Malita

Malita, officially the Municipality of Malita (Lungsod sa Malita; Bayan ng Malita), is a 1st class municipality and capital of the province of Davao Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 118,197 people.

Malita is known for various cultural arts and heritage of its people and tribes. Gaginaway Festival is celebrated annually every full moon on the month of November and Araw ng Malita is also celebrated annually on November 17.

History
Malita is the first municipality established in what is now Davao Occidental. However, its existence dates back scores of years before its formal creation as municipality on November 17, 1936. The Tagakolu, Blaan and Manobo communities have been living in the area before the arrival of the Spaniards. In 1887, Pablo Pastells, a Jesuit missionary, mentions Malita along with Malalag and Lais, as areas where a total of almost 7,000 Tagakolu resided.

Records show that Malita must have existed long before the passage of the Philippine Commission Act, the Laws of the Moro Province that mentioned Malita in Section 1 of Act No. 164 dated December 10, 1904. Through the said Act it is presumed that it existed as a barrio of Santa Cruz long before the coming of the Americans to Davao. Executive Order No. 64, s. 1936 issued by President Manuel L. Quezon officially created Malita into a municipality. Marcelino Maruya, from whom the town of Don Marcelino was named after, was the first appointed municipal mayor.

Waves of migrants from the Visayan islands, most of whom hail from Cebu, came on what is now Malita during the American colonial period. They were later followed by immigrants from Luzon. Even after the destruction brought by World War II by the belligerents, there are still waves of migrants towards Malita and other parts of then-Davao province.

Barangays
Malita is subdivided into 30 barangays: Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.


 * Bito
 * Bolila
 * Buhangin
 * Culaman
 * Datu Danwata
 * Demoloc
 * Felis
 * Fishing Village
 * Kibalatong
 * Kidalapong
 * Kilalag
 * Kinangan
 * Lacaron
 * Lagumit
 * Lais
 * Little Baguio
 * Macol
 * Mana
 * Manuel Peralta
 * New Argao
 * Pangian
 * Pinalpalan
 * Poblacion
 * Sangay
 * Talogoy
 * Tical
 * Ticulon
 * Tingolo
 * Tubalan
 * Pangaleon

Economy
The municipality is the main economic center of Davao Occidental province. Agriculture and fishery are primary economic drivers of the municipality. There is also a fledgling tourism industry, focused on snorkeling and water activities. The energy sector also contributes to the municipality's economy. The Malita Power Plant, opened in 2018, is a 300-megawatt coal-fired thermal power plant developed by San Miguel Global Power.

As the town is quite far from other urban centers such as Digos, Davao City and General Santos, Malita is now developing as an urban center of its own, evident in its population, the biggest amongst the municipalities of Davao Occidental. It is now home to hospitals, colleges, banks and shopping centers. As economic activity in the town continues its rapid growth, Malita will soon become the province's first component city in a few years.

Government
Municipal officials (2013-2016):
 * Congressman: Franklin Bautista (2nd District of Davao del Sur)
 * Mayor: Benjamin Bautista, Jr.
 * Vice Mayor: Bradly Bautista
 * Councilors:
 * Estefanie T. Bautista
 * Zaldy S. Lataban
 * Marianela C. Malinao
 * Ali G. Colina, Jr.
 * Artemio J. Peralta
 * Paulito M. Montero
 * Jimmy L. Danwata
 * Raymund G. Danwata

Tertiary

 * Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology - Poblacion, Malita (Main Campus) and Buhangin, Malita (Buhangin Campus)
 * Adventure College of Malita, Inc.
 * Seng Pek Chuan Academy, Inc.
 * Don Juan Technical Academy of Davao, Inc. (Malita Branch)

Secondary

 * B'laan National High School
 * Benjamin V. Bautista Sr. Special High School
 * Demoloc Valley National High School
 * Fishing Village Comprehensive National High School
 * Holy Cross of Malita, Inc.
 * Mariano Peralta National High School (Campuses in barangays: Poblacion, Sangay, Manuel Peralta, Datu Danwata, Talogoy, Pangian, and New Argao)
 * Ticulon National High School
 * Tubalan Comprehensive National High School