| Flag Size: | 120x80px | ||
| Seal Size: | 100x80px | ||
| Image Map1: |
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| Pushpin Map: | Philippines | ||
| Pushpin Label Position: | left | ||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the | ||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||
| Subdivision Name: | Philippines | ||
| Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||
| Subdivision Name1: | Davao Region | ||
| Subdivision Type2: | Province | ||
| Nickname: |
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| Motto: | Nabunturan, A Progressive, Peaceful, and Dynamic Agri-based Municipality | ||
| Anthem: | Nabunturan Hymn | ||
| Subdivision Type3: | District | ||
| Established Title: | Founded | ||
| Established Date: | July 23, 1957 | ||
| Parts Type: | Barangays | ||
| Parts Style: | para | ||
| P1: | (see Barangays) | ||
| Leader Name: | Myrocel Clarin-Balili | ||
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor | ||
| Leader Name1: | Rodel G. Balili | ||
| Leader Name2: | Ruwel Peter S. Gonzaga | ||
| Leader Title3: | Councilor | ||
| Leader Title4: | Electorate | ||
| Leader Name4: | voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|) | ||
| Elevation Max M: | 437 | ||
| Elevation Min M: | 64 | ||
| Population Density Km2: | auto | ||
| Population Blank1 Title: | Households | ||
| Population Demonym: | Nabunturanon | ||
| 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 | ||
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Native languages | ||
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | Crime index | ||
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Major religions | ||
| Blank2 Name Sec2: | Feast date | ||
| Blank3 Name Sec2: | Catholic diocese | ||
| Blank4 Name Sec2: | Patron saint | ||
Nabunturan, officially the Municipality of Nabunturan (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Nabunturan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Nabunturan), is a 1st class municipality and capital of the province of Davao de Oro, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 84,340 people.
The municipality is home to the Mainit Hot Springs Protected Landscape.
The town of Nabunturan was once a barangay of Municipality of Compostela. The origin of the name is from buntod, the Cebuano term for "mountain." The word "Nabunturan" means "surrounded by mountains" in English. The early settlement was governed by a headman called Bagani, but was under the supervision of the Municipal District President of Compostela over matters concerning civil affairs. For the maintenance of peace and order, the area was under the immediate supervision of the Philippine Constabulary Detachment of Camp Kalaw, Moncayo. From barangay Jaguimitan in the north to barangay Mawab (now a municipality in the south), the whole Compostela town was divided into two (2) municipal districts: the district of Moncayo, and the district of Compostela, with the latter's seat of local government in barangay Nabunturan, now the municipality of Nabunturan.
Before the construction of the national road traversing Nabunturan, the place was little known; but despite the threat of malaria, which was prevalent at the time, pioneers ventured into the area. Mansaka natives settled their lives here in the municipality of Mawab to Barangay Bangkerohan, Montevista. The original site of Barangay Nabunturan was situated along the Libasan-Saosao Provincial Road, about 4 km from the present Poblacion site. The public school system was under the supervision of the Supervising Teacher stationed in the Kalaw Settlement for schools in the district of Monkayo.
When the road was constructed in 1938, many Visayan settlers and pioneers came to Nabunturan and made it their home. By that time, the establishment of the Bureau of Public Works (BPW) camp settled in Nabunturan. Many business trades and establishments poured in and Nabunturan was established as a rural community.
In 1941, the Second World War broke out in the country. A new hiding place for guerrillas and USAFFE Contingents spread in Nabunturan. But during the Japanese occupation in Mindanao, Nabunturan became a Japanese Kempetai Garrison. After the war, the Japanese were repulsed back to Davao City, and the camp regained its status as the center of life and business in Davao de Oro. Camp Kalaw was destroyed and abandoned.
In 1945, American forces landed in Davao City, and the Philippine Civil Assistance Unit (PCAU) established the civil government of Compostela at Nabunturan because of its accessibility to Davao City. By that time, many highways and roads were constructed, and Nabunturan became a center of commerce. Because of this, the need to convert Nabunturan into a municipality was felt. On July 23, 1957, 30 days after the approval and passage of Republic Act no. 2038, a new political unit—separate and distinct from the mother municipality of Compostela—was created. It retained its original name, Nabunturan. The first mayor of the town was Lauro C. Arabejo, the incumbent mayor of the municipality of Compostela.
