||
| - Vice Mayor | Sara Duterte (Hugpong/PDP-Laban) (2007-2010) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 2,444 km² (943.6 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 22.3 m (73 ft) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Total | 1,363,337 | ||
| - Density | 558/km² (1,445.2/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | ||
| Area code(s) | 082 | ||
| Website: ''www.davaocity.gov.ph | |||
The City of Davao The Premier City of The South, The City in Bloom, (Tagalog: Lungsod ng Dabaw; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Dabaw) is the largest city on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines, the country's largest city in terms of land area, occupying 2,444 square kilometers and the Philippines' third most progressive city. Its international airport and seaport are among the busiest cargo hubs in the southern Philippines. Davao City is also one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province, though it is usually grouped with Davao del Sur for statistical purposes. The city is also the regional center for Davao Region (Region XI). Davao City has a population of 1,363,337 (2007 census). Metro Davao can also be dubbed as The City of Royalties or The Royal City, because of the presence of the kings and queens of the nature present in Davao. The Queen of Philippine Orchids which is Waling-waling, the King of Exotic Fruits, which is Durian, The King and Grandfather of Philippine mountains, Mt. Apo, the Philippine Eagle which is the largest eagle in the world and the King of Philippine skies, and the City itself which is the Biggest City in the Philippines in terms of land area. The country's biggest party address-The Venue, is also located in this metro city.
In recent years, the sprawling urban METROPOLIS of Davao has emerged as the business, investment and tourism hub for the entire southern Philippines. The city boasts of some of the finest beaches and mountain resorts in the country, and proximity to the Philippines’ most captivating diving spots as well as its highest peak, Mount Apo.
Asiaweek ranked Metro Davao among the 20 most livable cities in Asia, above Metro Manila and Metro Cebu and the number one as the most livable city in the country. Foreign Direct Investment Magazine conducted a study which named Davao City as the 10th "Asian City of the Future".
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[edit] Metropolitan Davao
Metropolitan Davao is one of the three recognized Metro areas in the Philippines together with Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. Metro Davao comprises the following cities and municipalities: Davao City, Tagum City, Panabo City, Island Garden City of Samal, Digos City, and the Municipalities of Carmen and Sta. Cruz.
[edit] History
Local historians 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 influence was hardly felt in the Davao until 1848, when an expedition led by Don Jose Oyanguren came to establish a Christian settlement in an area of mangrove swamps that is now Bolton Riverside. Davao was then ruled by a Moro chieftain, Datu Bago, who held his settlement at the banks of Davao River (once called Tagloc River by the Bagobos). After Uyanguren defeated Datu Bago, he renamed the region Nueva Guipozcoa, in honor of his home in Spain, and became its first governor. Oyanguren's efforts to develop the area, however, did not prosper.
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.
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.
Davao was formally inaugurated as a chartered city on March 1, 1937 by President Manuel L. Quezon. Thirty years later, Davao was subdivided into three independent provinces, namely Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. 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 third largest city.
In December 8, 1941 the attack of the Japanese planes bombed in Davao city.
In 1942, the Japanese troops occupied in Davao city.
In 1945, beginning the American and the Philippine Commonwealth forces liberated in Davao city attack by the Japanese forces during World War II.
[edit] Geography
The land area of Davao City is 2,443.61 square kilometers. In terms of land area, it is considered as one of the largest cities in the world. It is divided into 3 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 utilizes 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.
[edit] Location
Approximately 588 statute miles southeast of Manila and 241 statute miles to Cebu City.
Traveling by sea, its location from Manila and Cebu is 971 and 593 nautical miles respectively.
It is the capital of the Davao Region and is the biggest urban Market in the growth polygon called BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area)
Presently, 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 for forest and conservation.
[edit] Weather
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 20 to 32 degrees Celsius and average rainfall is up to 2,000 mm yearly.
[edit] Infrastructure
The presence of basic infrastructure within 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.
The Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao International Airport) is the busiest airport in Mindanao. Expansion and modernization began in 1998. Today, the new DIA (opened in December 2003) has begun accommodating wider-bodied jets such as the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A330.
Construction of more roads and bridges are also underway. The construction of the City’s third major road - the Buhangin underpass was completed in the 1st quarter of 2003. A Traffic Management and Computerization Scheme was also implemented. Davao City is ranked no. 5 among cities in Asia with better traffic flow based on vehicles per kilometer of city road.
Davao City and the Port of Davao has 2 government international seaports in (the Sasa Wharf and the Sta. Ana Wharf) and 9 privately owned ports. The City Government is currently in the process of taking over the management of the seaports to modernize facilities, such as 3 big modern quayside cranes and expand capacity. In addition, the Toril international Fish Port Complex accommodates small and large-scale fishing activities as well as provide among others cold-storage facilities.
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.
