Digos

Digos City
—  1st Class City  —
Digos City
Seal
Nickname(s): City of Sweet Mangoes, Gate City of the South
Motto: "Abante Digos!"
Map of Davao del Sur showing the location of Digos
Digos City Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°45′36″N 125°21′00″E / 6.76°N 125.35°E / 6.76; 125.35Coordinates: 6°45′36″N 125°21′00″E / 6.76°N 125.35°E / 6.76; 125.35
Country	Philippines
Region	Davao (Region XI)
Province	Davao del Sur
District	1st District
Founded	July 19, 1949
Cityhood	September 8, 2000
Barangays	26
Government
- Mayor	Hon. Atty. Joseph "Jojo" Roble Peñas, CPA
Area
- Total	287.1 km2 (110.8 sq mi)
Population (2010)
- Total	199,832
- Density	696/km2 (1,802.7/sq mi)
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code	8002
Income class	1st class city
Website	Official website

Digos City (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Digos/Siyudad sa Digos; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Digos) is an affluent suburban city in the province of Davao del Sur, Philippines. The city strategically lies on the eastern shores of Davao Gulf and southern foothills of Mt. Apo in the island of Mindanao and it is the center city between the two major cities in Mindanao, Davao City and General Santos City . It serves as the seat of the Provincial Government. It shares common boundaries with the municipalities of Hagonoy on the South, Bansalan on the North and Northwest by Siranagan and Miral Creek and with Sta. Cruz on the Northeast. It is bounded on the East by the Davao Gulf. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 199,832 people in 37,408 households.

Digos City is a 1st Class city in the province of Davao del Sur and now a part of (Metropolitan Davao) Metro Davao. Digos City is the capital city in the province of Davao del Sur. It is known for its sweet-juicy 'carabao variety mango' exported for abroad.Thus, dubbed as the Mango Capital City of the Philippines and The Gate City Of The South.

On September 8, 2000, Digos was converted into a city.^[1]

History

In the early days, Digos was a watercourse, a meeting place of inhabitants belonging to the Austronesians settled along the southern foothills of Mt. Apo. The Digos River meets the Davao Gulf and it is ideal for fishing and bathing.

During the Spanish Era, a group of natives carrying bows and arrows were approached by some Spaniards traversing the very fertile tracks of land in Davao. One Lopez Jaena Pacheco, a conquistador during the administration of Governor Claveria serving as the head of the group, inquired about the name of the place from the barefooted natives. Believing that the Spaniards were asking where they were bound to, the natives answered "Padigus", which means "to take a bath". Since then the place was identified as Digos.

As a portion of the "food bowl" of the province of Davao del Sur, otherwise known as the Padada Valley, Digos lured many migrants, majority of whom came from the Visayas and Ilocos regions to settle permanently in the area. Before World War II, an enterprising American by the name of N.E. Crumb leased 10.24 km² and transformed the place into an Abaca Plantation. This became the hub of economic activity in the locality during those days.

Digos was occupied by the Japanese troops in 1942.

In 1945, through the brave efforts of the combined forces of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, the local Davaoeño guerrilla units from the Davao peninsula, and the United States military, the Japanese soldiers were defeated.

Through the initiation of then Congressman Apolinario Cabigon, Digos, became a regular municipality in 1949 by virtue of Presidential Executive Order No. 236, dated July 19, 1949 issued by President Quirino. Its Coverage included the barrios of Tres de Mayo, Goma Bansalan, Matanao, Darapuay and the Poblacion where the seat of government was located. Before its creation into a municipality, Digos was a barrio of Sta. cruz, a town 16 kilometers away. On 19 July 1949, the town was formally inaugurated with Benito Rabor appointed as Mayor.

Digos in later years, before its conversion into a city, was regarded as the capital town of the Province of Davao del Sur, long before it gained the status of a First Class Municipality in 1993, being center for trade, commerce and education, accruing to its strategic location at the cross point of two principal thoroughfares in the south.

In July 1998, the bid to convert into a city was moved and initiated by Hon. Mayor Arsenio A. Latasa, considering its very satisfactory qualificationas required for in R.A. 7160

House Bill No. 5672 dated November 24, 1998 of Congress authored by Hon. Congressman Douglas Ra. Cagas, led to the drafting of Republic Act 8798, converting the Municipality of Digos into a component City of Davao del Sur, which was signed by President Joseph E. Estrada on July 14, 2000 and ratified by the Digoseños on September 8, 2000.

Land Area and Political Subdivision

Digos City was created by Republic Act No. 8798 on July 14, 2000. It has a total land area of 28,710 hectare consisting of 26 barangays; nine (9) of which comprise the Poblacion or urban center.

