Davao City
is the largest city located on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is also one of the Philippines' most progressive cities. Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the southern part of the Philippines.

Davao City is also one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province. The city serves as the regional center for Davao Region (Region XI). It has a population of 1,363,330 (2007 census) and is named by the Foreign Direct Investment Magazine as the 10th "Asian City of the Future". In recent years, Davao City has emerged as the business, investment and tourism hub for the entire southern Philippines. The city boasts of some of the finest beaches and mountain resorts in the country and its proximity to the Philippines’ most captivating diving spots as well as its highest peak, Mount Apo.

BRIEF PROFILE
Land Area:	2,444 km²
Population:	1,530,365 (2011)
Barangays:	182

The Land______________________________

Davao City is approximately 588 statute miles southeast of Manila.

Traveling by sea, its location from Manila and Cebu is 971 and 593 nautical miles (1,098 km) respectively.

Presently, built-up areas used for residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial purposes represent about 10% of the total land area. Under the approved land use plan built-up and settlement area will cover 15% of the total area while agricultural will be maximized with 67.19%. The remaining 17.68 will be devoted to forestry and conservation.

A Brief History___________________________

Local historians of Davao claim that the word davao came from the phonetic blending of the word of three Bagobo subgroups when referring to Davao River, an essential waterway which empties itself into Davao Gulf near the city. The aboriginal Obos who inhabit the hinterlands of the region called the river, Davoh; the Clatta or Guiangans called it Duhwow, or Davau, and the Tagabawa Bagobos, Dabu. To the Obos, the word davoh also means a place "beyond the high grounds", alluding to the settlements located at the mouth of Davao River which were surrounded by high rolling hills. When asked where they were going, the usual reply is davoh, while pointing towards the direction of the town. Duhwow also refers to a trading settlement where they barter their forest goods in exchange for salt or other commodities.

Economy________________________________

Davao City is the premier City and hub of Mindanao.It is a "Crown Jewel" of Mindanao in terms of economic activity. It is the most important economy in the island and the third most important urban center in the Philippines.

Like the rest of the country, Davao City operates on an economic system that is market-oriented, although pricing mechanisms remain regulated in a few sectors (particularly on basic commodities) to protect consumers. The competitiveness of the market has been enhanced through the dismantling of protection for "infant industries" and the breakdown of industries with monopolistic or cartel tendencies.

On the international front, the economy has been opened to global competition, through a tariff, private investments has Davao City's economy is steadily growing in the last two decades. The City has shifted counting investments from millions in the '80s to billions in the '90s and pool of skilled workforce. With close to 1.5-Million people as primary market base, the city is conducive to business as evidenced by the presence of the country's top 200 companies. Inflow of investments has been remarkable in the last ten years. Export in the City is now a billion dollar industry with a growing niche market for its products. The stable banana and flourishing pineapple industries are among the country's leading export commodities. A net exporter since 1987, Davao City largely contributed in making the Philippines as the world's top exporter of papaya, mangosteen, and even flowers.

The productive linkages between established businesses and Davao City community reinforced the competitive quality of life in a city that has consistently maintained single digit inflation rate since 1993. Along with flourishing investments and exports, the low inflation rate serve as concrete illustration of the remarkable gains from Davao City's sustained competitiveness nurtured by high level of responsiveness of the local government which put priority focus in facilitating business-friendly initiatives and in ensuring a peaceful and prosperous environment.

Getting There and Away_____________________

Davao City is very accessible and is the gateway to the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA.

By land

You will find roaming around the city streets accessible by the number of buses, jeepneys, multicabs, cabs (taxi) that run the city streets. Getting your way around Davao City is never a problem with the mode of transportation available.

Davao City also offers a wide bus network connection to major cities and provinces, not only in Mindanao but even as far as Manila and Pasay City in Luzon. Davao City is connected to Manila by a series of roll on roll off or inter-island ferry connection. You can reach Davao City by bus to and from all of the Cities in Mindanao like Cotabato, Kidapawan, Digos, General Santos, Koronadal, Isulan, Tacurong, Tagum, Cagayan de Oro, Surigao, Butuan, Cebu City and Pasay City in Manila.

By sea

The city is also served by passenger ferries throughout the Philippines at Sasa Wharf and Sta. Ana Wharf.

Sulpicio Lines twice weekly from Manila.
SuperFerry twice weekly to Manila.
Danspenta Fastcraft Ferry 3 time a day vice versa to Lupon.

By air

Philippine Airlines Airbus A330-301 at Davao International Airport.

Davao City has direct flights to major cities in the Philippines and some Asian Cities. Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao International Airport) is currently being served by the following airline carriers:

Cebu Pacific 4 flights weekly to Cagayan de Oro, 3 flights daily to Cebu City, Once daily flight to Iloilo City, 6 daily flights to Manila, and Once daily flight to Zamboanga City
Philippine Airlines 7 daily flights to Manila and daily flights to Cebu City.
Airphil Express One daily flight to Zamboanga
SilkAir 4 flights weekly to Singapore
Zest Airways One daily flight to Manila and Cebu