DAVAO del Norte was one of the three new provinces created when the original province of Davao was split by virtue of the bill authored by then Congressman Lorenzo S. Sarmiento Sr. The other two were Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental. While the law, R.A. 4867, was approved 8 May 1967, the three became provinces simultaneously July 1st of same year.
Davao del Norte was composed of 13 municipalities, namely: Asuncion, Babak, Compostela, Kapalong, Mabini, Mawab, Monkayo, Nabunturan, Panabo, Pantukan, Samal, Sto. Tomas and Tagum. Six additional municipalities were created on May 6, 1970. These were Carmen, Kaputian, Maco, Montevista, New Bataan and New Corella. As of 1996, the municipalities became 22 with the creation of San Vicente (now Laak) in 1979, Maragusan in 1988 and Talaingod in 1990.
Verulo C. Boiser, an extremely popular broadcaster carrying the nom de plume “Bonjong” and senior member of the provincial board of the still undivided province, was appointed first governor. Boiser served the fledgling province for a total of 10 years, from July 1, 1967 to July 7, 1977, two years as appointed governor and eight years (two terms) as elected governor.
During Governor Boiser’s time, specifically in 1972, the infrastructure development of Davao del Norte was given a big boost. when the province qualified along with the 27 other provinces nationwide to be included in the development program of the then Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Under this program, the province successfully implemented the Rural Roads Program (RRP) for 15 years and the Barangay Water Program (BWP) for 11 years.
The second provincial governor was Gregorio R. Dujali. The gentleman farmer, former campus wrestling champion and municipal mayor of Panabo for several terms, was extended a presidential appointment when Bonjong Boiser stepped down on July 7, 1977. Dujali’s stint as appointed governor lasted for only one year, as he was elective governor for two terms until March 31, 1986 when the Corazon Aquino government replaced the country’s incumbent elected officials with officers-in-charge.
Dujali’s governorship stressed on agricultural development and food production, the most notable of which was “Pagkain ng Bayan” (Food for the People), a demonstration/model rice farm administered by the provincial government, which also generated income for the province. This economic enterprise was later expanded to include the production of other agricultural products. The “Pagkain ng Bayan” site has been the venue of several trainings jointly sponsored by the Japan-based Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) and the Province of Davao del Norte.
Under the Dujali administration many people in the province were able to avail themselves of livelihood projects.
On April 4, 1986, shortly after Corazon C. Aquino was installed as president of the Philippines by virtue of the “People Power” phenomenon, or EDSA Revolution on February 25, 1986, Prospero S. Amatong, a veteran municipal mayor of Nabunturan, was appointed OIC governor. Together with him, six board members were also appointed, four of whom resigned when they ran for congressman a year after. As result, four new members of the Provincial Board were appointed to fill in the vacancies.
The Amatong administration ushered in a new style of leadership. His close supervision of infrastructure projects resulted in the completion of several public buildings, roads and bridges.
It was also during the term of the late Governor Amatong when the peace and order situation greatly improved. Owing to the cease-fire that he had successfully brokered with the rebels, there were mass surrenders of insurgents, a rehabilitation center for rebel returnees was established and these returnees were given an opportunity to become productive through livelihood projects.
Amatong resigned from his appointive position on November 30, 1987 in order to run for governor during the regular elections in 1988. Romeo S, Jardenico, the chief local government officer of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), took charge of the province for two weeks until the appointment of lawyer Jesus T. Albacite as OIC governor. However, the term of OIC governor Albacite was shortlived, lasting only for twenty one (21) days when, due to certain constitutional provisions, the position of OIC governor was handed over Cecilia Almendras-de la Paz, who once served as vice governor of the province. On February 3, 1988, Amatong took his oath as the duly-elected governor of the province. Governor Amatong’s reign was marked by province’s economic economic strides. Davao del Norte was fortunate to be picked one of the pilot provinces for the decentralization program which were granted financial assistance by the national government termed the Block Grant in the amount of P120 million for social, agricultural and infrastructure development.
Governor Amatong also put emphasis on the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. He saw to it that the province acquired its own heavy equipment, thereby eliminating the need for private contractors in the implementation of roads and bridges. The governor was known to be a hands-on executive, conducting frequent visits to the project sites to ensure that these were properly implemented.
Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, was a big boost to the Amatong administration. The law allowed non-government organizations like the cooperatives to get involved in government projects.
The LGC also inspired Governor Amatong to pursue the implementation of the first-ever reorganization of employees in the provincial government on December 16, 1991. It is believed that the reorganization enabled the provincial government to be more responsive and efficient in the delivery of public services.
Still with RA 7160, devolution of functions of a number of national government agencies to the provincial government was made possible.
