Region XI

Also known as: Region 11 · Davao Region · Southern Mindanao (former designation) · Region de Davao (Spanish name)

Definition

Region XI (officially designated as the Davao Region) is an administrative region of the Philippines located in the southeastern portion of Mindanao. It is bordered by Northern Mindanao (Region X) and CARAGA (Region XIII) to the north, the Philippine Sea and Pacific Ocean to the east, the Celebes Sea to the south, and SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) to the west. The region consists of five provinces: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and Davao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley). Centered in Davao City, the region is the primary economic engine of Mindanao and a major producer of banana, cacao, and coconut. (Official Gazette)

Identities

Source Type	Identity
Wikipedia	Davao Region
Wikidata	Q13676
DBpedia	Davao_Region
ProductOntology	N/A
Wiktionary	N/A
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)	Davao Region (Philippines)
MeSH	N/A
NCBI Taxonomy	N/A
AGROVOC	N/A
Google Scholar	Region XI Davao Region provinces banana cacao Davao City Philippines
ConceptNet	N/A
OpenCyc	N/A

Also Known As

Region 11
Davao Region
Southern Mindanao (former designation)
Region de Davao (Spanish name)

Examples and Analogies

Davao Cacao Industry: The concentration of high-quality cacao plantations in Davao, which has earned the region the official title of “Cacao Capital of the Philippines.”
Banana Export Infrastructure: The specialized port facilities in Davao del Norte used by multinational fruit brands (e.g., Dole and Del Monte) to export Cavendish bananas to Japan and China. (Official Gazette)

Usage Scenarios

1. Cacao Processing Hub Siting

A chocolate manufacturer establishes a new processing plant in Davao City to source local fermented cacao beans.

2. Residential Condominium Development

A property developer launches a high-rise residential condominium project in Davao City, the primary urban center of Region XI. (Official Gazette)

Strategies

Research the local LGU zoning ordinances and building height limits in Davao City before planning commercial or residential projects.
Verify if proposed agricultural lands in Davao de Oro or Davao del Norte are subject to CARP land reform restrictions.
Invest in properties near the planned Davao City bypass road project to leverage future logistics access.

Security and Safety Measures

Do not build structural projects close to active fault zones without incorporating advanced seismic engineering designs, as the region experiences frequent earthquakes.
Ensure all coastal developments in Davao Oriental comply with the salvage zone rules of the Water Code.
Verify all title records directly at the Registry of Deeds in Davao City, Tagum, or Digos.

Historical Context

The Davao Region was inhabited by diverse Lumad groups and Islamic sultanates prior to Spanish colonization in the mid-19th century. In the early 20th century, Japanese immigrants built massive abaca plantations, driving economic growth. The region was formalized as Southern Mindanao (Region XI) on September 24, 1972, under President Ferdinand Marcos’ Integrated Reorganization Plan No. 1. Its boundaries were reorganized in 2001 under Executive Order No. 36, renaming it the Davao Region and establishing Davao City as its administrative capital. (Official Gazette)

Challenges and Controversies

Persistent Seismic Activity

The region is situated near multiple active fault systems, experiencing recurring moderate-to-strong earthquakes that cause structural damage and affect investor confidence.

Environmental Degradation from Mining

Large-scale and small-scale gold mining operations in Davao de Oro (Compostela Valley) have led to severe soil erosion, landslide hazards, and mercury contamination in local river systems.

References

Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines