Compostela Valley

OVERVIEW
Compostela Valley is blessed with nature’s magnificent work of art. It brims with natural attractions like beaches, waterfalls, forests, mountain ranges, caves, lakes, rivers, hot and cold springs.The province is proud of its people and cultural heritage - a varied mixture of ethnicity and dominance.

To be in Compostela Valley is to experience a blend of sight and sound that defines a place and a people pulsing with life yet reserved in spirit.The provincial government believes in marketing tourism responsibly. ComValeños want to explore and revel on nature’s finest without destroying the environment.

Choices within the province are almost limitless. ComValeños believe that they have something that caters to everyone’s enthusiasm, all waiting for the adventurous spirit in you. They see their province as an eco-adventure tourism destination, and once experienced, so will you.

GEOGRAPHY
Compostela Valley is situated in Southeastern Mindanao. It has a total land area of 4,666.93 sq. km. and is bounded by Agusan del Sur on the north, Davao del Norte on the west, Davao Oriental on the east and southeast, and Davao Gulf on the west and southwest.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISION
Classified as a first class province, Compostela Valley is comprised of 11 municipalities grouped into two districts. District 1 consists of Monkayo, Montevista, Maragusan, New Bataan, and Compostela; and District 2, Laak, Mawab, Nabunturan, Maco, Mabini, and Pantukan. The municipality of Nabunturan was named capital town of the province.

POPULATION
The province’s population is estimated at 600,000 per 2000 National Census and Statistics Office survey.

LANGUAGE/DIALECT
Cebuano/Visayan, Tagalog/Pilipino, Mandaya, Mansaka, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Waray, Maranao, and Suriganonon are the dialects spoken in the province.

CLIMATE
The province is generally tropical and with no marked rainy or dry season. Its mountain ranges and forest protect the area from visiting typhoons.

INDUSTRIES
Mining, banana, agro- industrial, fishing, farming, tourism.

HISTORY
The approval of Republic Act No. 8470 on January 30, 1998, which was ratified through a plebiscite held on March 7, 1998, marks the birth of Compostela Valley. This relatively new province was carved out of its mother province, Davao del Norte.

Compostela Valley is famous for the following:

Mountain Climbing/Trekking in Mt. Candalaga
Located in Maragusan, Mount Candalaga measures up to 7,880 feet above sea level. It has 30 waterfalls and 100 cold springs. It is home to the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia. The mountain was the venue of the 1998 Mountaineeing Federation of the Philippines (MFPI) National Climb and Congress.

Mountain Climbing/Trekking in Mt. Manurigao
Located in New Bataan, Mount Manurigao measures 4,000 feet above sea level. It boasts of its majestic falls with 4 tiers and waterfalls at a height of 230 feet. One will spot the Philippine Eagle and wild deers.

Caving/Spelunking in Kumbilan Cave
Located in Nabunturan, Kumbilan Cave has tunnel-like features, wide chambers laden with beautiful formations. The presence of stalactites and stalagmites and other formations in one chamber of the cave responds to educational needs with regards to cave evaluation. Fauna observed as occupants of the cave are snakes and fruit flies. The cave serves as a lair to fruit bats locally known as “kabyaw.”

Aguacan Cold Spring Resort
Located in Maragusan, a kilometer away from the town’s centerpoint, is the Aguacan Cold Spring Resort. It has an olympic-size swimming pool, conference hall, restaurant, cottages for overnight stay, tent area, souvenir shop, billiard hall, table tennis, and volleyball court. It can house 100 guests and is ideal for conferences and meetings.

Mt. Diwalwal Gold Site
The gold mining site is located in Mt. Diwata at Monkayo. It is one of the biggest gold mining areas in the country.

Toyuzu Inland Resort
Located in Mainit, Nabunturan, the Toyuzu Inland Resort provides total relaxation facilities, such as swimming pools, a sauna bath, and a natural steam bath. Entrance fee is PhP35/pax. Cottages for day outings are available for PhP100; overnight stay for PhP750 (room good for 3 persons) and PhP1,500 (family room for 10 people).

