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Davao Occidental

Davao Occidental
Province
Province of Davao Occidental
Official seal of Davao Occidental
Seal
Location in the Philippines
Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°05′N 125°40′E / 6.08°N 125.67°E / 6.08; 125.67Coordinates: 6°05′N 125°40′E / 6.08°N 125.67°E / 6.08; 125.67
Country Philippines
Region Davao Region (Region XI)
Founded October 28, 2013
Capital Malita
Government
 • Type Sangguniang Panlalawigan
 • Governor Claude Bautista
 • Vice Governor Franklin Bautista
 • Representative Lorna Bautista-Bandigan
Area
 • Total 2,163.45 km2 (835.31 sq mi)
Area rank 57th out of 81
Population (2015 census)
 • Total 316,342
 • Rank 65th out of 81
 • Density 150/km2 (380/sq mi)
 • Density rank 59th out of 81
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities 0
 • Municipalities
 • Barangays 105
 • Districts Lone District of Davao Occidental
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
Spoken languages

Davao Occidental (Cebuano: Kasadpang Dabaw, Filipino: Kanlurang Dabaw) is the 81st and newest province in the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is the municipality of Malita. To the east lies the Davao Gulf. It also shares a water border with the Indonesian province of North Sulawesi to the south.

According to Article IX Section 48 of the provincial charter, the first set of elective officials were elected on May 9, 2016, the next local elections following the foundation of the province.

Davao Occidental was created through Republic Act 10360 enacted on July 23, 2013, comprising five of the eight municipalities that constitute the 2nd district of Davao del Sur. RA 10360 was passed by the House of Representatives and Senate on November 28, 2012, and December 5, 2012, respectively, and signed by President Benigno Aquino III on January 14, 2013. A plebiscite was held on October 28, 2013 along with the barangay elections and the majority of votes cast were "Yes", ratifying the province.

The motive of creating the province was to boost the economic condition and social progress of the municipalities. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who sponsored the creation of Davao Occidental, said that the distances of Digos, Davao del Sur's provincial capital, to other municipalities in the second Congressional District are far-off that impairs the effective delivery of basic services, as well as the access to government offices. However, Davao del Sur Representative Marc Douglas Cagas considered the creation of the province as nothing more than gerrymandering and political convenience.


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