On January 30, 1998, President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law the creation of the 79th province of the country, Compostela Valley (now named Davao de Oro), pursuant to Rep. Act 8470, which created Nabunturan as its capital town on March 8, 1998. Prospero Amatong, then incumbent governor of Davao del Norte province from which the new province of Compostela Valley was carved out, opted to serve as the first governor of the newly created province. He only served for one day because he resigned the following day and filed his candidacy for Congress. He was succeeded by Luz Sarmiento as an appointed governor and served for two months. The first elected governor was Jose R. Caballero who served from July 1, 1998, to June 30, 2007.
See main article: Cities of the Philippines. On August 1, 2022, House Bill No. 2854 was filed by Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga which seeks to convert Nabunturan into a component city.
In the 19th Congress of the Philippines, house bills were filed by various representatives which seeks Nabunturan including other capital towns of provinces with no current component cities, independent component cities or highly urbanized cities to automatically convert into cities.[1] [2] [3]
Nabunturan is subdivided into 28 barangays, namely: Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
In the 2020 census, the population of Nabunturan was 84,340 people, with a density of NaNPD/km2NaNPD/km2.
Nabunturan is also home to the biggest gold ring in the Philippines, "The Solidarity Ring."
| + Local Executives Serving the Municipality of Nabunturan Since 1957–Present | |||
| Name of mayor | Years served | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lauro C. Arabejo | 1957–1959 | not, who continued his two unexpired term as Mayor of Compostela | |
| Antonio A. Tulio | 1960–1963 | Served until Sep 11, 1963, only because he ran for Provincial Board | |
| Gregorio Echavez | Four Months | Served as Mayor on Sep 12, 1964, being the Vice Mayor. | |
| Lauro C. Arabejo | 1964–1967 | Served Mayor for the whole term | |
| Lauro C. Arabejo | 1968–1969 | Served as Mayor until 1969 because he ran for Congressman | |
| Venancio C. Piastro | 1969–1971 | Served as Mayor from September 1969 to 1971 being the Vice Mayor | |
| 1972–1977 | Served as Mayor from January 1, 1972, to September 28, 1977, after his courtesy resignation was accepted by then President Marcos. | ||
| Zosimo A. Bugas | 1977–1980 | Appointed and Served as mayor from Sept.29,1977 to Mar.2,1980 | |
| 1980–1986 | Served as Mayor until March 31, 1986, only because he was appointed as OIC Governor. | ||
| Venancio C. Piastro | 15 Days | Served as Mayor from Apr 1, 1986, to Apr.15,1986 for being the Vice Mayor | |
| Arsenio B. Flores | 1986–1988 | Appointed and served as OIC Mayor from April 16, 1986, to January 26, 1988 | |
| Romeo A. Chavez, MD | 5 Days | Appointed and served as Mayor from January 27, 1988, to February 1, 1988 | |
| Joel O. Bugas | 1988–1992 | Served Mayor for the whole term | |
| Joel O. Bugas | 1992–1995 | Re-elected Mayor during 1992 national and local elections | |
| Joel O. Bugas | 1995–1998 | Re-elected Mayor during 1995 national and local elections | |
| Ruben R. Flores MD | 1998–2001 | Served Mayor for the whole term | |
| Macario T. Humol | 2001–2004 | for the whole term | |
| Macario T. Humol | 2004–2007 | Served Mayor for the whole term | |
| Macario T. Humol | 2007–2010 | Re-elected Mayor during the May 14, 2007, national and local elections | |
| Romeo C. Clarin | 2010–2016 | Served Mayor of Nabunturan | |
| Chelita C. Amatong | 2016–2022 | Served Mayor of Nabunturan | |
| Myrocel C. Balili | 2022–present | Elected Mayor of Nabunturan |