Mati | |
|---|---|
| City of Mati | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Etymology:Maa-ti (dries up quickly) | |
Nicknames:
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Motto(s):
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 Map of Davao Oriental with Mati highlighted | |
 Interactive map of Mati | |
.svg)  Mati Location within thePhilippines | |
| Coordinates:6°57′13″N126°12′59″E / 6.953528°N 126.216272°E /6.953528; 126.216272 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Davao Region |
| Province | Davao Oriental |
| District | 2nd district |
| Founded | 1861 |
| Established | October 29, 1903[1] |
| Cityhood | June 16, 2007 (Lost cityhood in 2008 and 2010) |
| Affirmed Cityhood | February 15, 2011 |
| Barangays | 26 (seeBarangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Panlungsod |
| • Mayor | Mayo Z. Almario (Lakas-CMD) |
| • Representative | Cheeno Miguel Diez Almario (Lakas–CMD) |
| Area | |
• Total | 588.63 km2 (227.27 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 98 m (322 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 2,320 m (7,610 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 148,672 |
| • Density | 252.57/km2 (654.16/sq mi) |
| • Households | 35,137 |
| Demonym | Matinians |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 1st city income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 21.81 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 1,803 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 2,499 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 1,721 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 1,508 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative (DORECO) |
| • Water | Mati Water District |
| • Telecommunications | Dito Telecommunity Globe Telecom PLDT |
| • Cable TV | Trinity Cable TV Network, Inc. |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 8200 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)87 |
| Spoken languages and dialects | Cebuano Filipino English Mandaya Bikol Sentral |
| Website | www |
Mati, officially theCity of Mati (Cebuano:Dakbayan sa Mati;Filipino:Lungsod ng Mati / Siyudad ng Mati), is acomponent city[7] and capital of theprovince ofDavao Oriental,Philippines, located on the southeasternmost side ofMindanao and is part ofMetropolitan Davao, thesecond-most populous metropolitan area in the Philippines, and its managing entity, theMDDA.[8][9] According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 147,547 people making it the most populous in the province.[10]
Mati has three bays, namelyPujada, Mayo, and Balete. These bays were listed as "one" of the world’s most beautiful bays, a combined distinction for all three bays in the same city, by the association of theMost Beautiful Bays in the World(Les Plus Belles Baies du Monde) in 2022, hence the nickname 'The City of Beautiful Bays'.[11][12]
The east side ofMount Hamiguitan, aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site, facing sunrise and the three bays of Mati, is located within Mati's territorial jurisdiction.
In the 2023 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI), Mati ranked 39th out of 114 overall on the competitive component cities in the Philippines.[13] Since 2020, the city government of Mati has been a consistent recipient of theDepartment of the Interior and Local Government Seal of Good Local Governance, and Good Financial Housekeeping.[14][15][16]
Mati comes from the Mandaya wordMaa-ti, which refers to the town's creek that easily dries up even after heavy rain. Pioneer settlers were theAustronesianindigenous peoplesMandaya andKalagan, and the Arabic-Indo-Malayan-influencedMaguindanao andMaranao.
Captain Prudencio Garcia, the pioneer political-military head in 1861, and his comrade Juan Nazareno founded the settlement of Mati and two other communities inDavao Oriental.[17]
By October 29, 1903, Mati was declared a municipality by virtue of Act No. 21.[17] By 1907, Act No. 189 further reaffirmed the establishment of its local government. Francisco Rojas was the first appointed mayor while the first elected mayor was Patricio Cunanan in 1923. Mati became the capital of Davao Oriental in 1967.
TheJapanese Imperial forces landed in town and occupied most of eastern Davao region in 1942. Mati was liberated in 1945 by the AlliedPhilippine Commonwealth troops of the 6th, 10th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 104th, 106th, 107th and 110th Infantry Division of thePhilippine Commonwealth Army, 10th Infantry Regiment of thePhilippine Constabulary and the Davaoeño guerrilla units.
In 1970, Mayor Thelma Z. Almario received the Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines award.[18] In 1972, Mayor Almario founded the Mati Community College, which was later converted into the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (now theDavao Oriental State University) in December 1989 based on Republic Act No. 6807 which she wrote as a member of Congress.[19]
Mati celebrated the grand centennial of its founding as a town in 2003.[20]
On June 20, 2007, theCommission on Elections officially proclaimed the ratification of Republic Act 9408 converting the Municipality of Mati into a component city.
There were 18,267 actual voters out of the 51,287 registered voters in 26 villages and 266 polling precincts during the June 18 plebiscite. Final tabulation showed Yes – 18,267 votes (35.6%); No – 846 (1.6%).[21]
TheSupreme Court declared the cityhood law of Mati and 15 other cities unconstitutional after a petition filed by theLeague of Cities of the Philippines in its ruling on November 18, 2008. On December 22, 2009, the cityhood law of Mati and 15 other municipalities regain its status as cities again after the court reversed its ruling on November 18, 2008. On August 23, 2010, the court reinstated its ruling on November 18, 2008, causing Mati and 15 cities to become regular municipalities. Finally, on February 15, 2011, Mati becomes a city again including the 15 municipalities declaring that the conversion to cityhood met all legal requirements.
