Malita, Davao Occidental

Malita, officially the Municipality of Malita (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Malita; Filipino: Bayan ng Malita), is a 1st class municipality and capital of the province of Davao Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 117,746 people. [3]

Malita
Municipality
Municipality of Malita
Hilltop view of Malita
Seal
Nickname(s): 
  • Jewel of the South
  • Whaleshark Capital of Mindanao
Motto(s): 
Angat Malita!
Map of Davao Occidental with Malita highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Malita
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°24′N 125°36′E
Country Philippines
RegionDavao Region (Region XI)
ProvinceDavao Occidental
DistrictLone District
FoundedNovember 17, 1937
Barangays30 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorBradly L. Bautista
 • Vice MayorEstefanie B. Dumama
 • RepresentativeLorna B. Bandigan
 • Electorate67,286 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total883.37 km2 (341.07 sq mi)
Elevation
197 m (646 ft)
Population
 (2015 census) [3]
 • Total117,746
 • Density130/km2 (350/sq mi)
 • Households
28,204
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence57.26% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue₱304,303,708.87 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
8012
PSGC
118603000
IDD : area code +63 (0)82
Climate typetropical rainforest climate
Native languagesDavawenyo
Cebuano
Kalagan
Tagalog
Websitewww.malita.gov.ph

Malita is known for various cultural arts and heritage of its people and tribes. Gaginaway Festival is celebrated annually every full moon on the month of November and Araw ng Malita is also celebrated annually on November 17.

Etymology

According to folk etymology, the name "Malita" is derived from the Spanish word "maleta" which means suitcase. It is said that purportedly Don Mariano Peralta, a retired veteran of the Spanish–American War who ventured to the place, decided to live on the vast, fertile plain across the river. One day while bodily fording the deep and swift river with his suitcase and other belongings in hand, the force of the current overwhelmed his perilous balance and got swept by the water consequently losing his grip on the suitcase. His frantic shouts of "maleta, maleta" attracted the attention of the bathing natives who after realizing the situation promptly responded and retrieved the vanishing to settle as Malita. How it came to its present spelling and usage maybe attributed to the natives’ prevalent use of suitcase. Hardly forgetting the shouts of Peralta, the natives later thought the word referred to the land he intended long 'e' sound for the vowels 'i' and 'e'.

History

Malita is the oldest community in the province. Malita's existence dates back scores of years before its formal creation as municipality on November 17, 1936. Records show that Malita must have existed long before the passage of the Philippine Commission Act, the Laws of the Moro Province that mentioned Malita in Section 1 of Act No. 164 dated December 10, 1904. Through the said Act it is presumed that it existed as a barrio of Santa Cruz long before the coming of the Americans to Davao. Executive Order No. 64 issued by President Manuel L. Quezon officially created Malita into a municipality. Marcelino Maruya, from whom the town of Don Marcelino was named after, was the first appointed municipal mayor.

Waves of migrants from the Visayan islands, most of whom hail from Cebu, came on what is now Malita long before it became a municipality. They were later followed by immigrants from Luzon. Even after the destruction brought by World War II by the belligerents, there are still waves of migrants towards Malita and other parts of then-Davao province. This increased its population until it later became the most populous municipality in the province.

Demographics
Population census of Malita
YearPop.±% p.a.
1918 17,050—    
1939 30,775+2.85%
1948 27,744−1.15%
1960 28,228+0.14%
1970 46,060+5.01%
1975 64,898+7.12%
1980 60,638−1.35%
1990 82,786+3.16%
1995 83,457+0.15%
2000 100,000+3.95%
2007 106,135+0.82%
2010 109,568+1.17%
2015 117,746+1.38%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [3] [5] [6][7]

Climate
Climate data for Malita, Davao Occidental
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 38
(1.5)		 29
(1.1)		 37
(1.5)		 45
(1.8)		 102
(4.0)		 166
(6.5)		 179
(7.0)		 176
(6.9)		 157
(6.2)		 133
(5.2)		 86
(3.4)		 46
(1.8)		 1,194
(46.9)
Average rainy days 8.1 7.0 8.9 11.1 22.1 26.1 26.7 26.5 25.6 25.5 19.5 11.7 218.8
Source: Meteoblue [8]

Economy

The municipality is the main economic center of Davao Occidental province. Agriculture and fishery is the main industry of the municipality. Being far from other major urban centers in its vicinity like Davao City, Digos City, and Gen. Santos City, and although only a town, Malita also serves as the major urban center of the province. However, as economic activity in the town continues its rapid growth, Malita will soon become the province's first component city for years to come.

Local government
Municipal Hall of Malita

Municipal officials (2013-2016):

  • Congressman: Franklin Bautista (2nd District of Davao del Sur)
  • Mayor: Benjamin Bautista, Jr.
  • Vice Mayor: Bradly Bautista
  • Councilors:
    • Estefanie T. Bautista
    • Zaldy S. Lataban
    • Marianela C. Malinao
    • Ali G. Colina, Jr.
    • Artemio J. Peralta
    • Paulito M. Montero
    • Jimmy L. Danwata
    • Raymund G. Danwata

Political subdivision
Quezon Street

The municipality of Malita is subdivided into 30 barangays:[9]

Barangay Type Population
2010 Census
BitoRural1,810
BolilaRural2,023
BuhanginRural4,051
CulamanRural1,495
Datu DanwataRural5,084
DemolocRural7,395
FelisRural1,901
Fishing Village
(Fisherman's Village)		Rural3,273
KibalatongRural1,369
KidalapongRural1,941
KilalagRural2,879
KinanganRural4,309
LacaronRural3,032
LagumitRural4,297
LaisRural1,770
Little BaguioRural10,154
MacolRural1,793
ManaRural3,895
Manuel PeraltaRural2,761
New ArgaoRural1,330
PangaleonRural2,265
PangianRural3,920
PinalpalanRural4,640
PoblacionUrban15,905
SangayRural3,660
TalogoyRural2,722
TicalRural1,269
TiculonRural2,820
TingoloRural1,667
TubalanRural4,138

Education

Tertiary

Secondary
  • B'laan National High School
  • Benjamin V. Bautista Sr. Special High School
  • Demoloc Valley National High School
  • Fishing Village Comprehensive National High School
  • Holy Cross of Malita, Inc.
  • Mariano Peralta National High School (Campuses in barangays: Poblacion, Sangay, Manuel Peralta, Datu Danwata, Talogoy, Pangian, and New Argao)
  • Ticulon National High School
  • Tubalan Comprehensive National High School

References
  1.  Municipality of Malita | (DILG)
  2. "Province: Davao Occidental". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region XI (Davao Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  5. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region XI (Davao Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  6. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region XI (Davao Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  7. "Province of Davao del Sur". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  8. "Malita: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  9. "Municipality/City: Malita" Archived 2013-10-30 at the Wayback Machine. Philippine Standard Geographic Code Interactive. Retrieved on 2013-11-03.
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