Davao City under the Third Philippine Republic

DAVAO CITY UNDER THE THIRD PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC

         Soon after the liberation of Davao City, the city government was reestablished. On July 4, 1946 the Third Republic of the Philippines was inaugurated. The first President of the Third Republic, Manuel A. Roxas, appointed Atty. Leon Garcia Sr. as Mayor of Davao City. He was succeeded by Atty. Bernardo Teves in 1949 who served as mayor until 1952. Mayor Teves was succeeded by Atty. Rodolfo B. Sarinas who in turn was succeeded by Atty. Julian A. Rodriguez Sr., the last appointive mayor in Davao City who served until the end of the 1955.

          The City Hall building of Davao City which was earlier constructed in 1926 as a municipal building was destroyed in 1945 during the Liberation Period. After the Liberation Period of Davao, the government authorities started the restoration work and the building was fully completed in 1947.

          The period saw the unprecedented influx of people in this city. Among the more prominent migrants in the 1950’s and 1960’s were the business tycoons Alcantara,Almendras, Dakudao, Dizon, Floirendo, Maglana, Pamintuan, Robillo, Santos and Sarmiento. This was the period of the logging industry. Huge logging concessions were acquinted by this Filipino businessman and later, some grew powerful corporations that were even backed by capital of multinationals. Factories were opened that gave employment to countless Filipinos. The Banan and pineapple industry boomed later in the 1990’s.

              Businesses of all sorts were established in the city. A great change in the city was felt huge concrete structures mushrooming everywhere. Civic organizations were brought to the fore like the Jaycees, the Lions Club, the Rotary, Kiwanis Clubs and others. All these civic organizations produced worthy projects.

              More and more schools (public and private) were opened and one state college, the University of Southeastern Philippines, was established. The Schools Division of Davao City was created as a separate Schools Division in November 1960. From then on schools have grown population-wise because of the influx of migrants coming from different parts of the country. The universities namely: The University of Mindanao, International Harvardian University, Ateneo de Davao and the University of Immaculate Conception which was inaugurated September 8, 1992. Since the time the Schools Division of Davao City was created in 1960 there were already ten who occupied and one occupying the position of superintendent, namely: Pedro Aguada; Pedro O. Sanvicente; Victoria D. Montgomery; Sol T. Carpio; Cecilia O. Quintillan; Leonor Penalosa; Ramon Y. Alba; Exuperia G. Madrazo; Dr. Luceria M. de Leon, Arnold Mollaneda and the present occupant Dionisio Abitong.

      Other known private colleges established are the San Pedro College (Nursing), Brokenshire College and Davao Doctor’s College. The other private Catholic Secondary Schools are the Stella Maris Academy, Assumption School of Davao and Holy Cross College of Davao.

              Industrial plants and factories can be found in Davao City during the 1960’s and 1970’s only to be closed  in the later 1970’s and early 1980’s because of economic depression.