Davao Oriental is a province in the Philippines located in the southeastern part of the country.  It is composed of two congressional districts covering 10 municipalities and 1 city.  With 5,164 square kilometres, Davao Oriental is the biggest province in Davao Region contributing around 32.82% to the total regional land area.    The province is home to approximately 517,000 people and has adequate number of competent professionals and skilled workers.

Davao Oriental’s strategic location as ‘Gateway to the Pacific’ is one of its comparative advantages.   It is proximate to the  neighboring countries  across  the  Pacific   such as,   the Palau Group of Islands,  Micronesia,  the Marianas,  Guam, Taiwan,  and  a portion of North Sulawesi,  Indonesia.

Under the pacific gateway perspective,  there are  potential  areas for investments  which we intend  to  explore.  These are  agri-industry  with emphasis on  food production and processing;   marine and fishery development;    tourism development;  renewable energy development;  and,   connectivity enhancement.

On travel and tourism, Davao Oriental offers a wide selection of natural beauty spots that can capture even the most jaded tastes.    We have majestic waterfalls, mystic lakes and rivers, refreshing hot and cold springs, White-sand   beaches   scattered all over the province, exciting diving and surfing sites, captivating  and  mysterious  caves . and,  several  exotic  islands  which are ideal destination for retreats  and entertainment.     Another pride of the province is   the amazing pygmy or bonsai forest - home to diverse flora and fauna and exotic wildlife species-   the Hamiguitan Mountain Range Wildlife Sanctuary – the first and only site in Mindanao inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

HOW TO REACH DAVAO ORIENTAL

The City of Mati, the province’s capital, can be reached thru scheduled airline flights to Davao City or regularly scheduled inter-island vessels that fly the Manila-Davao City or Cebu-Davao City route.

From Davao City, Mati is accessible by a 25-minute chartered plane flight, or a three-hour private car ride, or a four-hour public utility bus ride.

Using Davao City as a transit point, the province is readily accessible to the markets of the BIMP-EAGA particularly North Sulawesi (Indonesia), Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia), Brunei Darussalam, and Singapore.

VISION

A God-centered society whose government faithfully carries out its duties, that judiciously develops and sustains its natural resources, whose industries benefit from robust and resilient infrastructure, whose products and services gain worldwide recognition, whose people strive for excellence, and thus enjoy abundance and prosperity, where every family lives with safety, security, and human dignity, and where everyone is proud to be DABAWENYO!

MISSION

Promote the general welfare of the people of Davao Oriental through the pursuit of a dynamic socio-economic development, provision of adequate basic services and support facilities, rational and sustainable utilization of resources anchored on the value of commitment, justice, equality and genuine people’s participation

​Davao Oriental is a province in the Philippines located in the southeastern part of the country.  It is composed of two congressional districts covering 10 municipalities and 1 city.  With 5,164 square kilometres, Davao Oriental is the biggest province in Davao Region contributing around 32.82% to the total regional land area.    The province is home to approximately 517,000 people and has adequate number of competent professionals and skilled workers.

Davao Oriental’s strategic location as ‘Gateway to the Pacific’ is one of its comparative advantages.   It is proximate to the  neighboring countries  across  the  Pacific   such as,   the Palau Group of Islands,  Micronesia,  the Marianas,  Guam, Taiwan,  and  a portion of North Sulawesi,  Indonesia.

Under the pacific gateway perspective,  there are  potential  areas for investments  which we intend  to  explore.  These are  agri-industry  with emphasis on  food production and processing;   marine and fishery development;    tourism development;  renewable energy development;  and,   connectivity enhancement.

On travel and tourism, Davao Oriental offers a wide selection of natural beauty spots that can capture even the most jaded tastes.    We have majestic waterfalls, mystic lakes and rivers, refreshing hot and cold springs, White-sand   beaches   scattered all over the province, exciting diving and surfing sites, captivating  and  mysterious  caves . and,  several  exotic  islands  which are ideal destination for retreats  and entertainment.     Another pride of the province is   the amazing pygmy or bonsai forest - home to diverse flora and fauna and exotic wildlife species-   the Hamiguitan Mountain Range Wildlife Sanctuary – the first and only site in Mindanao inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

VISION

A God-centered society whose government faithfully carries out its duties, that judiciously develops and sustains its natural resources, whose industries benefit from robust and resilient infrastructure, whose products and services gain worldwide recognition,whose people strive for excellence, and thus enjoy abundance and prosperity, where every family lives with safety, security and human dignity, and where everyone is proud to be DABAWENYO!

MISSION

Promote the general welfare of the people of Davao Oriental through the pursuit of a dynamic socio-economic development, provision of adequate basic services and support facilities, rational and sustainable utilization of resources anchored on the value of commitment, justice, equality and genuine people’s participation

About 300 years ago, Davao Oriental was merely a part of Caraga Province, forming part of the Encomienda de Bislig with the Encomienda de Seargao, Butuan, and Tandag.  The province became historically important in 1846, when a distinguished Attorney-at-Law, Don Jose Uyanguren, upon the order of Gov. Narciso Claveria, organized settlements with considerable inhabitants south of the Encomienda de Bislig.  Today, these are the municipalities of Baganga, Governor Generoso and Mati.

As the settlement continued to grow, Don Jose was able to crush Datu Bago, a Bagobo chieftain who ruled Samal Island and marked his conquest on the vast lush region beyond the island.  In February 27, 1849, Gov. Claveria decreed the partition of Caraga province in two.  The northern portion was named Surigao Province, with Surigao town as the capital, and the southern part of Eastern Mindanao, including Davao Gulf, was named Nueva Guipozcoa in honor of his natal town in Spain with Caraga Town as its capital.  But, for expediency in matters of administration, Nueva Guizpozcoa was placed under the direct supervision and control of Commandancia de Bislig.  Later, Nueva Guipozcoa was renamed Davao.

In 1898, Davao became a district of the Moro Province created as part of Mindanao by the Americans with General Leonard Wood as its first Military Governor and in 1916, Jones Law converted Moro province into the Department of Mindanao and Sulu – all districts comprising the Department became a regular province.  Don Gulalio Causing became the first Provincial Governor.

Eastern Davao, the “Contra Costa” remained only a promise to the administration, and from August 31 to September 3, 1924, the Municipal Presidents of Cateel, Baganga, Manay and Mati approved a resolution favorably endorsed by the council of member municipalities petitioning the higher authorities concerned to declare Eastern Davao as a sub-province to be called Plaridel.

In 1956, Congressman Ismael Veloso of Davao passed a bill in Congress creating Davao del Sur Province.  He proposed the separation of the municipalities of Lianga, Hinatuan, Bislig and Lingig from Surigao Province to be combined with Contra Costa towns.  Unfortunately, the bill failed to get the approval of the Senate.  He then passed another bill dividing Davao into three provinces.  The bill was approved in the Lower House but failed to get the approval of the Senate.  Congressman Lorenzo Sarmiento revived the bill in 1965.  This time, with the blessing of Senator Alejandro Almendras, the bill finally got the approval of both chambers and became Republic Act 4867.  This Republic Act brought into existence the Province of Davao Oriental.