Tagbibinta Falls
Located in Brgy. Coronobe, Maragusan, 5 km. from the town proper, is Tagbibinta Falls. It has a series of 7 falls, the first one measuring approximately 700 ft. in height. The falls provides an ideal trekking and climbing site that offers the adventurous the exciting challenge to conquer all seven falls.

Malumagpak Falls
Located at Sitio Manurigao in New Bataan, Malumagpak Falls boasts of four powerful water cascades that would perch on the ground at approximately 300 meters high. It is home to fresh water shrimps known as “Kawili.” It is also the center of the Mt. Manurigao Adventure Climb; observing a Mansaka tribal community is a notable part of the climbing event.

Mansaka Tribal Community
Situated in Maragusan, the tribal community is composed of the Mansakas whose culture is unadulterated by the outside world. Among the attractions of the place are the tribe’s authentic dances, native tribal jewelry complete with antique necklace, Mansaka musical instruments such as the “kudlong,” “paradag,” and “takol”, a native saxophone as well as their antique bells and gongs.

Magnaga Waters Beach Resort
One can not possibly miss the Magnaga Waters Beach Resort located in Pantukan because it is along the highway. It features a restaurant, several cottages, and a venue for meetings and conferences. Choose between a sleeping area at the Bungsod or a cottage by the sea.

Kopiat Island
Located in Mabini, just off the coast of the municipality, Kopiat Island appears like a precious gem of exquisite beauty. It boasts of clear and calm waters ideal for a range of water sports activities. It has wide sections of shorelines blanketed with fine white sand. It has unspoiled reef areas with rare beds that serve as a sanctuary for exotic tropical fish and other aquatic resources.

Misamis Oriental

OVERVIEW
Nature tripping is a never-ending possibility in Misamis Oriental, one of the five provinces of Northern Mindanao.

From watersports and fine beaches to cave exploration and ethnic settlements, the list of nature-communing endeavors to be experienced in the province is longer than enough to fill a lifetime’s itinerary. Seas and beaches offer a limitless aqua adventure. Go scuba diving at Duka Bay and Mantangale, also a primary dolphin and whale shark watching destination. Find glorious hideaways in the white sand beaches of Midway Beach, Maputi White Beach, and Opol Beach Fronts. Go white water rafting and tubing in the rapids of Cagayan de Oro River, one of the longest rivers in Mindanao. Or simply get picture-happy at the San Isidro/Sagpolon, Palalan, and Tiklas waterfalls as well as Sapong Spring and the Cold Spring at Lagonglong.

A multitude of choices await the nature lover or adventurer. The Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village in Cagayan de Oro, a cultural village in a botanical setting, is home to Region 10’s tribal communities and endemic plants and trees. Also in Cagayan de Oro is Macahambus Cave, a historical site dating back to the 1900s. Initao Cave is home to the split-nose bat and the Initao National Park is a forest reserve with a natural limestone formation and marine life. Shift into a more relaxed pace at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club, situated along Lumbia Road in Cagayan de Oro. Or explore this city’s museums, from the Xavier University Museum showcasing Muslim-Bukidnon culture to the La Castilla Museum featuring household heirlooms.

GEOGRAPHY
Misamis Oriental is one of the five provinces of Northern Mindanao. Falling between 8°28'38"516 Latitude and 142°38'35"235 Longitude, the province is located along the northern coast of the island of Mindanao. It is bounded on the north by Macajalar Bay, on the west by Iligan Bay, on the south and southwest by the provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte, and on the east by Agusan del Norte.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
Misamis Oriental is one of the 22 provinces of Mindanao and one of the 4 provinces of the new Region 10. It has two cities, Cagayan de Oro, the capital, and Gingoog City, a component city, and 24 municipalities with 349 barangays.

POPULATION
Total population is 664,338 as of 2000.

