Santo Tomas, officially the Municipality of Santo Tomas, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Davao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 128,667 people.

Etymology

Santo Tomas was so named after Saint Thomas, the patron saint of Danao which is the hometown of then Governor of undivided Davao Province Vicente Duterte, father of the 16th Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.

History

What is now Santo Tomas, initially called Tibal-og, was once part of the jurisdiction of nearby town of Kapalong. Before the 1950s. the place used to be a lush forest inhabited by the indigenous Ata-Manobo people. According to the town's pioneering residents, the area of what is now Kapalong (in which what is now Santo Tomas was still part of) and Panabo City were planted for abaca during the pre-war years. Santo Tomas was established as a municipality through Executive Order No. 352, issued by President Carlos P. Garcia on August 14, 1959. It consists of Barrio Tibal-og, designated as the seat of government, and "other barrios or sitios" of Kapalong, and four barrios of Panabo, all then part of the old Davao province. Feliciano P. Ganade served as the first elected mayor of Santo Tomas after briefly governing the city of Kapalong. From then on, it continued to grow and prosper, even as it went several successions of mayoralty governance throughout its history.

Geography

Santo Tomas is located on the island of Mindanao, and it is in the province's second political district. It is bounded in the north by the Municipalities of Kapalong and Talaingod, in the east by the Municipality of Asuncion, in the west by Davao City, and in the south by the Municipality of Braulio E. Dujali.

Climate

Rainfall in Santo Tomas is evenly distributed throughout the year. Being a nearly typhoon-free municipality, the production of high-value crops is favorable all year round and makes a profitable investment.

Barangays

Santo Tomas is politically subdivided into 19 barangays. • Balagunan • Bobongon • Casig-Ang • Esperanza • Kimamon • Kinamayan • La Libertad • Lungaog • Magwawa • New Katipunan • New Visayas • Pantaron • Salvacion • San Jose • San Miguel • San Vicente • Talomo • Tibal-og • Tulalian

Demographics

Santo Tomas is home to a diverse culture inter-mingling with Mandaya and Ata-Manobo. The people are predominantly Cebuano. Santo Tomas is also the most populated municipality in the Province of Davao del Norte.

Economy

Significant to the economic development of Santo Tomas is a number of multi-national corporations and cooperatives engaged in banana based commercial production successfully operating in the municipality. Rice production also contributes to the economic development of the municipality. SantoTomas was part of the lists for the top 15 richest municipality in Davao Region which was listed as the second place.

Transportation

Santo Tomas sits astride the Davao del Norte Provincial Circumferential Road. It is more or less 30 km or about an hour ride from Tagum City by any land vehicle, and the town offers a wide choice of public utility jeepneys via Kinamayan route or bus liners via Carmen route. Davao City is approximately 63 km or an hour and a half ride by bus or private car. Santo Tomas is accessible by land through any type of vehicle. There are tricycle units serving the different routes within the municipality. Most tricycles are color-coded red, with a capacity of 6 passengers per tricycle.

Education

Santo Tomas have several public and private institutions. Elementary schools: High schools: Tertiary education: Technical/vocational schools:

Culture

Araw ng Santo Tomas (lit. Day of Santo Tomas) is a celebration held every 14 August annually. Events include drum and lyre competitions; parades, fireworks display, and many more.

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