Don Marcelino

Don Marcelino, officially the Municipality of Don Marcelino, is a local government municipality in the province of Davao Occidental, Philippines. It is a geographically defined public administrative entity rather than a commercial consumer brand. The municipality is located in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao and forms part of Davao Occidental’s local-government system. The municipality was created from territory formerly administered by Malita through Batas Pambansa Bilang 47, enacted on December 19, 1979. At its establishment, Don Marcelino comprised six barangays: Calian, Kiobog, Lamidan, Lawa, Nueva Villa, and Talagutong. Its name honors Marcelino Maruya, who served as the first municipal mayor of Malita after being appointed to that position by President Manuel L. Quezon in 1936. The honorific “Don” forms part of the place name. Don Marcelino was initially part of Davao del Sur. Following the creation of Davao Occidental, a plebiscite held on October 28, 2013 approved the municipality’s transfer to the new province. It has since operated as one of Davao Occidental’s municipalities and is politically divided into 15 barangays, with barangays further organized into puroks and, in some cases, sitios. The municipality’s public identity is centered on local governance, community administration, public services, and the economic and social activities of its residents. Available reference material does not identify a commercial parent company, private owner, listed entity, product portfolio, or consumer-brand operating structure. The municipality’s population was reported as 45,681 in the 2024 census. Its local government for the 2022–2025 term was headed by Mayor Michael A. Maruya and Vice Mayor Mark Edward Anthony M. Maruya, with a municipal council composed of eight listed councilors. Don Marcelino has also appeared in regional news in connection with natural hazards and public-safety incidents. Earthquakes affected the municipality in 2017. In the same year, television personality Franco Hernandez died in a drowning incident in Barangay North Lamidan. These events are part of the municipality’s documented public record but are not commercial brand activities.

Don Marcelino is named after Marcelino Maruya, who became the first municipal mayor of the former mother municipality of Malita after receiving a presidential appointment from Manuel L. Quezon in 1936. The place name combines the honorific “Don” with Maruya’s given name, commemorating his role in local public administration. The municipality was formally established in Davao del Sur under Batas Pambansa Bilang 47 on December 19, 1979. It was carved out of Malita and initially consisted of six barangays: Calian, Kiobog, Lamidan, Lawa, Nueva Villa, and Talagutong. This creation gave the new municipality its own local administrative structure while retaining its connection to the wider political and geographic area of southern Mindanao. A major territorial change occurred in 2013. On October 28 of that year, voters participated in a plebiscite concerning the establishment of Davao Occidental. The majority approved the creation of the new province, and Don Marcelino was ceded from Davao del Sur to Davao Occidental. It has remained within Davao Occidental since that reorganization. The municipality is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. These barangays are further organized into puroks, and some contain sitios. Local administration includes an elected mayor, vice mayor, and municipal council, while public services and community administration are delivered through the municipal and barangay governments. Reference material reports a population of 45,681 in the 2024 census. The municipality’s documented public affairs include local government, demographic and economic conditions, and disaster or public-safety events. Earthquakes affected the area in 2017. On November 11 of that year, television personality Franco Hernandez died in a drowning incident in Barangay North Lamidan. No commercial products, corporate ownership, or private brand operations are identified in the available material.

• 2024

  Population recorded at 45,681

  [1]Don Marcelinoen.wikipedia.org

  The 2024 census reported a population of 45,681 for the municipality.

• 2017

  Earthquakes affect the municipality

  [1]Don Marcelinoen.wikipedia.org

  Don Marcelino was among the places affected by earthquake activity reported during 2017.

• 2013

  Transferred to Davao Occidental

  [1]Don Marcelinoen.wikipedia.org

  A plebiscite on October 28 approved the creation of Davao Occidental, after which Don Marcelino became part of the new province.

• 1979

  Municipality established

  [1]Don Marcelinoen.wikipedia.org

  Batas Pambansa Bilang 47 created Don Marcelino as a municipality of Davao del Sur on December 19, 1979.

• 1936

  Marcelino Maruya appointed mayor of Malita

  [1]Don Marcelinoen.wikipedia.org

  Marcelino Maruya became the first municipal mayor of Malita after being appointed by President Manuel L. Quezon; the later municipality of Don Marcelino was named in his honor.

A local-government municipality and public administrative community in Davao Occidental, rather than a commercial brand.

1. 1Don Marcelinoen.wikipedia.org