Geography and Climate

The land area of Digos City ranges from hilly to mountainous in the north-northeast portion and flat and slightly rolling at the coastal barangays while the urban area and the surrounding barangays in the south portion are generally flat. Generally. climate in Digos falls under the fourth type while wind direction is prevalent from northeast to southwest. On the other hand, rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year wherein during the period from 1995 to 2000, there was no observed extreme dry or wet season.

Education

Tertiary

• Cor Jesu College (private, catholic)
• University of Mindanao Digos Campus (private, non-sectarian)
• Polytechnic College of Davao del Sur (private)
• Southern Philippines Aqua-Marine & Aricultural School Of Technology (public)
• STI College-Digos (private)
• John Paul II Seminary (theological school, Diocese of Digos)
• Southern Mindanao Computer College (private)
• Philippine International Technological School (private)
• Adventure College Of Technology And Science (private)
• Mindanao Technological Institute (private)
• Digital Systems Institute (private)
• Digos Institute Of Technical Education (private)

Secondary

• Cor Jesu College High School Department
• Digos City National High School
• Holy Cross Academy of Digos
• The Lighthouse Accelerated Christian School
• Polytechnic College of Davao del Sur High School Department
• Digos City National High School Igpit Extension
• Kapatagan National High School
• Aplaya National High School
• Ruparan National High School

Elementary

• Ramon Magsaysay Central Elementary School
• Digos Central Elementary School
• Don Mariano Marcos Elementary School
• The Lighthouse Accelerated Christian School
• Cor Jesu College Elementary Department
• Digos SDA Elementary School, Inc. - Rizal Avenue
• Digos SDA Elementary School - Lapu lapu Ext.
• Goodwill Learning Center
• Adventist Elementary School of Digos City, Inc.
• Pedro V. Basalan Elementary School
• Remedios Saplala Elementary School
• Aplaya Elementary School
• Dawis Elementary School
• San Miguel Elementary School
• San Jose Elementary School
• Colorado Elementary School
• Igpit Elementary School
• Ruparan Elementary School
• Kapatagan Elementary School
• Napan Goma Elementary School
• Cogon Elementary School

Major Shopping Centers

• Gaisano Center (Prime CAPITAL Group) - Estrada Street
• Central Warehouse Club - San Jose Highway
• MC Square Center - Rizal Avenue
• ES Excellent Shopping Center (formerly Happy Place) - Rizal Avenue
• Novo Merchandise - V. Soto Street
• Uni City (UNITOP) - Rizal Avenue
• RS Center Point - Luna Street
• Pas-Roy Merchandise - Rizal Ave. & inside Digos City Central Market
• Gaisano Grand Mall of Digos (GRAND GROUP) - under construction, Quezon Avenue
• Gaisano Mall of Digos (DSG & Sons Group) - proposed, Mac Arthur Highway beside Cor Jesu College Annex, Power Site - Tres de Mayo, Digos City
• NCCC Mall of Digos - proposed, along Diversion Road and Dawis Wharf Drive Intersection, Digos City
• KCC Mall of Digos - proposed, at the back of NFA Davao del Sur, Diversion Road Digos City
• SM City Digos- planned, fronting Nakayama Technology Corporation, National Highway, Digos City

Fast Foods & Restaurants

• Jollibee Kids Party - Rizal Avenue
• Jollibee Drive Thru - Quezon Avenue
• Dimsum Dinner - Rizal Avenue
• Mang Inasal
• Penong's
• Chicken Ati-atihan
• Mer's Kitchenette
• Oceanic Food Center
• Sa Niyogan Food Garden
• Big Taste 1 & 2
• Ramyan's Kambingan
• Sugba-sugba sa Luna
• TAPS Digos
• Pritong Manok
• Goldilocks
• Dunkin Donuts
• MR. Donut
• 24hrs. Minute Burger Chains
• 24hrs. Burger Machine Chains
• 24hrs. Burger Express Chains

Watch out for the opening of more food chains at Gaisano Grand Mall of Digos this coming December:

• MC DONALD'S
• Chowking
• Greenwich
• Jollibee 3, etc.

