Davao del Norte: The Banana Capital of the Philippines
Bananas at Cavendish Banana Plantations (Panabo City, Davao del Norte)
Davao del Norte, also known as Davao, is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Tagum City. It borders the province of Agusan del Sur to the north, Bukidnon to the west, Compostela Valley to the east, and the city of Davao to the south. Davao also includes Samal Island to the south in the Davao Gulf. The province of Compostela Valley used to be part of Davao until it was made into an independent province in 1998. Before 1967, the four provinces—Davao, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Compostela Valley—were once a single province named Davao. The Davao Region covers this historic province.
Economy
Davao del Norte is primarily agricultural, but is also engaged in mining, forestry, and commercial fishing.
The principal crops of the province include rice, maize, banana, coconut, abacá, ramie, coffee, and a variety of fruit and root crops. Davao del Norte is the country's leading producer of bananas, with many plantations run by multinationals Dole and Del Monte, and local producers such as Lapanday, TADECO, and Marsman. Davao del Norte is also one of Mindanao's leading producers of rice.
Davao Gulf, to the south of the province, provides a living for many fishermen. Some of the fish products include brackish water milkfish, tilapia, shrimp, and crab; and freshwater catfish and tilapia.
Davao del Norte is a major producer of gold, and its mining resources include silica, silver, copper and elemental sulfur. Small-scale gold mining activities thrive in several areas. There are also numerous active quarries of commercial quantities of gravel, sand, and pebbles for construction.
Tourism is also a major part of the economy of Davao del Norte. There are a lot of beaches on Samal Island, the most famous of which is Pearl Farm Beach Resort.
The province of Davao del Norte is also known as "The Banana Capital of the Philippines."
History
In 1942, Japanese Imperial forces entered Northern Davao.
In 1945, combined United States and the Philippine Commonwealth Army forces, including the recognized Davaoeño guerrilla units, made a siege in the province of Northern Davao against Japanese troops. It was liberated through the Battle of Davao during World War II.
Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley, together with Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur, used to be a whole province simply known as Davao. This original province was split into three: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental when Republic Act No. 4867 (authored by Representative Lorenzo S. Sarmiento, Sr.) signed into law on May 8, 1967 by President Ferdinand Marcos.
Davao del Norte was originally composed of thirteen municipalities, namely: Asuncion, Babak (now in Samal City), Compostela, Kapalong, Mabini, Mawab, Monkayo, Nabunturan, Panabo, Pantukan, Samal, Santo Tomas and Tagum.
On May 6, 1970, six more municipalities were created: Carmen, Kaputian (now in Samal City), Maco, Montevista, New Bataan, and New Corella.
The passage of Republic Act No. 6430 on June 17, 1972 changed the name of the province from Davao del Norte to Davao.
By 1996, Davao has a total of twenty-two municipalities with the creation of San Vicente (now Laak) in 1979, Maragusan in 1988, and Talaingod in 1990.
On January 31, 1998, President Fidel V. Ramos signed Republic Act No. 8470, which split the province into two, creating the province of Compostela Valley. In the meantime, Davao was renamed back to Davao del Norte. Together with the creation of the new province, two cities and one municipality were created: the municipality of Tagum, the capital of Davao del Norte, was converted into a city (R.A. 8472); Samal, Babak, and Kaputian were joined into the city of Samal (R.A. 8471); and the municipality of Braulio E. Dujali was created out of several barangays in Panabo and Carmen (R.A. 8473). The province then had 8 municipalities and 2 cities.
Republic Act No. 9015, signed into law on March 5, 2001 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, converted the municipality of Panabo into a city. Republic Act No. 9265, approved on March 15, 2004 created the municipality of San Isidro from Asuncion and Kapalong.
Tourism
- TADECO Banana Plantation
This is the largest plantation of Banana in the Philippines known for exports.
- Cavendish Banana Plantations
The country's main player when it comes to the banana industry for exports.
The Pearl Farm is located in Samal Island, just a short boat ride from Davao City. The 11-hectare resort was once a real pearl farm that cultivated oysters imported from the Sulu Sea, and produces some of the best pearls in the country. Now the white sand beach resort is a top tourist attraction in Davao del Norte with cottages inspired by Isamal native design. Playa azalea beach resort in an island garden city of Samal banana beach resort in tagum city Tagum city hall is one of the bests landmarks in Davao del Norte .
