Davao Occidental
Davao Occidental is a province in the Davao Region of Mindanao, Philippines, with Malita as its capital.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Davao Occidental, officially the Province of Davao Occidental, is a Philippine province occupying the southwestern portion of the Davao Region on the island of Mindanao. Its capital and principal administrative center is Malita, which is also the province's most populous municipality and main commercial hub. The province faces Davao Gulf to the east and has a maritime boundary with Indonesia's North Sulawesi province to the south. On land, it borders Davao del Sur to the northwest and Sarangani to the west. Its territory includes the mainland municipalities of Malita, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Santa Maria, and the island municipality of Sarangani, which includes Balut and Sarangani islands. The province was created from five municipalities formerly belonging to the second congressional district of Davao del Sur. Republic Act No. 10360 established the new province, and the law was approved in January 2013 after passage by Congress. A plebiscite held on October 28, 2013 ratified the creation of Davao Occidental. The province's proponents argued that the distance between the municipalities and Digos, the capital of Davao del Sur, hindered access to government offices and basic services. The new provincial structure was intended to improve administration, public-service delivery, and local economic development. Critics, including a Davao del Sur representative, argued that the separation was politically motivated and amounted to gerrymandering. Until elected provincial officials took office on June 30, 2016, administrative responsibilities were exercised by officials of Davao del Sur with assistance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government. The area has a much longer history than its modern provincial designation. Before Spanish and American administrative arrangements, parts of the territory were associated with the Sultanate of Maguindanao and, in the Sarangani area, the Sultanate of Buayan. Indigenous Lumad communities, including Matigsalug and Tagakaulo peoples, were among the area's original inhabitants. During the twentieth century, migrants from Luzon and the Visayas settled in the region, and their descendants later formed a substantial share of the population. Communities of Indonesian Sangirese descent also live in the province. Malita was established as a municipality in 1936, followed by Jose Abad Santos in 1948, Santa Maria in 1968, Don Marcelino in 1979, and Sarangani in 1980. The territory became part of Davao del Sur when the former Davao Province was divided into three provinces in 1967. Davao Occidental covers approximately 2,163.45 square kilometers. Its terrain is predominantly mountainous, rugged, hilly, and sloping, with relatively little flat land. The eastern coast combines beaches and cliffs with hills close to the shoreline, while coconut and hardwood trees are prominent across the mainland. The province's geography strongly influences settlement, transport, farming, and public-service access. A partly coastal highway runs through the mainland from north to south, connecting the province to routes through Davao del Sur and toward General Santos. Buses, jeepneys, and passenger vans provide much of the land transport, while boats remain important for coastal communities and for Sarangani municipality. Agriculture and aquaculture are the principal economic activities. Fish, bananas, and coconuts are among the important products, with output sent to major urban markets in southern Mindanao, including Davao City. Rice production is more limited because much of the land is mountainous or forested. Malita functions as the main center for commerce and provincial administration. Tourism remains an emerging sector, supported by coastal beaches and the island environments of Sarangani and Balut. The province also has a distinct religious identity surrounding Our Lady of the Rosary of Malita, recognized as its patroness and protectress by a provincial resolution in 2024 and by a canonical decree in 2025. Davao Occidental remains an active provincial government jurisdiction rather than a commercial brand, and public administration, infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, and regional connectivity define its contemporary profile.
