Digos Explained

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Pushpin Map:Philippines
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Philippines
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Type2:Province
Motto:HUGPONG DIGOSEÑOS!
Subdivision Type3:District
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:July 19, 1949
Established Title1:Cityhood
Established Date1:September 8, 2000
Parts Type:Barangays
Parts Style:para
P1: (see Barangays)
Leader Name:Josef F. Cagas
Leader Title1:Vice Mayor
Leader Name1:Johari G. Baña
Leader Name2:John Tracy F. Cagas
Leader Title3:City Council
Leader Name4: voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|)
Elevation Max M:1979
Elevation Min M:0
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Blank1 Title:Households
Population Demonym:Digoseño
Timezone:PST
Utc Offset:+8
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Demographics Type1:Economy
Demographics1 Title2:Poverty incidence
Demographics1 Info2:%
Demographics1 Title3:Revenue
Demographics1 Title4:Revenue rank
Demographics1 Title5:Assets
Demographics1 Title6:Assets rank
Demographics1 Title7:IRA
Demographics1 Title8:IRA rank
Demographics1 Title9:Expenditure
Demographics1 Title10:Liabilities
Demographics Type2:Service provider
Demographics2 Title1:Electricity
Demographics2 Title2:Water
Demographics2 Title3:Telecommunications
Demographics2 Title4:Cable TV
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Digos, officially the City of Digos (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Digos; Filipino; Pilipino: Lungsod ng Digos), is a 2nd class component city and capital of the province of Davao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 188,376 people.

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

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 September 8, 2000, Digos was converted into a city.[1]

History

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

Digos was once part of the Sultanate of Maguindanao. During the 1800s, it was under the influence of Datu Bago, a Maguindanaon datu who led the resistance in Davao Region against the Spanish Empire.

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 Davao Congressman Apolinario Cabigon, Digos, became a regular municipality of the unified Davao in 1949 by virtue of Presidential Executive Order No. 236, dated July 1, 1949, issued by President Elpidio Quirino. Its coverage included the barrios of Tres de Mayo, Goma Bansalan, Matanao, Darapuay and the Poblacion, where the seat of government was located.[2] Before its creation into a municipality, Digos was a barrio of Santa Cruz, a town 16km (10miles) away. On July 19, 1949, the town was formally inaugurated with Benito Rabor appointed as Mayor.

On May 8, 1967, the municipality became part of Davao del Sur following Davao's division under Republic Act No. 4867.[3]

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.

Cityhood

See main article: Cities of the Philippines. 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 November 24, 1998, of Congress authored by Davao Del Sur 1st district Congressman Douglas Cagas, led to the drafting of Republic Act No. 8798, converting the Municipality of Digos into a component City of Davao del Sur, which was signed by President Joseph Estrada on July 14, 2000,[4] and ratified by the Digoseños on September 8, 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 Santa Cruz in the northeast. It is bounded in the east by Davao Gulf. It has a total land area of consisting of 26 barangays; nine (9) of which comprise the poblacion or urban center.

The land topography of Digos 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.

Barangays

Digos is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Economy

Agriculture is a major component of Digos's 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, 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.

Government

Elected officials

Members of the Digos City Council (2022–2025):

Culture

Fiestas and festivals

Infrastructure

Transportation

Local means of transportation is served by almost 5,000 tricycles known locally as just "Pedicab". Transportation to its barangays and adjacent municipalities are served by single Motorcycles (SKYLAB/HABAL-HABAL), Multicabs, Jeepneys, and L300 Vans. Public Utility Vans also served routes to and from the cities of Davao, Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong-Isulan, Koronadal and General Santos.

Bus Company operating in the city of Digos:

Hospitals/healthcare facilities

Education

Public and private schools in Digos:

Tertiary

Secondary

Notable personalities

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.nscb.gov.ph/factsheet/pdf01/fs1_01.asp NSCB - 2001 Factsheet - 12 New Cities Created
  2. EO. 236. Organizing the Municipalities of Digos, Padada, and Panabo, in the Province of Davao. The Lawphil Project. July 1, 1949. July 27, 2024.
  3. RA. 4867. An Act Creating the Provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental. The Lawphil Project. May 8, 1967. July 26, 2024.
  4. RA. 8798. An Act Converting the Municipality of Digos, Davao Del Sur Province, Into a Component City to Be Known as the City of Digos. The Lawphil Project. July 15, 2000. July 27, 2024.
  5. Web site: Karlo Sacamos . Scottie bought Digos lot with first Ginebra paycheck. His dream house now sits there . Spin.ph . Sports Interactive Network (SPIN.PH) . January 6, 2020 . April 25, 2019.