Santa Maria, officially the Municipality of Santa Maria (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Santa Maria; Tagalog: Bayan ng Santa Maria), is a municipality in the province of Davao Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 58,886 people.
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History
Santa Maria was created as a municipality of Davao on June 18, 1966 out of 12 barangays and 15 barrios from Malalag, by virtue of Republic Act No. 4743. Basiawan was designated as the municipal seat. On May 8, 1967, the municipality became part of Davao del Sur following Davao's division under Republic Act No. 4867.
On October 28, 2013, it was ceded to Davao Occidental as a result of a plebiscite, in which the majority of voters approved the creation of the new province.
Geography
The municipality, located on Mindanao Island, is about 40 kilometers (25 mi) north-west of provincial capital municipality of Malita and about 1,023 kilometers (636 mi) south-south-east of Philippine main capital Manila. It is also located on the coast of Davao Gulf. The noted feature of Santa Maria is the Mount Monkeyawa, standing about more than a hundred-meter above sea level. And at the foot of this mountain, the Municipal Hall where it is located.
Barangays
Santa Maria is politically subdivided into 22 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
Demographics
Language and dialects
Tagakaulo - a native dialect originates from the mixture of Bagobo, Mandaya, Davawenyo, and the Lumad peoples of Davao City.
Cebuano
Economy
Poverty incidence of Santa Maria (%)
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
Government
Municipal officials 2022-2025:
Mayor: Claude Benjamin Bautista II
Vice Mayor: Josephine Mariscal
Councilors:
Jestoni Tiwo
Rudy Mariscal Jr.
Lino Solo
Amel Vistal
Lea Abe
Jubane Monsad
Ondo Mangayao