History
The territory now known as Davao Occidental was historically connected with Muslim sultanates in Mindanao. Much of the area was associated with the Sultanate of Maguindanao, while the Sarangani area was later linked with the Sultanate of Buayan. Indigenous Lumad communities, including Matigsalug and Tagakaulo peoples, inhabited the region before the large-scale migration associated with modern Philippine settlement. Under American colonial administration, the territory formed part of the larger Davao Province. An administrative act dated December 10, 1904 placed much of the area extending toward present-day Malita within the municipality of Santa Cruz. Malita became the first municipality established in the area of the present province when it was founded in 1936 under a presidential proclamation. Other municipalities followed over subsequent decades: Jose Abad Santos in 1948, Santa Maria in 1968, Don Marcelino in 1979, and Sarangani in 1980. In 1967, the former Davao Province was divided into Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur. The municipalities that would eventually form Davao Occidental became part of Davao del Sur. Over time, distance from Digos, the Davao del Sur capital, became a central argument for provincial separation. Supporters said the distance made it harder for residents to obtain services and interact with provincial offices. Opponents characterized the proposal as politically convenient and potentially motivated by gerrymandering. Republic Act No. 10360 provided the legal basis for creating Davao Occidental. The measure passed both chambers of Congress in late 2012 and was signed by President Benigno Aquino III on January 14, 2013. The new province comprised five municipalities from the former second district of Davao del Sur. Voters approved the separation in a plebiscite held on October 28, 2013. During the transition, Davao del Sur officials, supported by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, continued to exercise administrative jurisdiction. Davao Occidental's elected local officials took office on June 30, 2016. The province's administrative capital is Malita. It is organized into five municipalities and constitutes a single congressional district. Its geography is defined by the mountainous southwestern tip of the Davao Region, an eastern coastline along Davao Gulf, and the island municipality of Sarangani. The terrain has limited the extent of rice farming and made road and maritime transport central to economic and social connections. Agriculture and aquaculture form the economic base. Fish, bananas, and coconuts are important products, while Malita serves as the principal commercial center. Tourism development has focused on beaches and the islands of Sarangani and Balut. The province's population includes descendants of migrants from Luzon and the Visayas, Lumad communities in upland and forested areas, and Indonesian Sangirese settlers. Religious history also remains significant: devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary of Malita dates to the nineteenth century, with episcopal coronation in 2022, provincial recognition in 2024, and canonical recognition in 2025.
- 2025
Canonical recognition
[1]The Diocese of Digos issued a canonical decree recognizing the patroness designation.
- 2024
Provincial patroness designation
[1]A provincial resolution recognized Our Lady of the Rosary of Malita as patroness and protectress.
- 2022
Episcopal coronation of Our Lady of the Rosary of Malita
[1]The devotion associated with the province's later patroness designation received an episcopal coronation.
- 2016
Provincial elected government begins
[1]Elected provincial officials assumed office on June 30, marking the start of regular local administration.
- 2013
Davao Occidental is created and ratified
[1]Republic Act No. 10360 created the province, and voters ratified its formation in an October 28 plebiscite.
- 1967
Davao Province is divided
[1]The former Davao Province was divided into three provinces, placing the future Davao Occidental municipalities within Davao del Sur.
- 1936
Malita is founded as a municipality
[1]Malita was established by presidential proclamation and later became the capital and principal administrative center of Davao Occidental.
- 1904
Area incorporated into American-era municipal administration
[1]An American colonial administrative measure placed much of the area toward present-day Malita within the municipality of Santa Cruz.
Products and positioning
A developing, agriculture- and aquaculture-oriented province in southwestern Mindanao, positioned around improved local governance, coastal resources, island communities, and access to markets in southern Mindanao.
Aquaculture and fisheries
Fish and aquaculture products
Aquaculture and fishing are among Davao Occidental's leading economic activities. Fish production supports local livelihoods and supplies markets in southern Mindanao. Coastal geography, Davao Gulf access, and island communities make marine and inland fisheries important components of the provincial economy.
Agriculture
Bananas
Bananas are a notable agricultural product of the province. Production forms part of the broader agricultural economy and contributes to shipments serving urban markets elsewhere in southern Mindanao.
Agriculture
Coconuts
Coconut cultivation is widespread across the province, where coconut trees are a prominent feature of the mainland landscape. The crop is one of the products associated with Davao Occidental's rural economy.
Tourism
Coastal and island tourism
Tourism in Davao Occidental is an emerging activity centered on coastal beaches, shoreline landscapes, and the islands of Sarangani and Balut. Development is shaped by the province's rugged terrain and the continuing importance of maritime transport.
Brand decisions
2013
Creation of a separate provinceStrategyBackground
Supporters argued that the municipalities were too distant from Digos, the capital of Davao del Sur, reducing the efficiency of public-service delivery and access to provincial offices.
Action taken
Republic Act No. 10360 established Davao Occidental from five municipalities, subject to approval through a provincial plebiscite.
Aftermath
The plebiscite approved the separation, and elected provincial officials began governing the new province in 2016. Critics argued that the change reflected political convenience.
Sources2 sources
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