Nabunturan
Municipality
Municipality of Nabunturan
Flag Seal
Nicknames:  Heart of the Valley Home of the Biggest Gold Ring in the Philippines El Dorado FIlipino
Motto(s):  Nabunturan, A Progressive, Peaceful, and Dynamic Agri-based Municipality
Anthem: Nabunturan Hymn
Map of Davao de Oro with Nabunturan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Nabunturan Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 7°36′03″N 125°57′56″E / 7.6008°N 125.9656°E / 7.6008; 125.9656
Country	Philippines
Region	Davao Region
Province	Davao de Oro
District	2nd district
Founded	July 23, 1957
Barangays	28 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Myrocel Clarin-Balili
• Vice Mayor	Rodel G. Balili
• Representative	Ruwel Peter S. Gonzaga
• Electorate	48,191 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	231.30 km2 (89.31 sq mi)
Elevation	127 m (417 ft)
Highest elevation	437 m (1,434 ft)
Lowest elevation	64 m (210 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	84,340
• Density	360/km2 (940/sq mi)
• Households	20,831
Demonym	Nabunturanon
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	17.50 % (2018)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 344.3 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 734.8 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 286.6 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	8800
PSGC	118209000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)87
Native languages	Davawenyo Cebuano Kalagan Mansaka Tagalog Ata Manobo
Website	nabunturan.gov.ph

Nabunturan, officially the Municipality of Nabunturan (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Nabunturan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Nabunturan), is a 1st class municipality and capital of the province of Davao de Oro, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 84,340 people.^[3]

The municipality is home to the Mainit Hot Springs Protected Landscape.

History

The town of Nabunturan was once a barangay of Municipality of Compostela. The origin of the name is from buntod, the Cebuano term for "mountain." The word "Nabunturan" means "surrounded by mountains" in English. The early settlement was governed by a headman called Bagani, but was under the supervision of the Municipal District President of Compostela over matters concerning civil affairs. For the maintenance of peace and order, the area was under the immediate supervision of the Philippine Constabulary Detachment of Camp Kalaw, Moncayo. From barangay Jaguimitan in the north to barangay Mawab (now a municipality in the south), the whole Compostela town was divided into two (2) municipal districts: the district of Moncayo, and the district of Compostela, with the latter's seat of local government in barangay Nabunturan, now the municipality of Nabunturan.

Before the construction of the national road traversing Nabunturan, the place was little known; but despite the threat of malaria, which was prevalent at the time, pioneers ventured into the area. Mansaka natives settled their lives here in the municipality of Mawab to Barangay Bangkerohan, Montevista. The original site of Barangay Nabunturan was situated along the Libasan-Saosao Provincial Road, about 4  km from the present Poblacion site. The public school system was under the supervision of the Supervising Teacher stationed in the Kalaw Settlement for schools in the district of Monkayo.

When the road was constructed in 1938, many Visayan settlers and pioneers came to Nabunturan and made it their home. By that time, the establishment of the Bureau of Public Works (BPW) camp settled in Nabunturan. Many business trades and establishments poured in and Nabunturan was established as a rural community.

In 1941, the Second World War broke out in the country. A new hiding place for guerrillas and USAFFE Contingents spread in Nabunturan. But during the Japanese occupation in Mindanao, Nabunturan became a Japanese Kempetai Garrison. After the war, the Japanese were repulsed back to Davao City, and the camp regained its status as the center of life and business in Davao de Oro. Camp Kalaw was destroyed and abandoned.

In 1945, American forces landed in Davao City, and the Philippine Civil Assistance Unit (PCAU) established the civil government of Compostela at Nabunturan because of its accessibility to Davao City. By that time, many highways and roads were constructed, and Nabunturan became a center of commerce. Because of this, the need to convert Nabunturan into a municipality was felt. On July 23, 1957, 30 days after the approval and passage of Republic Act no. 2038, a new political unit—separate and distinct from the mother municipality of Compostela—was created. It retained its original name, Nabunturan. The first mayor of the town was Lauro C. Arabejo, the incumbent mayor of the municipality of Compostela.

On January 30, 1998, President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law the creation of the 79th province of the country, Compostela Valley (now named Davao de Oro), pursuant to Rep. Act 8470, which created Nabunturan as its capital town on March 8, 1998. Prospero Amatong, then incumbent governor of Davao del Norte province from which the new province of Compostela Valley was carved out, opted to serve as the first governor of the newly created province. He only served for one day because he resigned the following day and filed his candidacy for Congress. He was succeeded by Luz Sarmiento as an appointed governor and served for two months. The first elected governor was Jose R. Caballero who served from July 1, 1998, to June 30, 2007.

Geography

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Nabunturan was 84,340 people,^[3] with a density of 360 inhabitants per square kilometre or 930 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Nabunturan is also home to the biggest gold ring in the Philippines, "The Solidarity Ring."

Malls:

• Nabunturan Central Warehouse
• Gaisano Grand Mall - Nabunturan
• NCCC Mall Davao - NCCC Nabunturan

Superstores & Department Stores:

• NOVO Department Store
• Mr. DIY
• Mabuhay Warehouse
• Mabuhay Warehouse LCL
• AJL Superstore

Government

Media

References

External links

• Nabunturan Profile at the DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information