- Ace Flower Garden
Located in the city of Tagum. It features different kinds of flowers.
- Apo Estates Corporation
Dubbed as "Little Subic". It is an eco-industrial zone in the province accredited by PEZA.
Nestle Experimental Demo Farm
The coffee farm of the province that can be found in Tagum City. Various breeds of coffee are planted in the area.
- Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort
This is a well-known destination located in Caliclic, Samal City. It features modern amenities. It is mostly visited by both local and foreign guests.
List of Tourist Attractions
Cultural
- Ata-Manobo Cultural Village
- Gupitan Cultural Village
- Indoge Kalumonan
- Lumad Island
- Dibabaon Tribal Community
Man-Made
- Katarina Beach Resort
- Barret Beach Resort
- Elena's Inland Resort
- Abujos Hillside Garden
- Aloha Inland Resort
- Amako Inland Resort
- Espiritu Inland Resort
- Gambrille Resort and Restaurant
- Aqua Land Resort
- MAMFIMCO Telama
- Fishpen Aqua
- Penon Resort
- Saug River Irrigation Dam
- City Park & Plaza
- Aqualand Resort
- Sta. Cruz Garden Resort
Natural
- Paraiso Cave
- Magical Hidden Sprig of Panas
- Binancian waterfalls
- Igangon Cave and Spring
- Misolong Falls
- Mt. Mossy
- Quimoy Cold Spring
- Lake Bagtok
- Dakudao Ecotourism Park
- Tugtuganan Falls
- Datu Kugsing Cave
- Sambulawan Falls
- Kabyawan Cave
- Sayaw Cave
- Datu Balong Cave
- Maltag Cave
- Lemente Cave
- Mangitngit Cave "Bat Cave"
- L-Best Cave
- Panas Ecotourism Park
- Lake Paiton
- Okbot Cave
- Suaon Nature's Park
- Mt. Sangan - Ampawid
- Mt. Masimalon
- Madgao River
- Napungas Cave
- Mangrove Forest
- Suwaon Natures Park
- Okbot Cave
- Datu Balong Hills
- Datu Balong Cave
- Busay Cave
- Matol Falls (break-in mountain water falls)
- San Miguel Caves
Religious
- Regina Rosarii Shrine / Mary's Wood Shrine
- Mary's Wood Shrine
- Jericho
- Christ the King Cathedral
- San Isidro Labrador Parish
- Holy Infant - HEC
- Sto. Niño Parish Church
- Divine Mercy Shrine
Special Interest
- Davao Penal Colony
- TADECO Banana Plantation
- PAG-ASA Farms
- Nestle Experimental Demo Farm
- Ace Flowers
- Novelty Paper Products - TADECO
- Mat Weaving
- Aqua Penon
- Bee Farm
- RJS Farm
- APO Estates Corp.
- Asphalt Plant Batch Type
- Tagum Energy Park
- Battle of Ising Monument
- Sto. Tomas Ecology Park
- Tagum Trade and Cultural Center
- Tahanan ng Gobernador
- La Filipina Cemetery
- Agriculture
- GFC Inc
- Marsman
- VAB-Corp.
- TADECO
Where to Stay
Here is the list of accommodations around the province.
- Alta Pension House - J.P Laurel Avenue, Davao City
- BS Inn - Monteverde Street, Gempesaw Street, Davao City
- Aljem's Inn - A. Pichon Street, Davao City
- Arabella Lodge - Quezon St., Tagum City
- Apo View Hotel - J. Camus St., Davao City
- Border's Inn - National Highway, Tagum City
- Apollo Lodging House - Osmeña St., Tagum City
- Aveflor Inn and Restaurant - C.M. Recto Street, Davao City
- Aureus Inn - Rizal St., Tagum City
- Bagobo House Hotel - Gov. Duterte Street, Davao City
- Azenith Royale Hotel - Governor Camins Avenue, Davao City
Accessibilty
Major local airlines like Cebu Pacific, Airphil Express, Zest Air, Air Asia or Philippine Airlines, have daily trips to Davao City from Manila and Cebu. Upon arrival in Davao Airport, ride a taxi or bus going to Davao Central Terminal where you can ride a bus traveling around the province.
Visitors can also ride a RORO from Manila to Davao.