Leading Hotels & Inns

• A & B Hotel
• Hotel De Crisbelle
• Arnaldo's Hotel
• Yncierto's Hotel
• Jared Hotel & Apartelle
• Digos Travelers Inn
• Perfect Travelers Inn
• Ricky's Inn

Hospitals & Clinics

• Gonzales Maranan Medical Center (tertiary)
• Digos Doctors Hospital (tertiary)
• Medical Center of Digos Cooperative (tertiary)
• Dominican Hospital Inc.(secondary)
• Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital (tertiary)
• Sunga Hospital Inc. (secondary)
• Digos Mission Hospital (secondary)
• Paulino Hospital Inc. (secondary)
• Llanos Clinic and Hospital (secondary)
• Davao del Sur Medical Specialist
• Masongsong ENT Clinic
• Villegas Maternity Center
• Digos Maternity and lying-in Clinic (Monarca)
• Bethlehem Birthing Home
• Mayor's Lying Inn - Birthing Home
• Digos Bone and Skin Specialists, 1st Crumb St
• St.Camillus Home For The Elderly
• Medic-Pharmaceutical Center

Media

• DXON HOT FM - 89.5 MHz - Manila Broadcasting Company
• DXRM Gold FM - 93.5 MHz - Kalayaan Broadcasting System Inc.
• DXDA Charm FM - 94.3 MHz - Andolana - PFCA Broadcasting Network
• DXDS Radyo Ukay - 1161 kHz - University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network
• Channel 50 - UNTV News Center/Ang Dating Daan - South Davao Substation
• Channel 11 - Community CH./DETALYE News- DCATV Broadcasting Company

Cemetery

• Digos City Public Cemetery- San Jose, Digos City
• Digos Memorial Park - Tres de Mayo, Digos City
• Digos City New Cemetery - (Proposed)
• Kapatagan Public Cemetery
• Goma Public Cemetery - Goma, Digos City

Fiestas and Festivals

• Sinulog sa Digos - every January 15

• San Isidrio Labrador - every May 15

• Padigosan Festival - every July 19

• Mary Mediatrix - every August 22

• Araw ng Digos - every September 8

• October Fest in Shark Beach Resort (Dawis Beach) - every whole October

• GKK/BEC (Gagmay'ng Kristohanong Katilingban/Basic Ecclessial Community) Fiestas - Depends on the feast day of the patron saint.

Catholic Congregations, Churches, Formation Center and Monasteries

• Mary Mediatrix of All Grace Cathedral
• San Isidro Labrador Parish Church
• St. Benedict's Monastery
• Our Lady of Peace Monastery(Benedictine-Cogon)
• Apostolic Daughters of Mary Formation Center
• Our Lady of Mt. Apo Parish
• Camillian Sisters Formation Center
• Dominican Sisters of the Trinity House
• Society of Mary Fathers Formation Center
• Divine Mercy Shrine
• John Paul II College Seminary
• Diocesan Seminar House (Home of the Clergy)
• Brothers of the Sacred Heart
• Rligious of the Virgin Mary Sisters(RVM)
• Carmelite Missionaries(CM)
• Workers of Christ the Worker Sisters(WCW)
• Oblates of St. Benedict(OSB)
• Presentation of Mary Sisters (PM)

Other Religious Denomination

• The Lighthouse Baptist Church
• Members Church of God International/Ang Dating Daan
• Seventh-Day Adventist(SDA)
• Iglesia Ni Cristo(INC/Church of Christ)
• UCCP
• Jehovah's Witnesses
• Bible Baptist Church
• Southern Baptist Church
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Methodist Church
• Islam
• Philippine Independent Church
• Redeemed Baptist (Fundamental)
• Digos city Wesleyan church

Barangays

Digos City is politically subdivided into 26 barangays.

Barangays of the City of Digos

Barangay	Population (CY 2007)	Urban/Rural
Aplaya	14,775	Urban
Balabag	1,206	Rural
Binaton	2,765	Rural
Cogon	5,559	Rural
Colorado	2,276	Rural
Dawis	4,244	Urban
Dulangan	1,592	Rural
Goma	3,469	Rural
Igpit	3,078	Rural
Kiagot	4,319	Rural
Lungag	286	Rural
Mahayahay	773	Rural
Matti	5,093	Urban
Kapatagan	8,403	Urban
Ruparan	3,175	Rural
San Agustin	1,895	Rural
San Jose	5,419	Urban
San Miguel	12,148	Urban
San Roque	839	Rural
Sinawilan	4,820	Rural
Soong	1,140	Rural
Tiguman	1,239	Rural
Tres de Mayo	14,590	Urban
Zone 1 (Pob)	14,052	Urban
Zone 2 (Pob)	9,439	Urban
Zone 3 (Pob)	18,920	Urban

Future Developments

• Traffic Light System (Proposed)
• Central Island (Proposed)
• Digos City Eco Park (proposed)
• Reconstruction of Digos City Central Public Terminal and Digos City Bus Terminal and Market(U/C)

Sister Cities

• Manila, Philippines
• Makati, Philippines
• Davao City, Philippines

Ranking

References

1. ^ NSCB - 2001 Factsheet - 12 New Cities Created, July–December 2000.

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code