The Davao Region of today
was then part of the huge Davao Province from 1914 to 1967. It was divided into
three provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur with the
passage of Philippine Republic Act No. 4867 on May 20, 1967. It was one of the
largest, most populous and prosperous provinces in the country. (Wikipedia,
2015)
History
The province was established
after the dissolution of Moro Province in 1914. Before the province broke up,
massive waves of immigrants from Visayas and Luzon island groups are already
immigrating in the province. Japanese immigrants, mostly rich businessmen and
pioneers, also immigrated to its capital Davao in large numbers, making it the
Philippines' Little Japan. Having an area of more than 20,000 square
kilometers, its borders are almost identical to its predecessor, the Nueva
Guipuzcoa province, which also control parts of what are now Cotabato, Bukidnon
and Caraga provinces years before during the Spanish governance in the country.
It was made a district of
Department of Mindanao and Sulu from 1914 until 1920.
Its capital town, Davao,
became a city in March 16, 1936 as the provincial congressman Romualdo Quimpo
filed Bill 609 (passed as Commonwealth Act 51), paving the creation of the city
from the merger of town of Davao (Mayo) and Guianga District. The bill called
for the appointment of local officials by the late President Manuel L. Quezon.
By then it was the only city in the province throughout its existence.
On 1942, during the outbreak
of World War II in the Philippines, forces of the Imperial Japanese Army
invaded the province, becoming one of the territories in the country to be first
taken by Japan. Guerrilla parties were then organized in the province to battle
Japanese garrison forces there. It was in late 1944 when the Allies began
liberating the island of Mindanao, and earlier the next year the dreadful
Battle of Davao was fought to eliminate any Japanese resistance in the
province.
The province was one of the
few provinces in the country to recover quickly from the war. Its capital city
resumed its role as the main economic center of Mindanao. Though some local
Japanese inhabitants in the provinces were expelled from the country due to
enmity after the war, most have been integrated to the local Filipino
population. After the war, migration to the province has steadily increased due
to the great employment and agricultural opportunities the province have,
especially in its capital city.
In 1948, all municipal
districts in the country have been abolished. This paved the way for the
creation of several towns in the province, such as Digos, Padada, Compostela,
and many others.
To reorganize governance in
the country, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed the Republic Act No.
4867 on May 8, 1967,[1] dividing the province into three. The then-Davao
Province is currently a region consisting of five provinces: Davao del Sur,
Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley.
The province of Davao del
Norte bore this name from 1972 until 1998, when Compostela Valley broke off as
a separate province.
Davao Occidental was created
by virtue of Republic Act 10360 enacted on July 23, 2013, the province is the
newest in the country, carved out from the southern part of Davao del Sur. The
Act was passed by the House of Representatives and theSenate on November 28,
2012, and December 5, 2012, respectively, and signed by President Benigno
Aquino III on January 14, 2013. A plebiscite was held on October 28, 2013 along
with the Barangay elections and the majority of votes cast were
"Yes", ratifying the province.
Updated on April 13, 2017 @8:51 pm by Rhey Mark H. Diaz
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