After six years of legal battle, in its board resolution, theLeague of Cities of the Philippines acknowledged and recognized the cityhood of Mati and 15 other cities.
Mati is 165 kilometers from Davao City and home to threeprotected areas, theMount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary,Mati Protected Landscape, andPujada Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape. The Dahican Beach is also frequented by tourists and locals.
Mati is politically subdivided into 26barangays. Each barangay consists ofpuroks while some havesitios.
In 1957, the barrio then known as Cabuaya was renamed to Dawan.[22]
| City of Mati | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mati features a tropical rainforest climate with copious amounts of rainfall throughout the course of the year. There is no pronounced dry season, but it has very pronounced maximum rain from May to July, with June being the wettest month of the year, experiencing 28 days of rain.
The temperature is constant throughout the year. Mati's average yearly rainfall is just over 2,109 mm (83.1 in). February is the driest month of the year, with only 18 rainy days and 141 mm (5.6 in) of precipitation. The average high temperature is 30 °C (85 °F), and the average low temperature is 23 °C (74 °F). The coolest month is July, with 95.2% of all the days of the month having a temperature below 30 °C, and the hottest month is April, with only 62.9% of all the days of the month having a temperature below 30 °C.
| Climate data for City of Mati | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 30 (85) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (74) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 168 (6.6) | 141 (5.6) | 143 (5.6) | 141 (5.6) | 216 (8.5) | 235 (9.3) | 183 (7.2) | 169 (6.7) | 143 (5.6) | 176 (6.9) | 226 (8.9) | 168 (6.6) | 2,109 (83.1) |
| Average rainy days | 22.1 | 18.5 | 21.7 | 22.5 | 27.8 | 28.1 | 27.4 | 26.6 | 24.7 | 26.3 | 26.5 | 24.9 | 297.1 |
| Source: Meteoblue[23] | |||||||||||||
Mati is the fifth most populous city in Davao Region, after Davao City, Tagum, Panabo, and Digos.[24]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 1,365 | — |
| 1918 | 7,649 | +12.18% |
| 1939 | 10,200 | +1.38% |
| 1948 | 11,562 | +1.40% |
| 1960 | 23,479 | +6.08% |
| 1970 | 53,242 | +8.52% |
| 1975 | 73,125 | +6.57% |
| 1980 | 78,178 | +1.34% |
| 1990 | 93,023 | +1.75% |
| 1995 | 93,801 | +0.16% |
| 2000 | 105,908 | +2.64% |
| 2007 | 122,046 | +1.98% |
| 2010 | 126,143 | +1.21% |
| 2015 | 141,141 | +2.16% |
| 2020 | 147,547 | +0.94% |
| Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[25][26][27][28] | ||
Cebuano is the most widely spoken language and the corresponding ethnicity (which includes theBoholano subgroup) accounts for 71.55% of the total household population according to a 2000 census.Mandaya ranks second with 12.74%, followed byKalagan with 6.87%. In addition, the Mati dialect of theNorthern Sama is also used by thesea gypsy population in the coastal areas.[29] Most residents of Mati are descendants of migrants from the Visayas who came for employment opportunities in logging, mining, farming, fishing, trading and teaching.[30]
Bikol Sentral is also spoken in parts of Barangay Dahican nearest theSubangan Museum.
Roman Catholicism is the major religion in the city, comprising 80% of the total population.Islam comes in second with 8%. Other Christian denominations, like theIglesia ni Cristo, theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, theUnited Church of Christ,Seventh-day Adventists, and other various protestant churches, are in the city as well.[30]
The Cathedral of San Nicolas de Tolentino is the center ofDiocese of Mati under the jurisdiction ofRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Davao. Two parishes are in Mati: one in thedowntown and one in Barangay Dawan.[31]
Being the southeasternmost part ofMetro Davao, Mati is linked to the markets ofMindanao andSoutheast Asia throughDavao City. Located around 150 kilometers from the regional economic center, the city serves as the economic hub of the province ofDavao Oriental and other nearby municipalities of other provinces. Most of the local people rely on agriculture and agro-industries for a living.
Once heavily dependent oncoconut, the city's economy has slowly begun diversifying. The city government has established its own poultry dressing plant,[32] and the Mati Fish Port will be operational, supporting the expansion of the fishing industry in the city.[33] Because of its tropical nature and beaches, the tourism industry in the city has been expanding rapidly in recent years.
Main goods and produce from the city includecoconuts,pomelos,bananas,fish, especiallytuna andmilkfish,poultry,carabaodairy,sunflowers, andedible mushrooms.[34][35] Mining is also a contributor to the city's economy, due to the large deposits of copper on the city's outskirts.[36]
A banking system is found in the city, with a number of different banks providing various financial services to consumers and businesses. Being a vital financial and institutional center in the province, apart from banks, non-bank financial institutions, and offices of government departments and agencies are also found in the city. Despite the lack ofindustries, and being heavily monopolized in thecommerce sector, other sectors such asservice,tourism andagriculture have propelled the local economy in recent years.
