Region XI
Davao Region: Region XI of Mindanao
Davao Region, designated Region XI, is Mindanao's most populous administrative region and its largest regional economy. The region covers 20,433 km² across Davao City and five provinces: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental, wrapping around Davao Gulf between the Philippine Sea to the east and the Celebes Sea to the south.
Davao City is the regional center and the largest city in Mindanao, with the main ports, hospitals, universities, logistics facilities, and government services for the southern Philippines. Outside the city, the provinces operate distinct economies: Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro are the country's leading banana export corridors, Davao del Sur holds the base of Mount Apo and durian producing highlands, Davao Occidental is the region's newest province carved out of Davao del Sur in 2013, and Davao Oriental faces the Philippine Sea through Mati City and Pujada Bay.
The 2020 census recorded a regional population of 5,243,536, rising to 5,389,422 in the 2024 POPCEN. Annual growth between 2015 and 2020 was 1.46 percent, while PSA recorded a slower 0.66 percent average annual growth from 2020 to 2024.
Sasa Port and Davao City's service economy connect the region to export markets, hospitals, universities, and national politics, while Samal bridge debates, Mount Apo permits, banana corridors, Mati and Pujada Bay, and Davao Occidental's Celebes Sea edge each carry separate stories from the city.
Wraps Davao Gulf between the Philippine Sea and Celebes Sea; borders Caraga, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Northern Mindanao.
Quick Answer
Davao Region is Region XI, Mindanao's largest population and economic center. Davao City anchors Sasa Port, hospitals, universities, logistics, produce trading, and national political attention, while the five provinces define the banana export belt, Mount Apo access, Samal bridge debates, Mati and Pujada Bay, and the Celebes Sea edge of Davao Occidental.
Frequently Asked Questions
What provinces make up Davao Region?
Davao Region has five provinces: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental. Davao City is a separate highly urbanized city and the regional center.
What is Davao de Oro?
Davao de Oro was formerly known as Compostela Valley. It was renamed in 2019 and is located north of Davao City, bordering Caraga. The province is known for banana production, nickel and gold mining, and river systems draining into the Davao Gulf watershed.
What is the newest province in Davao Region?
Davao Occidental became a separate province in 2013, carved out of the southern portion of Davao del Sur. Its provincial capital is Malita. It borders SOCCSKSARGEN to the west and the Celebes Sea to the south.
What is Davao Oriental known for?
Davao Oriental is the easternmost province of Mindanao, facing the Philippine Sea. Mati City is the provincial capital. The province produces coconut as its main crop and has a small tuna fishing industry operating out of Mati port. Pujada Bay is a sheltered bay near Mati used for seaweed farming and small boat fishing. Dahican Beach in Mati has consistent wave conditions that attract surfers but remains far less developed than Siargao. The Davao to Mati drive takes about three hours through rough mountain road sections, which limits regular commerce and services from the regional center.
What is the Samal Bridge project?
The Davao to Samal Bridge is a planned road crossing connecting Davao City to the Island Garden City of Samal across the Pakiputan Strait, a distance of about 1.06 kilometers at the proposed alignment. The Department of Public Works and Highways awarded a construction contract, and groundwork began in 2022, though the project faced financing and timeline revisions. Samal currently relies on ferry boats operating from Santa Ana Wharf in Davao City to Babak port in Samal, with crossings running through the day for a fare of around 20 to 30 pesos. Critics of the bridge raised concerns about the Pakiputan Strait's tuna migration corridor, the risk of reef damage during construction, and how a fixed link changes Samal's carrying capacity for residential and commercial development.
Why is Mount Apo significant to Davao Region?
Mount Apo is the highest mountain in the Philippines at 2,954 meters. It straddles Davao del Sur and Cotabato provinces and is a protected area and ancestral domain of the Bagobo-Klata, Obo-Manobo, and Tagabawa communities. It draws trekkers but requires permits and coordination with Indigenous communities and DENR. It is not a simple destination hike.
What agricultural products come from Davao Region?
Davao Region is the Philippines' top producer of bananas for export, primarily Cavendish varieties in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro. The region also produces significant volumes of durian, cacao, coconut, pineapple, and rubber. Davao City's Bankerohan market is one of Mindanao's largest trading points for regional produce.
What is the political significance of Davao Region nationally?
Davao City is the home base of the Duterte political family. Rodrigo Duterte served as Davao City mayor for more than two decades before his presidency from 2016 to 2022, Sara Duterte served as mayor before becoming vice president, and the city remained nationally watched after the 2025 local election and 2026 succession issues around the mayoralty. The region's political dynamics are frequently referenced in national Philippine governance debates.
What port serves Davao Region?
Sasa Port in Davao City is the primary international cargo port of Mindanao and one of the busiest ports in the Philippines. It handles banana and pineapple exports, container shipping, and bulk cargo connecting the region to markets in Japan, South Korea, China, and the Middle East.
Provinces in Davao Region
Davao Region is one of the six administrative regions of Mindanao. Its province and coverage list includes Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Davao City.
- Davao de Oro
- Davao del Norte
- Davao del Sur
- Davao Occidental
- Davao Oriental
- Davao City