Davao City

Davao City

Davao City is the largest city in the Philippines. It is one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province. The city serves as the regional center for Davao Region (Region XI), and has a population of 1,363,330 residents (2007 census).

Aerial view of Davao City

Davao City is a top tourist destination

In recent years, Davao City has emerged as the business, investment and tourism capital for the entire Mindanao. The Foreign Direct Investment Magazine has named Davao City as the "10th Asian City of the Future". The city boasts of many worldclass beaches and mountain resorts, and was awarded by the Department of Tourism as the "Most Livable City" in the Philippines in 2008.
 

Map of Davao City

Location

Davao City is approximately 588 statute miles (946 km) southeast of Manila, 971 kilometers (524 nautical miles) by sea. It covers a land area of 2,443.61 square kilometers, and is divided into 3 congressional districts, which are further divided into 11 administrative districts containing a total of 184 barangays. Almost 50% of its total land area is classified as timberland or forest, while Agriculture utilizes about 43% - banana, pineapple, coffee, and coconut.

Mount Apo - Philippines' Highest Mountain Peak is in Davao

Climate

Davao City is typhoon-free. The city enjoys a balmy weather all year round. It is characterized by a uniform distribution of rainfall, temperature, humidity, and air pressure. It has no pronounced wet or dry season. Weather predictability makes it highly conducive to agricultural production. Temperature ranges from 20 to 32 degrees Celsius, and the average rainfall is up to 2,000 mm yearly.

Language

Cebuano (Bisaya) is the most widely spoken dialect in the city, while Tagalog comes as a distant second, though, a local "dabawenyo" dialect is also spoken by a few. English is the medium of instruction in schools and is widely understood and spoken by the people. Other notable languages are Hiligaynon and Ilocano.

A local Spanish based creole, Chavacano, is also still spoken, mainly by immigrants from Cotabato and Zamboanga.

San Pedro Cathedral - one of the oldest churches

Religion

Eighty percent of the population is Roman Catholic. Other Christian denominations such as Protestants, Evangelicals, and the like comprise 18%, while the  remaining 1.17% belong to other non-Christian faiths, such as Islam, Buddhism, and Animism.

International Seaport

Accessibility

Davao City is the gateway to the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA. Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines.

Davao City is accessible by bus to and from any point in Mindanao

By land

Davao City has a wide bus network connection to major cities and provinces, not only in Mindanao but even as far as Manila. Davao City is connected to Manila by a series of roll-on/roll-off (RORO) or inter-island ferry connection. Davao City is accessible by bus to and from points in Mindanao like Cotabato, Kidapawan, Midsayap, Digos, General Santos, Koronadal, Isulan, Tacurong, Tagum, Cagayan de Oro, Surigao, Butuan, and with Manila in Luzon.

Davao City is connected to Manila by a series of (RORO) or inter-island ferry connection

By Sea

The Port of Davao has two government seaports: Sasa International Wharf, and Sta. Ana Domestic Wharf; and 9 privately owned ports. In addition, the Toril International Fish Port Complex accommodates small and large-scale fishing activities as well as cold-storage facilities. The city also serves domestic passenger ferries at Sasa Port and Sta. Ana Wharf.

Davao International Airport

By Air

Davao International Airport (Francisco Bangoy International Airport) is the busiest airport in Mindanao. Expansion and modernization began in 1998. Today, the new DIA, which was opened in December 2003, has begun accommodating larger jets such as the Boeing 747, the Airbus A330 and the Airbus A340. The Davao International Airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower, is considered as the most advanced ATCs in the Philippines.