Although the youngest city in theregion, having regained cityhood status only in 2011, Mati has gradually become an investment hub and is considered one of the emerging cities for doing business with its rapid advancements in government infrastructure and evolving business-friendly environment.
In the 2022COA Report,[37] Mati ranked fourth out of the six cities inDavao Region with a total revenue of ₱1.803 billion, only afterDavao City (₱17.169 billion),Tagum (₱3.543 billion), andPanabo (₱1.818 billion), making it a key area for future growth inMetro Davao.
Elected and appointed public officials have governed Mati, with astrong mayor-council government composed of the mayor, vice mayor, ten councilors, oneSangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation representative, anAssociation of Barangay Captains (ABC) representative andIndigenous Peoples' Mandatory Representative (IPMR). Each official is elected publicly to a three-year terms.
TheSangguniang Panlungsod serves as the city's legislative body and its role is to enact ordinances, approve resolutions, appropriate funds for the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants. Both the council members and the mayor serve three-year terms; and eligible for re-election for two more three-year terms.[38]
| Mayor | Term |
|---|---|
| Francisco G. Rabat | June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2007 |
| Michelle N. Rabat | June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2013 |
| Carlo Luis P. Rabat | June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2019 |
| Michelle N. Rabat | June 30, 2019 – June 30, 2025 |
| Joel Mayo Z. Almario | June 30, 2025 – present |
| Vice Mayor | Term |
|---|---|
| Cesar A. De Erio | June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2010 |
| Carlo Luis P. Rabat | June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013 |
| Glenda Monette Rabat-Gayta | June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2022 |
| Lorenzo Leon G. Rabat | June 30, 2022 – Present |
Mati is the educational center of the province of Davao Oriental, with the main campus ofDavao Oriental State University located in Dahican, as is theDavao Oriental Regional Science High School. There are two other colleges in the city: Mati Polytechnic College and Mati Doctors College.
In basic education, seven private schools, sixteen public high schools, and a number of public elementary schools are located in the city.[39] The City Schools Division of Mati supervises these schools.
Mati celebrates two annual grand festivals: the Pujada Bay Festival every June and the Sambuokan Festival every October. Compared to theKadayawan of Davao and other festivals, both of Mati's are relatively new. The Pujada Bay Festival started in 2004 to promote and protectPujada Bay, while the Sambuokan Festival started in 2001 to unite Matinians during the commemoration of the municipality's founding anniversary every October 29. In years, both festivals have become alternative tourist destinations as competitors from various regions in the country start pouring in for competitions likestreetdancing,boat racing, andskimboarding.
In 2022, the city government, together with theDepartment of Tourism, launched BAY DEEP MATI, afreediving festival that is the first in the country.[40]
Mati hosted the 2003 Mindanao Games, organized by thePhilippine Sports Commission together with the then-municipal government, attended by about 4,000 athletes and delegation members from more than 41 local government units across the island ofMindanao. The hosting was also in time for Mati's centennial year and saw the then-municipal mayorFrancisco Garcia Rabat reuniting withCarlos Loyzaga during theopening ceremony held at the Mati Centennial Sports Complex. Both Rabat and Loyzaga were members of thePhilippine national team at the1954 FIBA World Championship, where the latter led thePhilippines to a bronze finish, the best finish by anAsian country, making the Philippines the only medalist from theAsian continent in theFIBA Basketball World Cup to date.[41]
Recently, Mati hosted the Mindanao Association of State Tertiary Schools (MASTS) Games in 2014 and 2022.
In 2022, theRajah Sports Fest, named afterFrancisco Garcia Rabat who was given the moniker "Rajah of Rebound" at the1954 FIBA World Championship, was organized by the city government to help boost sports development in the city. The following is a list of sports usually contested at the biannual localsports festival:
Currently, there are only two locations that could serve as venues formulti-sport events in the city, namely, theDavao Oriental State University Main Campus and the Mati Centennial Sports Complex.
The pedicab or tricycle is the major means of transportation around the city. In recent years,underbone motorcycles have earned quite a popularity among professionals and students, thus easily becoming a public transport alternative to commuters who prefer more speed.Jeepneys are available for travels from Mati to its neighboring towns while vans and buses are still the only means of transportation from Mati to other cities.
Mati Airport (IATA:MXI,ICAO:RPMQ) serves the city, but only accommodates chartered flights. In 2022, plans to expand the airport to accommodate commercial operations were revived.[42]
There is also a seaport in Mati. The Mati Seaport in Pujada Bay is one of only three seaports in the whole province of Davao Oriental.
Mati is served by the Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative (DORECO) for its power needs.
The Mati Water District (MWD) is the local water provider for the city.
Places adjacent to Mati, Davao Oriental | |
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