Sen. Ronald Ronald Dela Rosa graced the official unveiling of Davao Occidental Legislative Building

Davao City, Davao 

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa graced the official unveiling of the Legislative Building of Davao Occidental on Thursday, August 18, 2022.

During the ceremony, the commemorative plate as a token of gratitude to the good Senator for his remarkable support for the construction of the building was presented by Gov. Franklin P. Bautista and Vice Governor Lorna Bautista Bandigan and witnessed by the Government Officials of Davao Occidental.

Photo: Davao Occidental Fb page

Plebiscite results favor "YES" for new Davao province

DIGOS CITY, Davao 
→ The coming into being of Southern Mindanao’s fifth province is now more apparent as returns from majority of Davao del Sur’s 14 towns and this city heavily favored the law that sought to create it, the Commission on Elections said Wednesday.
Ma. Febes Barlaan, Davao del Sur election officer, said results from eight towns and this city showed that “No” trailed by 65,801 votes behind “Yes,” which has 105,254 as of early afternoon Wednesday.
Barlaan said votes still waiting to be canvassed by the provincial board of canvassers were mostly from towns known to be in favor of the new province’s creation.
Even if all the returns have yet to be canvassed, Barlaan has confidently declared late Tuesday that “Yes has won.”
Added to region
Once formally declared as a new province, Davao Occidental – composed of the second district towns of Sta. Maria, Malita, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani – will join the provinces of Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley in forming the Davao region.
The creation of the new province was initially proposed by former Representative Marc Douglas Cagas IV when his father, Douglas Cagas, was still governor of Davao del Sur.
Under Cagas’ proposal, Davao Occidental was to be formed by all towns in the second district.
As the May elections drew near, however, Cagas withdrew his proposal but the idea of creating a new province was kept alive by second district Rep. Franklin Bautista.
Bautista’s version of the law contained the basic elements of Cagas’ proposal but the composition of the province was reduced to only Sta. Maria, Malita, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani after officials of the other second district towns of Kiblawan, Malalag and Sulop, which are known to be Cagas turfs, opted out.
Futile opposition
The Bautista version was passed by Congress and signed by President Benigno Aquino III into law.
Former Representative Cagas tried to block the plebiscite at the Supreme Court but the tribunal junked his petition.
The younger Cagas, however, continued to oppose the approval in a plebiscite of Bautista’s version of the law creating the new province. He spent money on tarpaulins listing the negatives of having a new province.
Wilhelm Sukyo, Southern Mindanao director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, said the DILG will help officers in charge run the new provincial government until a set of officials has been elected in 2016. 

source: Inquirer News

Status of Davao Occidental also up in Brgy. polls

SDC News | Davao 

Davao del Sur Provincial Capitol (screengrab from their Facebook page)

Update, Davao Occidental:

DAVAO CITY, Davao
-- Aside from casting votes in the barangay elections, voters in Davao del Sur also voted for or against the proposed creation of the new province of Davao Occidental on Monday.

If Davao Occidental comes into being, the province of Davao del Sur, which previously had two legislative districts, will be reduced to one legislative district encompassing nine municipalities and one city.

The plebiscite is expected to yield a positive result, as all political clans in the province supported the proposal to create of Davao Occidental by virtue of Republic Act 10360 passed and approved into law last January 21, 2013. (Ben O. Tesiorna)



source: Solarnews.ph / Regional Wrap

COMELEC to conduct plebiscite for the creation of Davao Occidental

Voters to say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’

The Commission on Elections is set to hold a plebiscite for the creation of the new Province of Davao Occidental, simultaneous with the October 28, 2013 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

On July 23, 2013, Congress enacted Republic Act 10360 or an “Act Creating the Province of Davao Occidental.” Carved out from the present Davao del Sur, the new province consists of the Municipalities of Sta. Maria, Malita, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani.

In RA 10360, the COMELEC was mandated to supervise the conduct of a plebiscite for the approval of the creation of Davao Occidental by the majority of the votes cast by voters in the affected areas, within sixty (60) days after the Act becomes effective.

However, the COMELEC on November 27, 2012, suspended the conduct of all plebiscite as a matter of policy in view of the preparations for the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections. The policy of deferment was later extended by the COMELEC on July 9, 2013.

The poll body in a meeting held on July 31, 2013, then decided to hold the plebiscite for the creation of Davao Occidental simultaneous with the October 28, 2013 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

According to the COMELEC, five (5) out of the eight (8) municipalities in the 2nd Legislative District of Davao del Sur shall compose the new Province of Davao Occidental, once approved in a plebiscite.

The registered voters of Davao del Sur, excluding Davao City, shall participate in the said plebiscite. As of the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections, Davao del Sur, excluding Davao City, has 523,862 total number of registered voters, the poll body furthered.

Voters in Davao del Sur shall use a different ballot in the October 28, 2013 Barangay and SK Elections as it would also include voting for the plebiscite. The COMELEC shall be printing special ballots for the purpose.


source: MyCOMELEC.tv

News | New Province of Davao Occidental Takes Effect After Publication

Davao Occidental Officially Created as New Province

Davao City, Philippines
— The Davao Region marks a significant milestone with the creation of its newest province, Davao Occidental, under Republic Act No. 10360. The law was signed by former President Benigno Aquino III on January 14 and is set to take effect 15 days after its publication in national newspapers on Monday, January 21.

The establishment of Davao Occidental represents a major step toward strengthening local governance and accelerating development in the western part of Davao del Sur. The new province was formed through the division of Davao del Sur, with five municipalities from its second district now officially constituting Davao Occidental. These municipalities are Malita, Santa Maria, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, and Sarangani.

Meanwhile, the remaining municipalities previously under the second district like the Kiblawan, Malalag, and Sulop will be realigned with the first district of Davao del Sur, ensuring balanced representation and continued administrative efficiency.

The creation of Davao Occidental brings renewed hope for its people, as provincial status is expected to improve access to government services, enhance local autonomy, and open greater opportunities for economic growth and infrastructure development. With its rich natural resources, strong agricultural base, and resilient communities, the new province is poised to chart a future of inclusive progress and sustainable development.

As Davao Occidental begins this new chapter, local leaders and residents alike look forward to a province built on unity, opportunity, and a shared vision for a better tomorrow.

Quick Facts: Creation of Davao Occidental

Under Section 450 of the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended by Republic Act No. 9009, the creation of a province is subject to specific legal requirements. These include a minimum land area of 2,000 square kilometers, as certified by the Land Management Bureau; a population of at least 250,000, as certified by the National Statistics Office; and a minimum average annual income of ₱20 million.

Davao Occidental met and exceeded all these requirements. The new province has a total land area of 2,183.97 square kilometers, a population of 293,780 based on the 2010 census, and an average annual income of ₱113.22 million for the years 2008 and 2009.

As of 2012, the Philippines had a total of 80 provinces, while the Davao Region was composed of four provinces.

With the official creation of Davao Occidental, the total number of provinces in the country has increased to 81, and the Davao Region now has five provinces. These are Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, and the newly established Davao Occidental.

The addition of Davao Occidental underscores the government’s commitment to decentralization, improved local governance, and inclusive regional development, marking a hopeful step forward for both the Davao Region and the nation as a whole.

| via SouthernDC Blog