Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1 Historical Background

Davao Occidental was created by virtue of Republic Act 10360 enacted by the
15th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines on July 23, 2012 and signed into
law by President Benigno C. Aquino III on January 14, 2013. The five
municipalities of Sta. Maria, Malita, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos and
Sarangani were carved out from the province of Davao del Sur to compose the
province of Davao Occidental. Congressmen Franklin P. Bautista and Marc
Douglas Cagas of the House of the representatives and Senator Ferdinand
“Bongbong” Marcos were the principal authors of the law creating the province
which was ratified on October 28, 2013.

In 1846, a distinguished Attorney-at-Law, Don Jose Uyanguren, upon the order of

Gov. Narciso Claveria, organized settlements south of the Encomienda de Bislig.
As the settlement continued to grow down South, Don Jose was able to crush
Datu Bago, a Bagobo chieftain who ruled Samal Island. Don Jose’s conquest
expanded to the vast lush region surrounding the body of water of what is now
known as the Davao Gulf. The vast settlement was called then as Caraga
Province. In February 27, 1849, Gov. Claveria decreed the partition of Caraga
Province in two. The northern portion was named Surigao Province, southern
part of Eastern Mindanao, including Davao Gulf, was named Nueva Guipozcoa in
honour of Gov. Claveria’s birthplace in Spain. Nueva Guipozcoa was later on
renamed Davao.

In 1898, Davao became a district of the Moro Province created by the Americans
as part of Mindanao with General Leonard Wood as its first Military Governor;
and in 1916, Jones Law converted Moro Province into the Department of
Mindanao and Sulu. All the districts that comprise the Department became
regular provinces. Don Gulalio Causing became the first Provincial Governor of
Davao.

In 1956, Congressman Ismael Veloso of Davao passed a bill in dividing Davao

into three provinces - - Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur. The
bill was approved in the Lower House but failed to get the approval of the Senate.
Congressman Lorenzo Sarmiento revived the bill in 1965. With the support of
Senator Alejandro Almendras, the bill finally got approved as Republic Act 4867
in 1967. These provinces simultaneously celebrate July 1, 1967 as their
foundation day, the effective date of the appointment of their respective provincial
government officials by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

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The recent national and local elections of 2016 resulted in the election of the first
set of officials of the province. The Hon. Claude P. Bautista became the first
Governor of the new province of Davao Occidental together with his brother Hon.
Franklin P. Bautista who was elected as first Vice-Governor and the Presiding
Officer of the first Sangguniang Panlalawigan. As a new local government, Davao
Occidental officially assumed is corporate existence on June 30, 2016. The
newly-elected officials assumed office on July 1, 2016. The foundation
anniversary of Davao Occidental is celebrated every October 28 of the year.

1.2 Plan Objectives and Context

Objectives

The Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) 2017 –

2026 is a primary tool to guide the general development direction of the province
in the next ten years. The plan’s specific objectives are to:

Define the overall development framework for the province in terms of its
Vision, Mission, Goals and Strategies;

Provide an analytical framework for understanding existing situations and

identifying key development issues, concerns and challenges; goals,
objectives and targets of the province;

Formulate strategies, guided by the vision, that can be adopted in order to

attain the development goals, objectives and targets;

Identify programs, projects and activities consistent with the strategies

adopted that serve as inputs to the preparation of different sectoral
investment plans;

Provide a spatial or physical dimension to the different derivative and sub-

set plans, where appropriate and possible, taking into consideration the
effects of climate change and other emerging factors.

Context

Spatial in character, the PDPFP is a key link in the network of plans covering the
national, regional, provincial and city/municipal levels. It provides physical
locations of the factors of production from where growth and development could
occur and come, taking note of the build and no-build zones.

Plans and investment programs at the provincial level essentially needs to be

aligned and consistent with the plans at the national, regional and down to the
city/municipal levels. Programs, Projects and Activities (PPAs) derived from the
PDPFP are the bases for a multi-year investment program that serves as bases
for budgeting.

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1.3 Plan Coverage

Historical Coverage

Based on existing guideline, this PDPFP is a ten-year medium-term development

plan covering the period 2017-2026. Guided by the vision, dreams and
aspirations of the provincial constituency, this plan is formulated with the terms of
office of the elected officials in mind. However, the analysis is extended to
anticipate longer-term aims.

