PADADA as a word refers to a medium-sized tree of the mangrove variety with

edible reddish-brown, tomato-like fruits relished by monkeys and birds. This

specie of a tree once abound in substantial numbers in the swamps along the
shorelines of the barrio from Paligue to Liling, formerly parts of the mother town
Sta. Cruz, Davao (now Davao del Sur). The Padada tree, however, is now extinct,
replace by mangrove of various variety.

PADADA as a town was organized on July 15,1949, after its creation into such by
virtue of Executive Order No. 236 dated July 1,1949 of the late Elpidio Quirino,
then President of the Republic of the Philippines. The territorial jurisdiction of
Padada originally embraced the present town of Sta. Maria, Malalag, and Sulop in
the South, Kiblawan in the West. Hagonoy in the North, and part of Matanao in
the Northwest and on the East, by Davao Gulf, with the seat of the local

Padada is the smallest town in the Province of Davao del Sur located in the mid-
northern portion with a total land area of only 4,754 hectares politically subdivided
into 17 barangays.