Davao City

City of Davao (Tagalog: Lungsod ng Dabaw; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Dabaw) is the largest city on 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 for Davao Region (Region XI). It has a population of 1,363,337 (2007 census) and is named by the Foreign Direct Investment Magazine as the 10th "Asian City of the Future". In recent years, Davao City has emerged as the business, investment and tourism hub for the entire southern Philippines. The city has good beaches and mountain resorts, and is close to diving spots and the highest peak in the Philippines, Mount Apo.It is awarded by the Department of Tourism as the Most Livable City in the Philippines in 2008.

History

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 influence was hardly felt in the Davao until 1848, when an expedition led by Don Jose Uyanguren 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). After Uyanguren defeated Datu Bago, he renamed the region Nueva Guipúzcoa, in honor of his home in Spain, and became its first governor. Uyanguren'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.

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.

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 up to this day is the observance and celebration of barrios (or villages) of the day of their respective patron saint called "Fiesta". It is in these celebrations wherein songs, dances and other forms of arts and merrymaking from various 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.

Location

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

As of 2010 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

Davao City is typhoon-free due to its location. 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.

Language

Cebuano/Bisaya is the most widely spoken language in the city, while Tagalog comes a distant second. though, a local "dabawenyo" dialect is also spoken by a few.

Bisaloglish, an informal mixing of the above languages, is spoken as well. English is the medium of instruction in schools and is widely understood and spoken especially in the business community and for all official documents. Other notable languages are Hiligaynon and Ilocano

A local Spanish based creole, Chavacano, a treasure of the cultural heritage from the Spanish era, is also still spoken, mainly by immigrants from Cotabato and Zamboanga.

Religion

The largest group is the Roman Catholic at 80% of the population, other Christian groups such as Protestant churches (Evangelicals, Born Again, Ang Dating Daan, Kingdom of Jesus Christ) comprise 18%, and the remaining 1.17% belong to other non-Christian faiths (Islam, Buddhism, animism)

Accessibility

Davao City is very accessible and is the gateway to the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA.

By land

Davao City also 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. Davao City is connected to Manila by a series of roll on roll off or inter-island ferry connection. Davao City is accessible by bus to and from points in Mindanao like Cotabato, Kidapawan, Midsayap, Digos, General Santos, Koronadal, Isulan, Tacurong, Tagum, Cagayan de Oro, Surigao, Butuan, and with Manila in Luzon.

By sea

The city is also served by domestic passenger ferries at Sasa Port and Sta. Ana Wharf.

Sulpicio Lines twice weekly from Manila.

SuperFerry twice weekly to Manila.

By air

Silk Air Airbus A320 on Davao International Airport

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

Airphil Express flies to Manila & Cebu three times daily, Cagayan de Oro, once daily and Zamboanga, 4 times weekly 

Cebu Pacific 4 flights weekly to Cagayan de Oro, 24 weekly flights to Cebu City, Once daily flight to Iloilo City, 45 weekly flights to Manila, and Once daily flight to Zamboanga City

Philippine Airlines 4 daily flights to Manila.

SilkAir 5 flights weekly to Singapore.

Zest Airways 2 daily flights to Manila

Economy

Davao City is the premier city and hub of Mindanao. It has the greatest economic activity, population, urban build-up and modern amenities on Mindanao. It is the most important economy in the island and the third most important urban center in the Philippines. Current revenue statistics show Davao City to be the fifth-richest city in the Philippines in terms of local income and IRA - the only city outside greater Manila in the top five.

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.

On the international front, the economy has been opened to global competition, through a tariff, private investments has Davao City's economy is steadily growing in the last two decades. The City has shifted counting investments from millions in the '80s to billions in the '90s and pool of skilled workforce. With close to 1.5-Million people as primary market base, the city is conducive to business as evidenced by the presence of the country's top 200 companies. Inflow of investments has been remarkable in the last ten years. Exports in the City is now a billion 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. A net exporter since 1987, Davao City largely contributed in making the Philippines as the world's top exporter of papaya, mangosteen, and even flowers. Recently, the annual income of Davao City of 2010 is more or less than 4 billion.

The productive linkages between established businesses and Davao City community reinforced the competitive quality of life in a city that has consistently maintained single digit inflation rate since 1993. Along 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 priority focus in facilitating business-friendly initiatives and in ensuring a peaceful and prosperous environment.

The city government is earmarking P4.11 billion for this year's budget, about P80 million higher than last year’s, without introducing new taxes. In fact, Davao City is the 5th richest city in the Philippines after Makati (P10.1 billion), Quezon City (P9.4 billion), Manila (P7.3 billion), and Pasig (P5.3 billion), making Davao as the richest city in the country outside Metro Manila.