[edit] People's Park
On December 15, 2007, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte led local officials in opening the P 72-M People’s Park (old PTA Ground) in Davao City, which features a mini-forest and large sculptures representing indigenous groups in Southern Mindanao.[1]
A full size replica of Michelangelo's David can be found in the same waterfront area as Queensland Lodge, which ironically is a short time motel where couples can get a room for as short as 3 hours. The statue is painted in gold with a fountain at its base and a long narrow 50 meter decorative pool in front of the statue. The area is privately maintained by the owner of Queensland Lodge as a public park, known to locals as Seawall. On Saturday nights, weather permitting, the whole area is filled with hundreds of people drinking from the trunks of their cars with David glowing in the background. The statue sparked much controversy because of the naked depiction and criticism as a marketing ploy for the lodge.
[edit] Accessibility
Davao City is very accessible and is the gateway to the BIMP-EAGA. It has regular air, sea, and land linkages to major points in the country and overseas. Flight time to Manila (the country’s capital) is 100 minutes, to Cebu City 50 Minutes. It has daily flights to Singapore - serviced by SilkAir and Cebu Pacific Air, weekly chartered flights to Manado, Indonesia, and 4x weekly flights to Hong Kong. The city can also be accessed by plane from Zamboanga City and Iloilo City while Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao is linked to the city by the scenic BUDA or Bukidnon-Davao Highway. Its international seaport served as an important shipping hub for both cargo and passenger vessels.
Like most cities in the Philippines, there is an abundance of jeepneys, tricycles and taxicabs which makes getting around Davao City quite easy. Although, the most convenient way of getting around is getting one of the many air-conditioned taxicabs plying the city. Not only because it gets you faster to where you want to go, but also the mere fact that you don't want to be needing a shower when you get to your destination because you sweated it out in a jeepney. One of the most ubiquitous taxicab available in the city is Mabuhay Taxi which offers both air-conditioned and non-a/c cabs. You can simply flag them down on the street or you can call a central dispatching number and get picked up wherever you are in the city.
[edit] Government
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 city is politically subdivided into 184 barangays.
The current mayor of Davao City is Rodrigo Duterte, a former government prosecutor and congressman. He is assisted by city vice-mayor Sara Duterte, his daughter.
The City Government of Davao is now proposing to add two more Congressional Districts.
[edit] Security and Civil Defense
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, as it is named, is affiliated with the Philippine Army and is headed by an army colonel.
The city government also maintains a 24-hour emergency response system patterned after the 9-1-1 systems in Canada and the United States. People can dial the 911 number to report emergencies and criminal incidents.
A curfew is also observed in the city. All business establishments, in particular bars and discos, are mandated by a city ordinance to close at 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 of Davao City and at the city 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 the city. Violators are made to pay hefty fines, perform community service, serve jail time, or a combination of the three. Littering is also prohibited.
[edit] Foreign relations
The influx of foreign visitors and the presence of expatriates and migrants in the city have prompted the governments of Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and the United States to open consular offices in the city.
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 [1] is maintained in coordination with Ateneo de Davao University.
[edit] Demographics
Bisaya is the most widely spoken language in the city, while the national language based on Tagalog comes a distant second. Japanese is spoken by the Japanese Filipino community and Chinese is spoken by the Chinese Filipino population. This fusion though is not generally held acceptable in any formal level. English is the medium of instruction in schools and is widely understood and spoken especially in the business community.
The most dominant group is the Roman Catholic at 83.83%, other Christian groups comprise 15% and the remaining 1.17% belongs to other non-Christian faiths (Islam, Buddhism, etc).
[edit] Health
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 Davao Medical Center, which has the most hospitals beds at 600.
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 are training hospitals that also offer specialized medical care services. Davao Regional Hospital in neighboring Tagum City, also 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 currently six large tertiary hospitals: *Davao Doctors Hospital, San Pedro Hospital, *Brokenshire Memorial Hospital, *Davao Medical School Foundation Hospital, Ricardo Limso Medical Center, and *Davao Medical Center.
[edit] Education
The government provides free education at the primary (grade school) and secondary (high school) levels. Government scholars from all over the island 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 on the other hand has a higher literacy rate at 98.05%.
The city has contributed much to the country’s ever increasing pool of masters and doctorate degree holders helping the Philippines gain the distinction of having one of the highest numbers of Masters in Business Administration (MBA) graduates in the world.
The city is considered the Center for Learning and Education in Mindanao Island. Currently, it has 374 elementary schools, 65 secondary schools, and 46 colleges and universities.
[edit] Shopping centers
- Chimes Mall
- NCCC Mall of Davao
- SM City Davao
- Gaisano Mall of Davao (G-Mall)
- Aldevinco Shopping Center
- Victoria Plaza Mall
- Gaisano South City Mall
- NCCC Mall (Main)
- Felcris Department Stores
- DAMOSA Market Basket
- City Triangle
[edit] Media
Aside from the 24 national daily newspapers available, Davao City also has 20 local newspapers, 9 broadcast TV stations, 15 AM-band radio stations, and 21 FM-band radio stations. These numbers reflect the extent of press freedom being enjoyed by the print and broadcast media as well as provide wide range of choice for residents and visitors alike.
[edit] Sister Cities
There are 6 sister cities in Davao as designated in Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):
