Mati, Davao Oriental
Mati, officially the City of Mati, is a component city and capital of the province of Davao Oriental, Philippines, located on the southeasternmost side of Mindanao and is part of Metropolitan Davao, the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Philippines, and its managing entity, the MDDA. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 147,547 people making it the most populous in the province.
Mati has three bays, namely Pujada, 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 the Most Beautiful Bays in the World in 2022, hence the nickname 'The City of Beautiful Bays'.
The east side of Mount Hamiguitan, a UNESCO World 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, Mati ranked 39th out of 114 overall on the competitive component cities in the Philippines. Since 2020, the city government of Mati has been a consistent recipient of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Seal of Good Local Governance, and Good Financial Housekeeping.
History
Mati comes from the Mandaya word Maa-ti, which refers to the town's creek that easily dries up even after heavy rain. Pioneer settlers were the Austronesian indigenous peoples Mandaya and Kalagan, and the Arabic-Indo-Malayan-influenced Maguindanao and Maranao.Spanish period
Captain Prudencio Garcia, the pioneer political-military head in 1861, and his comrade Juan Nazareno founded the settlement of Mati and two other communities in Davao Oriental.American period
By October 29, 1903, Mati was declared a municipality by virtue of Act No. 21. 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.Japanese occupation and World War II
The Japanese Imperial forces landed in town and occupied most of eastern Davao region in 1942. Mati was liberated in 1945 by the Allied Philippine Commonwealth troops of the 6th, 10th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 104th, 106th, 107th and 110th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, 10th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary and the Davaoeño guerrilla units.Third Republic
In 1970, Mayor Thelma Z. Almario received the Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines award. In 1972, Mayor Almario founded the Mati Community College, which was later converted into the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology in December 1989 based on Republic Act No. 6807 which she wrote as a member of Congress.Contemporary period
Mati celebrated the grand centennial of its founding as a town in 2003.Cityhood
On June 20, 2007, the Commission 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 ; No – 846.
The Supreme Court declared the cityhood law of Mati and 15 other cities unconstitutional after a petition filed by the League 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, the League of Cities of the Philippines acknowledged and recognized the cityhood of Mati and 15 other cities.
Geography
Mati is 165 kilometers from Davao City and home to three protected areas, the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Mati Protected Landscape, and Pujada Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape. The Dahican Beach is also frequented by tourists and locals.Barangays
Mati is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.In 1957, the barrio then known as Cabuaya was renamed to Dawan.
- Badas
- Bobon
- Buso
- Cabuaya
- Central
- Culian
- Dahican
- Danao
- Dawan
- Don Enrique Lopez
- Don Martin Marundan
- Don Salvador Lopez, Sr.
- Langka
- Lawigan
- Libudon
- Luban
- Macambol
- Mamali
- Matiao
- Mayo
- Sainz
- Sanghay
- Tagabakid
- Tagbinonga
- Taguibo
- Tamisan
Climate
The temperature is constant throughout the year. Mati's average yearly rainfall is just over 2,109 mm. February is the driest month of the year, with only 18 rainy days and 141 mm of precipitation. The average high temperature is 30 °C, and the average low temperature is 23 °C. 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.
Demographics
Mati is the fifth most populous city in Davao Region, after Davao City, Tagum, Panabo, and Digos.Ethnicity and languages
is the most widely spoken language and the corresponding ethnicity accounts for 71.55% of the total household population according to a 2000 census. Mandaya ranks second with 12.74%, followed by Kalagan with 6.87%. In addition, the Mati dialect of the Northern Sama is also used by the sea gypsy population in the coastal areas. Most residents of Mati are descendants of migrants from the Visayas who came for employment opportunities in logging, mining, farming, fishing, trading and teaching.Bikol Sentral is also spoken in parts of Barangay Dahican nearest the Subangan Museum.
Religion
is the major religion in the city, comprising 80% of the total population. Islam comes in second with 8%. Other Christian denominations, like the Iglesia ni Cristo, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the United Church of Christ, Seventh-day Adventists, and other various protestant churches, are in the city as well.The Cathedral of San Nicolas de Tolentino is the center of Diocese of Mati under the jurisdiction of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Davao. Two parishes are in Mati: one in the downtown and one in Barangay Dawan.
Economy
Being the southeasternmost part of Metro Davao, Mati is linked to the markets of Mindanao and Southeast Asia through Davao City. Located around 150 kilometers from the regional economic center, the city serves as the economic hub of the province of Davao 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 on coconut, the city's economy has slowly begun diversifying. The city government has established its own poultry dressing plant, and the Mati Fish Port will be operational, supporting the expansion of the fishing industry in the city. 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 include coconuts, pomelos, bananas, fish, especially tuna and milkfish, poultry, carabao dairy, sunflowers, and edible mushrooms. Mining is also a contributor to the city's economy, due to the large deposits of copper on the city's outskirts.
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 of industries, and being heavily monopolized in the commerce sector, other sectors such as service, tourism and agriculture have propelled the local economy in recent years.
Although the youngest city in the region, 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 2022 COA Report, Mati ranked fourth out of the six cities in Davao Region with a total revenue of ₱1.803 billion, only after Davao City, Tagum, and Panabo, making it a key area for future growth in Metro Davao.
Government
Elected and appointed public officials have governed Mati, with a strong mayor-council government composed of the mayor, vice mayor, ten councilors, one Sangguniang Kabataan Federation representative, an Association of Barangay Captains representative and Indigenous Peoples' Mandatory Representative. Each official is elected publicly to a three-year terms.The Sangguniang 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.
| 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 |