Among the most high-profile achievements under the leadership of Gov. Amatong were the three Galing Pook Awards received for three consecutive years by the Province of Davao del Norte from the Asian Institute of Management and the Department of the Interior and local Government. The award was given for having excelled in its agricultural program in 1995 and 1996 and its health program in 1997. These were the 1995 Trichogramma; 1996 Sustainable Food Security Program and the 1997 Blood Sufficiency Program.
As a result of Davao del Norte’s getting the prestigious awards for three consecutive years, the province was installed in the Hall of Fame, for which it was awarded another plaque.
On January 30, 1998, President Fidel V. Ramos signed bills into law tha would alter the physical complexion of Davao del Norte. They are Republic Act No.8470 creating the Province of Compostela Valley out of Davao Province; the enactment of Republic Act No. 8471, creating the Island Garden City of Samal comprising the former municipalities of Babak, Samal and Kaputian; Republic Act No. 8472 converting Tagum municipality into Tagum City, the seat of the provincial government of Davao del Norte Province; and Republic Act 8473 creating the municipality of Braulio E. Dujali from the municipalities of Carmen and Panabo. As a result of all these changes, the province was now composed of eight municipalities and two cities with a total of 223 barangays.
On March 26, 1998, Governor Amatong chose to take his oath as governor of the newly created province of Compostela Valley, thus officially ending his stint as Davao del Norte’s chief executive.
The national and local election period from April 1 to June 30, 1999 necessitated the appointment of interim provincial officials headed by Anecito M. Solis as the acting governor.
Rodolfo P. del Rosario was sworn into office as the first elected governor of the new Davao del Norte Province on July 1, 1998.
The new governor immediately embarked on programs for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. His passion for programs designed for the protection and preservation of our natural resources, human resource development to include education, health and employment generation, cooperative development and the review and modification of the financial policy of the province was likewise evident.
Gov. Del Rosario institutionalized the “Cluster Development“ approach that grouped municipalities and cities for better developmental complementation.
On March 31, 2001, the municipality of Panabo became a city by virtue of Republic Act 1015, thus changing the administrative composition of Davao del Norte to seven municipalities and three cities. Congressman Antonio R. Floirendo Jr. was the architect of the bill creating the City of Panabo.
One of the remarkable features of good governance exemplified under the leadership of Gov. Del Rosario is the bonding together of the elected provincial officials into an organization known as “Hugpong Dabaonon.” Under “Hugpong,” the provincial officials made a commitment to work together, setting aside political affiliation and ideological differences. Analysts credit this manifestation of unity and solidarity as instrumental in effecting the fast-paced development of Davao del Norte.
Among the priority programs and projects in Del Rosario’s time were the Integrated Water Resource Development Project wherein a feasibility study was made on the potable water supply in the province; the establishment of the Technology and Livelihood Development Center (TLDC) launched in 1999; the Davao del Norte Investment Promotion Center (DNIPC) aimed at increasing investment/business opportunities; the “Medicare para sa Masa” program; the Nutrition Program; the Surgical Outreach Program and the opening of the Carmen District Hospital; “Luntiang Paraiso” rehabilitation center for drug dependents in New Corella; the Sports Development Program and the full support for the Summer Program for Employment of Students (SPES).
Economic services anchored on the MBN (minimum basic needs) concept included projects such as the Infrastructure Project for the Enhancement of Rural Productivity (IPERP), livestock production and animal dispersal projects, the Community-Based Forest Resource Management Project, the Coastal Resource Management Project and the Upland Development Program.
Another landmark, the “Tahanan ng Punong Lalawigan,”, the official residence of the provincial chief executive of Davao del Norte, was constructed within the compound of the provincial government center.
Davao del Norte’s membership in the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP) enabled it to benefit from major economic projects such as farm-to-market roads and Upland Farming Model Villages.
On March 15, 2004, a new municipality was born. Republic Act No. 9265 created San Isidro as the eighth municipality of Davao del Norte. San Isidro is composed of six barangays culled from the municipality of Kapalong and another seven barangays from the municipality of Asuncion. The bill was sponsored by Congressman Arrel R. Olaño of District I. The seat of this new local government unit is in Barangay Sawata.
Governor Del Rosario served for two terms only. His decision not to run for re-election paved the way for Gelacio P. Gementiza, mayor of Tagum City, to run for governor of Davao del Norte. Gementiza’s landslide victory gave him a new mandate to head the province of Davao del Norte.
The centerpiece program of government of Governor Gementiza were social services development and peace and order stability of Davao del Norte. In his inaugural address he pledged to continue the implementation of on-going programs and projects geared towards attaining poverty alleviation through the MBN approach.
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