LANGUAGE/DIALECT
Cebuano, Tagalog, Maranao, Hiligayon, Ilonggo, Waray, and English.

CLIMATE
Two types of climates in the province are based on rainfall distribution. The first type, which occurs in the eastern municipalities of Kinoguitan to Magsaysay, has a very pronounced maximum rainfall from November to January and generally wet the whole year. The second type, which occurs in the central and western part of the province, is relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. It covers the municipalities of Sugbongcogon in the east and down to Lugait in the west. The climate is usually pleasant with warmer days and cooler nights.

INDUSTRIES
DEL MONTE PINEAPPLE CANNERY. Production area in Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City; processes juices and cocktails, among others.
MINDANAO PRODUCT SHOWROOM. Display area of all handicrafts in Region 10; managed by the Department of Trade and Industry in cooperation with the Cagayan Oro Chamber of Commerce.
OSTRICH AND CROCODILE FARM (Opol, Misamis Oriental). Owned by local Filipino-Chinese entrepreneurs and supplying the local markets and Manila.
MINDANAO SILK MULBERRY FARM (Claveria, Misamis Oriental). Houses the Philippine Textile Research Institute Mindanao Office.
PHIVIDEC INDUSTRIAL ESTATE (Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental). Home to several multinational corporations and big industries.
CERAMIC MAKING (Bulua, Cagayan de Oro). Items include jars, plates, and ornamental/gift items, among others. APTPCO (Gingoog City). Produces plywood.
INDO PHIL. OIL MILL (Medina, Misamis Oriental). Produces coconut oil.

PRODUCTS & INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
A. Products

· Abaca-fiber-based
· Hand-made paper
· Silk cloth

B. Key players

· Handmade paper: 7 firms producing
· Silk: 4 major industry groups
· Handwoven abaca/other fiber: 4 firms and 3 weaver groups

C. Market

· Domestic: hand-made paper, fiber and finished products sold nationwide
· Exports: hand-made paper products shipped to Australia, Canada, Japan and United States

D. Trade and investment opportunities

· Product development clinics
· Strengthening of production capability
· Skills trainings

Bukidnon

OVERVIEW
Bukidnon is a highland paradise in the heart of Mindanao. It is home to the world's biggest pineapple plantation boasting a classic golf course dating back to 1928. It is the biggest cattle-producing province in the region.

It is well endowed with natural attractions like the Kitanglad Ranges that includes Dulang Dulang, the second highest peak in the country. And it has been identified as one of the country’s richest in biodiversity and endemic species of flora and fauna.Bukidnon is in the heartland of Mindanao, linking Davao to the south and Misamis Oriental to the north of the island.

LOCATION
Bukidnon is a landlocked province in northern Mindanao. It is bounded on the north by Misamis Oriental, on the east by Agusan del Sur and Davao, on the west by the Lanao provinces, and on the south by North Cotabato.

GEOGRAPHY
Bukidnon, a rich tableland, is a landlocked province in Northern Mindanao. It occupies the extensive plateau that is bounded on the north and the northeast by Misamis Oriental; on the east by Agusan; on the south and southeast by Davao; and on the southwest and west by Lanao and Cotabato. It lies between the parrallels 7'25' and 8'38' north latitude and meridians 124'16' east longtitude.Topography is predominantly a rolling tableland of grass with an average elevation of 915 meters. Low plains alternating with rolling uplands, deep canyons and valleys characterize the terrain.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISION
The province has a total of 464 barangays distributed among 21 municipalities and one component city. Malaybalay is the capital town. The province is grouped into 3 congressional districts.

LANGUAGE/DIALECT
The province has different dialects brought by the immigration of lowlanders that come from the different islands of the archipelago. Cebuano is spoken by 77.9% of the population; Binukid, by 8.9%; and English, by 0.05%.

CLIMATE
Bukidnon is relatively cool and moist throughout the year. There are two prevailing types of climate variations: the northern part has no pronounced maximum rain period, with a short dry season lasting only for one to three months, while the southern part has no pronounced maximum rain period and no dry season.

