Davao del Sur

Davao del Sur (Filipino: Timog Dabaw) is a province in the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital and largest city is Digos City. The province is bordered by Davao City to the north, the new province of Davao Occidental to the south and Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani to the west. To the east lies the Davao Gulf.

History

The beginnings of both Davao Region and Davao del Sur was associated with that of the foundation of Davao, which was the first town to be founded in southern Mindanao in 1848, following the conquest of the area by Don Jose Uyanguren of Guipúzcoa, Spain. In 1849, Nueva Guipúzcoa province was founded in the region conquered by Uyanguren in what is now Davao Region, with Davao, then called Nueva Vergara, as the provincial capital. Don Uyanguren, became the provincial governor, but failed in his efforts to develop the areas he conquered.

Just thirty-six years after the foundation of Davao, the town of Sta. Cruz was founded on the 5th day of October, 1884. It is the first town to be founded south of Davao and is now the oldest in the province.