Geographical Coverage

The political boundaries of the Province of Davao Occidental are the primary
considerations in dealing with the necessary geographical analysis of the plan.
Other provinces in Region 11 where Davao Occidental belong as well as national
parameters are also factored into the analysis where possible at the point in time.
The component municipalities are the major level of analytical disaggregation.

Sectoral Coverage

The sectoral coverage of the PDPFP includes the traditional economic sectors
found relevant to the development of the province. The core elements of the plan,
with their corresponding sectors, are as follows:

Table 1.1
Core Elements and Sectors of Plan
Core Element Sector
Population Demography/Population
Agriculture, fisheries, forestry, trade, industry,
Economic Activity
services, tourism
Physical Resources Environment, natural resources, transport
Health, education, housing, social welfare, public
Income & Access to Services
works, energy, security, other services and facilities
Land Use Physical Integration of all sectors

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1.4 Plan Preparation and Adoption Process

The preparation and adoption of the PDPFP involve several phases that require
participatory and consensus-building activities, cooperation and trust between
and among the stakeholders, both internal and external, of the province. The
process requires the engagement of the critical mass of the institutions involved
in governance operating at the provincial, sub-provincial, and regional levels.

The whole process was guided by the policy and development agenda
promulgated by the Provincial Governor himself. These general policy areas are
as follows:

1. Poverty – Challenged by the fact that all the five municipalities of the
province are included in the twenty poorest municipalities of the country,
Governor Bautista is bent on making the first steps and strides toward a
state of development that is desired by all.

2. Integrity of the Environment – Vegetation cover, particularly in forestal

lands is dwindling alarmingly. Restoration or reclaiming the environment
for the people shall be given attention.

3. Access to Basic Social Services – Considering that the province’s

municipalities are listed as among the poorest municipalities of the
country, the groups that are most vulnerable to the caprices of nature and
economic forces shall be accorded priority attention.

4. Mobility and Accessibility to Basic Utilities – Basic infrastructure like

transport (roads and bridges), water supply (residential, agricultural,
commercial and industrial), power and energy; and communication shall
be addressed to improve connectivity and ease of access.

5. Peace & Order and Welfare & Protection – The maintenance of peace
and order is important in promoting economic growth and development
with maximizing human welfare and protection in mind.

6. Strong Development Management and Administration – It is important

that the conduct of development management and administration is
efficient and effective. With this end in view, the provincial organization
shall grow and evolve into a competitive corporate body capable of
servicing its universe of clientele.

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 Guided by the policy agenda of the Governor, the planning preparation process
of the PDPFP proceeded as outlined below:

Process Expected Output

Phase 1- Getting Started

      Organizing, orientation and mobilizing the Planning Team organized
Planning Team
Individuals tasks appreciated; and timetable
      Tasking and timetable setting settled
Phase 2. Data/information gathering and analysis
      Determination of development issues, Development issues, challenges, data gaps
challenges, data gaps and trends and trends identified/determined
      Maps preparation Maps prepared
Phase 3. PDPFP Formulation
      Series of planning team meetings
      Formulation Provincial VMGOs
      Investment Programming PDPFP drafted
      Write-up workshops
      Stakeholders consultation
Phase 4. Finalization/ Approval
      PDPFP Finalization
      Approval by the PDC PDPFP approved by PDC and adopted by the
      Adoption by the SP SP
 

The development and physical framework plan of the province is presented

before the Regional Land Use Committee of the Regional Development Council
of Region XI for indorsement to the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board for
approval.

1.5 Outline of the Plan

The remaining sections of the PDPFP are organized according to the following:

Chapter 2 presents the overall development framework of the province in terms

of its Vision, Mission, Development Thrust, Major Development Concerns, and
General Development Goals.

Chapter 3 presents the descriptive analysis of the social, economic, and physical
environment of the province that serve as basis in identifying developmental
issues, problems, concerns and challenges of the province; and the subsequent
strategies, programs, projects and activities.

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Chapter 4 presents the physical development plan framework of the province.
This chapter includes plans of different land uses in terms of protection,
production, settlement and infrastructure.

Chapter 5 is local development administration and governance. This chapter lays

out the status of the new provincial government, its issues and concerns and the
major programs and projects that need to be implemented to achieve a strong,
efficient and effective provincial government of the people, by the people and for
the people.