The province is outside the the typhoon belt. The mean annual temperature is 24.04°C with maximum and minimum temperature of 29.6°C and 18.5°C, respectively. The annual average rainfall is 2,581.84m.


PEOPLE
The province is an ethnic melting pot with Visayan, Tagalog, and Ilocano migrants. Despite a diversity of cultures, the people have adopted Cebuano as their language, supplemented by the native dialect called Binukid. The natives are mainly Bukidnons who occupy the lowlands of the plateau while the Manobos are in the highlands. Bukidnon settlements are clusters of households under their own datu. They engage. in kaingin farming, basket-weaving, and pottery.

The women wear colorful blouses cloth sewn together, and shawls embroidered in red. Some of the numerous indigenous tribes derive their name from their place of origin: the Tigwahanon after the Tigwa watershed , the Umayamnon after the Umayan River, the Pulangaiyon after the Pulangi River, and the Matigsalug after the Salug River. The Iliano and Langilaon were named after the borderareas they occupy. The tala-anding, named after a myth, are distinguished by the elaborate fan-like headgear their women wear during festivals.

PRODUCTS / INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Bukidnon is an agricultural economy. It is a major producer of rice, corn, sugar coffee, rubber, pineapple, tomato, flowers, cassava, and other fruits and vegetables. It is also a major producer of chicken, hogs, and cattle.Among its major corporations, Del Monte Phils Inc. is engaged in pineapple production and cattle fattening while Bukidnon Sugar Milling Corp. and Crystal Sugar Milling are into sugar milling and refining.

A. Products

· A sheltered environment for assembly, cooling, sorting, packing and storage of fresh vegetables, marketing and financing services

B. Key players

· Local government of Impasug-ong, Bukidnon (one of the investors)
· Department of Trade and Industry
· GEM
· Northern Mindanao Vegetable Producers Association
· Chamber of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries in Northern Mindanao (CAFFINORMIN)

C. Market

· Domestic: nationwide

D. Trade and investment opportunities

· Packing shed with cold chain capability

Economy
Almost all large firms operating in the province are into production or processing of these agricultural products. Del Monte Philippines, Inc. (DMPI), Lapanday Diversified Products Corp. and Mt. Kitanglad Agri-Development Corp., Dole Philippines (Skyland), Bukidnon Sugar Milling Corporation (BUSCO), Crystal Sugar Milling, Phil-Agro Industrial Corporation, Menzi Agricultural Development, Agaropyta Phils. Inc., Bukidnon Greens Inc., FP Obrero Farms, ARDEM, Inc., San Miguel Foods Corp. (SMFI_PFC), Monterey Farms Corp. and Swift Foods, Inc.

As one of the major anchors in crop production, Bukidnon is moving forward towards establishing its position as a principal trader of rice, corn, sugar, potato, tomato and many other commercial and industrial crops.

Bukidnon’s fresh fruits and vegetables are either sold in domestic markets or exported to neighboring countries. Fresh pineapples, banana, sugarcane and cutflowers are among its exports.

History
Bukidnon became a part of Misamis in the latter part of 1850. The whole area was then called Malaybalay (few houses) and the people were known as Bukidnons (mountain people).

The Philippine Commission then headed by Commissioner Dean C. Worcester, Secretary of Interior and a member of the Philippine Commission proposed the separation of Bukidnon from Misamis Province.

On August 20, 1907, the Philippine Commission Act No. 1693 was enacted the Province of Agusan and sub- province of Bukidnon.

Bukidnon became a regular province on March 10, 1917 by virtue of the creation of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu under Act 2711.


Tourist Attractions

Natural
PAIYAK CAVE
Location: Palaopao Mountains of Sumilao, Bukidnon
This well preserved cliffside cave had created centuries old formatons as gleaned from undistributed stalactites and stalagmites.

