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PROVINCIAL PROFILE OF DAVAO
FAST FACTS
Capital : Tagum
Area : 8,129.75 sq. km.
Population : 1,055,016
Cities : none
No. of Town : 22
Click Here To View The
List Of Towns.
LOCATION
Davao is in southeastern Mindanao. It is bounded on the north by
Agusan del
Sur, on the east by Davao Oriental, on the west by Bukidnon, and
on the
south by Davao del Sur and the Davao Gulf.
THE LAND
Davao is the seventh largest province in the country. Its terrain
consists of
mountain ranges on the western and eastern parts, and flat areas
in the
middle. It is traversed by 32 rivers, the biggest of which is the
Agusan River.
Samal Island in Davao Gulf shelters the natural harbor from whose
ports the
area's produce is shipped. The province does not have a
pronounced rainy
season nor does it experience typhoons. This favorable climate
and the vast
tracts of fertile, arable land have given rise to huge
plantations.
A BRIEF HISTORY
The province was known as Davao del Norte. It was created,
together with
Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur, out of the original province of
Davao by
Republic Act No. 4867 0n May 8, 1 967. 0n June 1 7,1 972, R.A.
No. 6430
changed the name Davao del Norte simply to Davao.
THE PEOPLE
Davao has the largest population among the provinces of Southern
Mindanao.
The majority of the inhabitants are Cebuano- speaking migrants
from the
Visayas. Ethnic groups found in the hinterlands include the
Mansakas,
Mandayas, Dibabawons, and Talaingods. The Mansakas and Mandayas
are
renowned silversmiths who craft breastplates, rings, and other
ornaments, as
well as iron knives and daggers. The Mandayas are also famous for
their
woven cloth of abaca fiber colored with bark and earth dyes. The
Talaingods
belong to the Aeta family. A Muslim minority group, the Isamals,
live on
Samal Island.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
The leading industries in the province are mining, agriculture,
and lumber.
Davao is literally a gold-mine province. It is also rich in
silver, copper, and
non-metallic resources such as guano, limestone, sand, and
gravel. Five big
mining companies operate in the province. Its principal crops
include rice,
corn, banana, coconut, abaca, ramie, coffee, and a variety of
fruits and
rootcrops. It is the region's most important rice-producing
province, the
second-ranking corn producer after Sout Cotabato and the leading
grower of
bananas for export. Its vast timberland supports a vital logging
and plywood
industry.
Davao Gulf and the waters off Samal Island are major fishing
grounds. The
leading industries in the province are mining, agriculture, and
lumber. Davao is
literally a gold-mine province. It is also rich in silver,
copper, and non-metallic
resources such as guano, limestone, sand, and gravel. Five big
mining
companies operate in the province. Its principal crops include
rice, corn,
banana, coconut, abaca, ramie, coffee, and a variety of fruits
and rootcrops. It
is the region's most important rice- producing province, the
second-ranking
corn producer after South Cotabato and the leading grower of
bananas for
export. Its vast timberland supports a vital logging and plywood
industry.
Davao Gulf and the waters off Samal Island are major fishing
grounds.
Information gathered from:
League of
Provinces
by:Roberto C. Arellano
This page last revised:February 02, 1999.
