Sprawling along the graceful slopes of the Zambales mountain ranges at 120 feet above sea level & situated just 15 minutes from Olongapo City, Alta Vista by GP Homes offers magnificent panoramic views of nearby Subic Bay...Davao City
Source: davaocity.gov.ph
Davao City. where business and leisure blend well
Davao City is a sprawling metropolis of over a million people located in the Southeastern part of Mindanao. It is one of the largest cities in the world with a land area of 2,443.61 square kilometers.
It is a place blessed with natural advantages. The soil is very fertile and rich in minerals. The city has abundant source of potable water. Located in a typhoon-free zone, its tropical weather is characterized by even distribution of climatic elements all year round. Temperature ranges from 15 to 34°C.
Strategically located in the Asia-Pacific rim, the city serves as a gateway to the world. It is a key player in the flourishing trading hub called the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA.
Davao City is in the southeastern part of Mindanao and is approximately 946 aerial kilometers from Manila.
On the west, the city's boundary line cuts through the highest peak in the country, the inactive Mt. Apo at 3,142 meters above sea level. Cascading from the peak and going east down, one sees vast plains, unspoiled forests, fertile valleys, navigable rivers, the sprawling metropolis and world-class beaches facing the Davao gulf.
As 71 percent of the population resides in the urban area, its urban density is estimated roughly at 2,262 persons per square kilometer. Recent estimates place the population at around 1.4 million.
With predominantly migrant population, the city is a melting pot of cultures where diversities are appreciated and nurtured in a harmonious and peaceful environment. Major languages and dialects in the city are Filipino, Chinese, English and Cebuano.
The city has one of the highest literacy rates in Asia at 98.3%. Its labor force is cited as among the best in the region: educated, easily trainable, industrious, and English speaking.
As Mindanao's center of commerce, trade, and services, the city's modern infrastructures and world-class utilities provide viable support to economic activities.
Its urban center is home to quality residential and commercial units complete with modern facilities and amenities at very reasonable prices. Access is fast and easy to utilities such as power, water, landlines and mobile phones with IDD features, cable TV networks, and Internet service providers.
Considered by many as the de facto capital of Mindanao, the City's strategic position provides accessibility and linkage to the 20 million market of Mindanao and the 51.4 million market of the East ASEAN Growth Area.
Davao is a place of perfect balance. It is fast-paced yet relaxed where the luxuries of cosmopolitan living complement the breathtaking beauty of the great outdoors.
Davao City is an investment haven, a place of perfect balance... where business and pleasure blend so well.
Population
Davao City is home to over a million people. Daytime population (which includes transients) is estimated to reach almost 2 million since it is the center of trade, commerce, and services in Southern Philippines. Its population growth rate is 2.83% while density is at 540 persons per square kilometer. Urban density however is higher at 2,555 people per square kilometer.
Labor Force
About 48% of the total population is of working age. Of this, a little over 88% are employed. Davaoeños like their fellow Filipinos, are English-speaking and highly trainable. Most are known to have a natural inclination towards arts and creativity, the reason why many have been successful in design and related enterprises.
Geography
Davao City is the capital of the Davao Region (or Region XI). It is strategically located at the Southeastern part of Mindanao with latitude of 6º58' to 7º 34' North and a longitude of 125º14' to 125º40' East.
Its boundary line passes through the top of the country's highest peak, the Mt. Apo. On the north, Davao del Norte bound it, while on the east, partly by Davao del Norte and the Davao Gulf.
The city's strategic location makes it the center of trade not only in the Southern Mindanao region or the whole of Mindanao but also in the East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA).
Accesibility
Davao City is very accessible. As your gateway to the Philippine South, it has regular air, sea, and land linkages to major points in the country. It is one (1) hour and 40 minutes away from Manila (the country's capital) by plane and only 40 minutes away from Cebu City. It has 4 times weekly flights to Singapore and twice weekly flights to Manado Indonesia.
Land use and area
Total land area of Davao City is 2,443.61 square kilometers. In terms of land area, it is considered as one of the largest cities in the world. It is divided into 3 congressional districts with barangays (smallest political villages) totaling to 180.
Almost 50% of its total land area is classified as timberland or forest. Agriculture utilizes about 43%. This is reflective of the fact that agriculture is still the largest economic sector. Big plantations that produce banana, pineapple, coffee, and coconut eat up a large chunk of the total land area.
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 for forest and conservation.