NAPALIT CAVE
Location: 36 hectares lake, Pigtauranan, Pngantucan
It is at the foot of the Kalungtungan mountains. It stands out becuase of its twenty four (24) floating islets of varying size, the biggest of which in 50 -feet wide. These islets float around the lake parallel to the direction of the wind.


Man-Made
BUKIDNON SUGAR CENTRAL
Location: Quezon, Bukidnon
The Bukidnon Sugar Company (BUSCO) is the only sugar central in Northern Mindanao. This 40 million sugar mill has a processing capacity of4,000 to 6,000 tonsof cane daily.


DEL MONTE PHILIPPINES, INC.
Location: Manolo Fortrich, Libona, Impasugong and Sumilao.
Considered the biggest pineapple plantation in the Far East. It also has a famous world class 18 hole golf course located in Cawayanon, San Miguel.

Zamboanga Sibugay

General Description
Owing to its natural land form, the province of Zamboanga Sibugay is blessed with an impressive range of excellent tourist destinations – interesting mountain formations, picture-perfect waterfalls, caves in which dwell thousands of bats as well as stalactites, hot springs, white sand beaches, and fish and sea snake sanctuaries.

Tantanan Bay is the largest fish sanctuary found in the province, encompassing an area of five hectares. Sibuguey Bay bounds the southern peripheries. Endowed with several coral formations that function naturally as fish sanctuaries, it is ideal for snorkeling and diving.

Another notable fish sanctuary, situated within the municipality of Talusan, is Takushari. Within the island of Pulo Laum is a sanctuary for the propagation of sea snakes.Zamboanga Sibugay is endowed with several islets that are ideal for beach resort development.

Notable are Pandilusan Island in the municipality of Payao and Litayon Island in the municipality of Alicia. One characteristic that they have in common is their white sand beaches. In addition to these islets, there are also white sand atolls in both municipalities that are submerged during high tides.

Leading the province’s inland tourist attractions are the large caves found in the municipalities of Tungawan and Talusan as well as the Moalboal Cave in the municipality of Titay. Among the majestic waterfalls are Tagbilat, Dalisay, Tugop Muslim, Cobacob, Go-otoc, Malagandis, Basay, and Palina Falls in Ipil.

Political Subdivision
There are 16 municipalities comprising the province: Tungawan, R.T. Lim, Ipil, Titay, Naga, Siay, Kabasalan, Imelda, Diplahan, Buug, Malangas, Alicia, Payao, Mabuhay, Talusan and Olutanga. It has a total of 389 barangays under one Congressional District.

Geography
Zamboanga Sibugay has an approximate total land area of 322,830 hectares accounting for about 37.82 percent of the mother province of Zamboanga del Sur. It is geographically located at 123o 04’ 49.75” longitude and at 7o 42’ 14.89” latitude. To the north it intersects the common municipal boundaries of Kadawit, Tampilisan, and Godad in Zamboanga del Norte.

In the west, it is bounded by the municipalities of Siraway, Siocon, and Balinguian, and the province of Zamboanga del Norte. On the south it is bounded by Sibuguey Bay. In the east, the municipalities of Bayog and Kumalarang both in the province of Zamboanga del Sur bound it. It is further bounded on the southwest by Zamboanga City.

Climate
The climatic condition of the province is moderately normal (climate type III). Annual rainfall varies from 1,599 mm to 3,500 mm. Temperature is relatively warm and constant throughout the year ranging from 22o C to 35o C. The province is situated outside the typhoon belt.

Industries
The leading industries are in the areas of bakery, rice and corn milling, food processing, and rattan and wood furniture production. The new players in the field are concrete products, garments, wax and candle factory, and other cottage industries.Major crops produced include rice, corn, coconuts, rubber, fruit trees, vegetables, tobacco, coffee, cacao, and root crops. Livestock and poultry productions are predominantly small-scale backyard operations.

Population
The 2000 census reported a total population of 49,239 with an annual growth rate at 2.09%.

