Digos

Digos
Component City
City of Digos
Seal
Nickname(s): Clay Capital of Mindanao Champion City of Good Governance Gate City of the South
Motto(s): Abante Digos!
Map of Davao del Sur with Digos highlighted
Digos Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°45′N 125°21′E / 6.75°N 125.35°E / 6.75; 125.35Coordinates: 6°45′N 125°21′E / 6.75°N 125.35°E / 6.75; 125.35
Country	Philippines
Region	Davao Region (Region XI)
Province	Davao del Sur
District	1st District
Founded	19 July 1949
Cityhood	8 September 2000
Barangays	26 (see Barangays)
Government [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Panlungsod
• Mayor	Joseph Roble Peñas
• Vice Mayor	Reynaldo S. Hermosisima
• Electorate	97,452 voters (2016)
Area [2]
• Total	287.10 km2 (110.85 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
• Total	169,393
• Density	590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Digoseño
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	8002
PSGC	112403000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)82
Climate type	Tropical rainforest climate
Income class	2nd city income class
Revenue (₱)	728,768,279.59 (2016)
Native languages	Davawenyo Cebuano Q12627327 Obo language Kalagan language Tagalog Ata Manobo
Website	www.digoscity.gov.ph

Digos, officially the City of Digos, (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Digos; Filipino: Lungsod ng Digos), or simply referred to as Digos City, is a 2nd class city and capital of the province of Davao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 169,393 people.^[3]

The city lies on the western shores of the Davao Gulf and southern foothills of Mount Apo on the island of Mindanao, centrally located between the two major cities in Mindanao, Davao City and General Santos City.

It is considered as part of Metropolitan Davao.

It is known for its sweet-juicy 'carabao variety mango,' sold locally and exported abroad, thus being dubbed as the Mango Capital City of the Philippines. It is also considered as The Gate City Of The South.

On 8 September 2000, Digos was converted into a city.^[4]

History

In the early days, Digos was a watercourse, a meeting place of inhabitants belonging to the Austronesians settled along the southern foothills of Mt. Apo. The Digos River meets the Davao Gulf and it is ideal for fishing and bathing.

During the Spanish Era, a group of natives carrying bows and arrows were approached by some Spaniards traversing the very fertile tracts of land in Davao. One Lopez Jaena Pacheco, a conquistador during the administration of Governor Claveria serving as the head of the group, inquired about the name of the place from the barefooted natives. Believing that the Spaniards were asking where they were bound to, the natives answered "Padigus", which means "to take a bath". Since then the place was identified as Digos.

As a portion of the "food bowl" of the province of Davao del Sur, otherwise known as the Padada Valley, Digos lured many migrants, majority of whom came from the Visayas and Ilocos regions to settle permanently in the area. Before World War II, an enterprising American by the name of N.E. Crumb leased 10.24 km² and transformed the place into an Abaca Plantation. This became the hub of economic activity in the locality during those days.

Digos was occupied by the Japanese troops in 1942.

In 1945, through the brave efforts of the combined forces of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, the local Davaoeño guerrilla units from the Davao peninsula, and the United States military, the Japanese soldiers were defeated.

Through the initiation of then Congressman Apolinario Cabigon, Digos, became a regular municipality in 1949 by virtue of Presidential Executive Order No. 236, dated 19 July 1949 issued by President Quirino. Its Coverage included the barrios of Tres de Mayo, Goma Bansalan, Matanao, Darapuay and the Poblacion where the seat of government was located. Before its creation into a municipality, Digos was a barrio of Sta. Cruz, a town 16 kilometers away. On 19 July 1949, the town was formally inaugurated with Benito Rabor appointed as Mayor.

Digos in later years, before its conversion into a city, was regarded as the capital town of the Province of Davao del Sur, long before it gained the status of a First Class Municipality in 1993, being center for trade, commerce and education, accruing to its strategic location at the cross point of two principal thoroughfares in the south.

In July 1998, the bid to convert into a city was moved and initiated by Mayor Arsenio A. Latasa, considering its very satisfactory qualifications required for in R.A. 7160

House Bill No. 5672 dated 24 November 1998, of Congress authored by Congressman Douglas Ra. Cagas, led to the drafting of Republic Act 8798, converting the Municipality of Digos into a component City of Davao del Sur, which was signed by President Joseph E. Estrada on 14 July 2000, and ratified by the Digoseños on 8 September 2000.

Geography

Digos shares common boundaries with the municipalities of Hagonoy in the south, Bansalan in the north and northwest by Siranagan and Miral Creek and with Sta. Cruz in the northeast. It is bounded in the east by the Davao Gulf. It has a total land area of 28,710 hectares (70,900 acres) consisting of 26 barangays; nine (9) of which comprise the poblacion or urban center.

The land topography of Digos City ranges from hilly to mountainous in the north-northeast portion and flat and slightly rolling at the coastal barangays, while the urban area and the surrounding barangays in the south portion are generally flat. Generally, climate in Digos falls under the fourth type while wind direction is prevalent from northeast to southwest. On the other hand, rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year wherein during the period from 1995 to 2000, there was no observed extreme dry or wet season.

Demographics

Economy

Agriculture is a major component of Digos City economy. Some 9,330 households or 37% of the total households are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Of the total households dependent on agriculture, 91% are engaged in farming and the remaining 9% in fishing. The total area devoted to agriculture covered 8, 944.1 hectares, representing 31% of the total land area of Digos. The more important agricultural crops grown in the area include coconut, sugarcane, mango and banana. Among the agricultural crops, the staple crops rice and corn are the most widely grown.

Local government

Elected officials 2013-2016:

• Mayor: Joseph R. Penas (Liberal Party)
• Vice Mayor: Reynaldo S. Hermosisima (Liberal Party)
• City Councilors:
  • Josef F. Cagas (Nacionalista)
  • Eddie C. Cadilig, Sr. (Liberal Party)
  • Michael R. Latasa (Liberal Party)
  • Johari G. Baña (Nacionalista)
  • Concepcion R. Cadungog (Nacionalista)
  • Milagros C. Llanos (Liberal Party)
  • Rey Q. Ayo (Liberal Party)
  • Francisco B. Tongcos (Nacionalista)
  • Serafin S. Senajon, Jr. (Liberal Party)
  • Millenium M. Garcia (Liberal Party)

Fiestas and festivals

• Sinulog sa Digos - every January 15
• San Isidrio Labrador - every May 15
• Padigosan Festival - every July 19
• Mary Mediatrix - every August 22
• Araw ng Digos - every September 8
• GKK/BEC (Gagmay'ng Kristohanong Katilingban/Basic Ecclessial Community) Fiestas - Depends on the feast day of the patron saint.

Infrastructure

Education

Public and private schools in Digos City:

Secondary

Digos City National High School

• Cor Jesu College High School Department
• Digos City National High School
• Holy Cross Academy Inc.
• The Lighthouse Accelerated Christian School
• Polytechnic College of Davao del Sur High School Department
• Digos City National High School Igpit Extension
• Kapatagan National High School
• Aplaya National High School
• Ruparan National High School
• Digos City National High School Soong Extension
• Igpit National High School
• Digos City National High School - Balabag High School Annex
• Digos Central Adventist Academy - Lapu lapu Ext.

Notable people from Digos

• KZ Tandingan

References

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Digos.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Digos City.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Local Governance Performance Management System