Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental Explained

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Pushpin Map:Philippines
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Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Philippines
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Type2:Province
Named For:José Abad Santos
Other Name:Trinidad
Subdivision Type3:District
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:August 1, 1948
Established Title1:Renamed
Established Date1:April 20, 1955
Parts Type:Barangays
Parts Style:para
P1: (see Barangays)
Leader Name:Jason John A. Joyce
Leader Title1:Vice Mayor
Leader Name1:James John A. Joyce
Leader Name2:Claude P. Bautista
Leader Title3:Municipal Council
Leader Title4:Electorate
Leader Name4: voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|)
Elevation Max M:1803
Elevation Min M:0
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Blank1 Title:Households
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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Jose Abad Santos, officially the Municipality of Jose Abad Santos (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Jose Abad Santos; Tagalog: Bayan ng Jose Abad Santos), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Davao Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 73,381 people.

History

The Municipality of Jose Abad Santos was formerly a part of Malita town, then in the undivided province of Davao. Barrios Batulaki and Caburan seceded and established as a separate town on August 1, 1948, and was originally named Trinidad.[1] Barrio Caburan became its poblacion or town center. On April 20, 1955, the municipality was renamed by virtue of Republic Act No. 1206, in honor of José Abad Santos, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines who was executed by the Japanese invading forces during World War II.[2]

On May 8, 1967, the municipality became part of Davao del Sur, when Davao was divided under Republic Act No. 4867.[3] On June 11, 1978, the islands of Sarangani and Balut were carved out from the municipality to form the new municipality of Sarangani, through Presidential Decree No. 1550 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos.[4] On October 28, 2013, the municipality was ceded to Davao Occidental as a result of a plebiscite, in which the majority of voters approved the creation of the new province.[5]

On January 1, 2021, Barangay Caburan experienced a nearby earthquake.[6] Two days later, the town became the center of a diarrhea outbreak.[7] [8]

Geography

It is the southernmost municipality on the mainland of Mindanao island. The coastal town is the second largest municipality in Davao Occidental after Malita.

Barangays

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

Climate

Economy

Vast natural resources can be found, such as the wide stretch of mangroves of the municipality. Milkfish and tilapia breeding, as well as copra production, are the primary source of income for its people. The long stretch of beaches with brown, black and white sands, together with abundant marine life offshore are the primary natural attractions of Jose Abad Santos.

Transportation

The municipality can be reached by public utility vehicles plying from Davao City and Digos via the Pan-Philippine Highway. Past the town of Sulop is the junction with Davao del Sur Provincial Highway. Turning east at the junction, head south on the provincial highway to the town of Malita. And to the said municipality, habal-habal or passenger motorcycles ply to the adjacent town Don Marcelino.

Road condition

The road condition of the town is poor. Its road network is mostly unpaved, traversing through high-sloped hilly coastal and mountain roads with the danger of falling rocks from above. Most of the river crossings have no bridges, so drivers traversing the town have to consider if their vehicle is capable of crossing a shallow river. During rainy weather, travelers have to wait for the water level to subside before the river could become accessible again. A trip to the town is considered as either adventurous or dangerous by those who intend to visit depending on their experience, though part of the road heading to Don Marcelino town to the north is paved, made with concrete cement.

Controversy

On August 20, 2013, former provincial representative Marc Douglas Cagas IV complained about the DPWH's complacency about the project involving the improving of roads going to the municipality. He attributed the complacency to the pork barrel scandal that was already happening in the country's politics since several days before the said complaint due to overspending of their budget for the said project.[9]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://archive.org/download/PhilippinesCensusofPopulationLGUs19032007/Region%2011%20Davao%20Region%20Philippines%20Census%20of%20Population%201903%20-%202007.xlsx 2011 Census
  2. RA. 1206. An Act Changing the Name of the Municipality of Trinidad, Province of Davao, to Jose Abad Santos . LawPH.com. 2011-04-11. April 20, 1955.
  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. PD. 1550. An Act Creating the Municipality of Sarangani in the Province of Davao Del Sur. The Lawphil Project. June 11, 1979. July 26, 2024.
  5. RA. 10360. An Act Creating the Province of Davao Occidental. The Lawphil Project. January 14, 2013. July 26, 2024.
  6. Web site: Quake info: Mag. 2.4 earthquake - Philippines Sea, 60 km east of Caburan, Davao Occidental, Philippines, on 01 January 2021 - 09:18 AM (PST) / VolcanoDiscovery. volcanodiscovery.com. 2021-01-03.
  7. Web site: Jose Abad Santos Mayor's Facebook Message. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/777029709/10158916240479710 . 2022-02-26 . limited. Facebook. 2021-01-03.
  8. Web site: 1 dead, 32 hospitalized due to diarrhea in Davao Occidental town. ABS-CBN News. 2021-01-03.
  9. Web site: 'Pork mess mere cover-up of Palace corruption' - Manila Standard Today. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130719160203/http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/07/17/pork-mess-mere-cover-up-of-palace-corruption . 2013-07-19 .