Climate
Davao City is typhoon-free. The city enjoys a weather that remains balmy all year round. It is characterized by a uniform distribution of rainfall, temperature, humidity, and air pressure.
It has no pronounced wet or dry season. Weather predictability makes it highly conducive to agro-crop production. Temperature ranges from 20 to 32 degrees Celsius and average rainfall is up to 2,000 mm yearly.
Dialects/Languages
Cebuano is the most widely spoken dialect. The Filipino language comes a close second. English is the medium of instruction in schools and is widely understood and spoken especially in the business community.
Religion
The most dominant group is the Roman Catholic at 83.83%, other Christian groups comprise 15% and the remaining 1.17% belongs to other non-Christian faiths (Islam, Buddhism, etc).
Physical Infrastructure
The presence of basic infrastructure within the City such as airport, seaports, roads, bridges, and telecommunications has sustained the economic growth in the last 10 years.
Due to the City's unprecedented growth, a clamor for higher capacity infrastructures resulted to a number of modernization projects now ongoing to meet the demands of the new millennium.
Airport
The Davao International Airport is the busiest airport in Southern Philippines. Expansion and modernization began in 1998. Today, the DIA has begun accommodating wider-bodied jets such as Boeing 747's.
Roads and Bridges
Construction of more roads and bridges are also underway. The construction of the City's third major road - the Buhangin underpass was completed in the 1st quarter of 2003.
A Traffic Management and Computerization Scheme is also being planned. Davao City is ranked no. 5 among cities in Asia with better traffic flow based on vehicles per kilometer of city road.
Seaports
Presently, there are 2 government seaports (the Sasa Wharf and the Sta. Ana Pier) and 9 privately owned ports. The City Government is currently in the process of taking over the management of the seaports to modernize facilities and expand capacity.
In addition, the city has a fish port called the Toril Fish Port Complex to accommodate small and large-scale fishing activities as well as provide among others cold-storage facilities.
Telecommunications
Communication links within the key business areas are adequate. With the deregulation and privatization policies of the Philippine Government, the number of telecommunications player is projected to increase as well as offer affordable telecommunications services to subscribers/clienteles.
Mobile Phone operators, Internet service providers, Internet café's, and cable-TV operators have now proliferated in the city and even in the rest of the localities within the country to keep the people in-touched and informed of the latest developments around the globe.
Cable-TV Operators
In Davao City, you can enjoy the best of cable TV, your choice of movies, 24-hour world news reports, documentaries, sports, and coverage of significant events, all for as low as US$ 8.00/month.
Internet Service Providers
There are 6 Internet Service Providers operating in Davao City offering dial-up, dedicated and DSL types of service. The City has over a hundred Internet cafés operating in strategic areas where one can surf, chat, play games, send and view e-mails, and engage in e-commerce using the latest computer innovation and technology.
Socio-cultural environment
Education
Filipinos value education so much. They consider a diploma or a college degree as a passport to better opportunities. The government provides free education at the primary (grade school) and secondary (high school) levels. Government scholars can enjoy free college education in state-run universities such as the University of the Philippines. The literacy rate of the country is 93.9%. Davao City on the other hand has a higher literacy rate of 95.17%.
The City has largely contributed to the country's ever increasing pool of masters and doctorate degree holders helping the Philippines gained the distinction of having one of the highest numbers of Masters in Business Administration (MBA) graduates in the world.
The City is considered the Center for Learning and Education in the Mindanao Island. Currently, it has 374 elementary schools, 107 secondary schools, and 41 colleges and universities.
Health and Hospital
The average life expectancy of Davaoeños is 70 for females and 65 for males.
There are about 31 hospitals with a total of 1,763 beds in Davao City. Very affordable medical services are made available to poor residents through the Davao Medical Center, which has the most number of hospitals beds at 400.
Banks
Currently, there are around 141 banks (including branches), 37 financing companies, and 466lending firms operating in the city. These can handle financial/monetary transactions from the most basic to the most complicated.
Cargo and courier forwarders
Postal requirements are served by 18 post offices citywide. Forwarders, truckers, custom brokers, international couriers, and messengerial companies offer overnight mail and freight/cargo services.
The PRESS
Aside from the 24 national daily newspapers available, Davao City has also 20 local newspapers, 11 broadcast TV stations, 15 AM-band radio stations, and 25 FM-band radio stations. These numbers reflect the extent of press freedom being enjoyed by the print and broadcast media as well as provide wide range of choice for residents and visitors alike.
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