Dialects
The major dialects are Cebuano and Ilonggo. Tagalog, Ilocano, and other ethnic tongues are spoken as well.


Products / Investment Potentials

A. Products
· Product quality and productivity improvements for small rubber farmers in the province

B. Key players
· 2 rubber processors/exporters

C. Market
· Domestic
· Export: United States and Malaysia

D. Trade and investment opportunities
· Creation of Zamboanga Sibugay as a new province where the rubber industry is situated. A closer attention among provincial executives and legislative bodies for development is more focused.
· Ongoing concretizing of the national highways that cut across the major rubber plantation areas to eventually reduce the cost of transportation.

Davao City

Davao City is in Southern Mindanao region of the Philippines.

Considered as one of the fastest growing regions in the country, it consists of the provinces of Davao, Davao Sur, Davao Oriental, Surigao del Sur and South Cotabato an the cities of Davao and General Santos.

Davao is located in the southeastern corner of the island of Mindanao, in a region that also comprises the provinces of Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City.

A well-endowed land, the province is bordered by swamps, jungles, sandy beaches, and high mountain ranges, most significant of which is Mount Apo, the country's highest peak at 10,311 feet above sea level.

The city sits at the mouth of Davao Gulf, in the northeastern part of Davao Province.

A total land area of 244,000 hectares makes it the world's second most extensive city and the country's fastest growing trade center for East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA), an economic trade union participated in by Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Its mild, pleasant climate with evenly distributed rainfall and low incidence of typhoons is ideal for agriculture.

In the south of the city, one can find the biggest tracts of arable lands where huge fruit plantations and ornamental flower gardens are located. Aside from bananas and pomelos (a kind of local grapefruit), other plantation products include abaca, ramie, corn, rice, coffee and coconuts. Its orchid gardens yield a wide variety of rare and endemic species such as the waling-waling (Vanda Sanderiana).

Davao City is considered the world's largest city in terms of land area which is 2,443.6 square kilometers. It has an estimated population of 1,006,84 accounting to 19% of the entire Southern Mindanao region. It is the second biggest urabn market within the East ASEAN Growth Polygon.

Davao continues to be the top exporter of Region XI exporting to major world markets such as Japan, the United States of America, the Middle East, and Europe.

The city is fast industrializing. Recent trends show that is economy is steadily moving away from agriculture towards value added processing activities

History

Local historians 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.

Spanish influence was hardly felt in the Davao until 1847, when an expedition led by Don Jose Oyanguren came to establish a Christian settlement in an area of mangrove swamps that is now Bolton Riverside.

Davao was then ruled by a Moro chieftain, Datu Bago, who held his settlement at the banks of Davao River (once called Tagloc River by the Bagobos).

After Oyanguren defeated Datu Bago, he renamed the region Nueva Guipozcoa, in honor of his home in Spain, and became its first governor. Oyanguren's efforts to develop the area, however, did not prosper.

A few years after the American forces landed in 1900, private farm ownership grew and transportation and communication facilities were improved, thus paving the way for the region's economic growth.

A Japanese entrepreneur named Kichisaburo Ohta was granted permission to exploit vast territories which he transformed into abaca and coconut plantations.

The first wave of Japanese plantation workers came onto its shores in 1903, creating a Japan kuo, or Little Japan. They had their own school, newspapers, an embassy, and even a Shinto Shrine.

On the whole, they established extensive abaca plantations around the shores of Davao Gulf and developed large-scale commercial interests such as copra, timber, fishing and import-export trading.

Filipinos learned the techniques of improved cultivation from the Japanese so that ultimately, agriculture became the lifeblood of the province's economic prosperity.

Davao was formally inaugurated as a charter city in March 16, 1937 by President Elpidio Quirino.

Thirty years later, Davao was subdivided into three independent provinces, namely Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.

Over the years, Davao has become an ethnic melting pot as it continues to draw migrants from all over the country, lured by the prospects of striking it rich in the country's third largest city. (clickdavao)