History

Compostela Valley was not explored by outsiders until the 20^th century. The region was made part of the jurisdiction of the district of Davao in 1860 and in 1903, it became part of the Moro Province. In 1914, Davao became a regular province under the Department of Mindanao and Sulu.

The Americans encouraged settlers from Visayas and Luzon to establish homesteads in Davao, which drew migrants in search of land to the Compostela Valley. As a result of the steady stream of migrants, settlers have outnumbered the indigenous inhabitants and Cebuano is the lingua franca. In the 1980s the discovery of gold in Mount Diwalwal drove thousands more people to stake mining claims in the mountains of Monkayo. Compostela Valley was created by virtue of R.A. 8470 in 1998.

People, Culture and the Arts

Compostela Valley is a melting pot of migrants, like Tagalogs, and Visayans as well as indigenous groups like the Mansaka, Mandaya and Manobos. The Mansakas are hunters and slash and burn agriculturists. They are organized into groups of families headed by a warrior called the bagani. They live in high tree houses situated at the edges of cliffs for defensive reasons. Animism is still very prevalent, as evidenced by the idols placed inside their houses and in their fields. A balyan or priestess dances and makes offerings when someone is sick. It is also to overcome evil and retain the spirit’s favor. The Mansakas play various instruments like a five-string bamboo guitar, two-string lute, violin, flute, bamboo jew’s harp, gong, and drum.

Mansakas are renowned silversmiths. Silversmiths fashion intricate silver breastplates that are worn by both men and women. Silver coins are flattened into thin discs with a central hole, and designs are engraved or stamped into the coin. They also produce silver rings, ornaments, and iron knives and daggers.

Trade and Investments

Compostela Valley is set to take part in regional initiatives as a prime source of raw materials. The province is a major producer of rice and corn, as well as bananas, coffee and coconuts. The province's residual forests also contain quantities of commercial timber species. The Davao Gulf, a major fishing ground, laps the southwestern side of the province. The minerals such as gold, copper, manganese, chromite, bentonite, sand and gravel are abundant. The province reputedly sits on one of the country's largest reserves of gold. More than 500,000 people provide ample labor for the province.

The Pan-Philippine highway linking Davao City with the islands of Leyte, Samar and Luzon passes through Compostela Valley. The province can also be accessed via private landing strips in Bislig and in neighboring Davao province. Secondary and tertiary roads link the municipalities with each other.

Compostela Valley is part of the Davao Gulf Area Development Zone, which seeks to integrate the development of highly urbanized and industrialized centers with surrounding rural areas. Compostela Valley is primarily agricultural and continued investments in agriculture and agriculture related industries promise good returns. Among the more promising pursuits include vegetable, fruit, coffee, palm oil and rubber farming, agro-forestry, ornamental horticulture, livestock raising, and feedmills. Developing and using the province's mineral resources also need further investments. The province is currently served by small and medium scale mining operations but local authorities are looking at improving working conditions and eliminating toxic discharges.