Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte

Santo Tomas
Municipality
Municipality of Santo Tomas
Municipal Hall
Flag
Map of Davao del Norte with Santo Tomas highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Santo Tomas Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 7°32′N125°37′E / 7.53°N 125.62°E / 7.53; 125.62
Country	Philippines
Region	Davao Region
Province	Davao del Norte
District	2nd district
Founded	August 14, 1959
Named after	St. Thomas of Villanova
Barangays	19 (see Barangays)
Government   [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
•  Mayor	Roland "Angkol" S. Dejesica
•  Vice Mayor	Ricky V. Inodio-an
•  Representative	Alan R. Dujali
•  Municipal Council	Members Lychl A. Castrodes Richard M. Languido Sr. Julie H. Mantequilla Eduardo L. Llorente Ronald P. Dimaya Deofel S. Rollan Virgilio P. Recto Flordevin S. Salino
•  Electorate	74,990 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	221.8 km2 (85.6 sq mi)
Elevation [3]	37 m (121 ft)
Highest elevation	197 m (646 ft)
Lowest elevation	16 m (52 ft)
Population  (2024 census) [4]
• Total	131,100
• Density	590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
•  Households	30,750
Economy
•  Income class	1st municipal income class
•  Poverty incidence	10.65 % (2021) [5]
•  Revenue	₱ 211.8 million (2022)
•  Assets	₱ 1,798 million (2022)
•  Expenditure	₱ 484.1 million (2022)
•  Liabilities	₱ 492.4 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	8112
PSGC	1102318000
IDD  :  area code	+63 (0)84
Native languages	Davawenyo Cebuano Ata Manobo Kalagan Tagalog
Website	www.stotomas.gov.ph

Santo Tomas, officially the Municipality of Santo Tomas (Cebuano : Lungsod sa Santo Tomas; Tagalog : Bayan ng Santo Tomas), is a municipality in the province of Davao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 128,667 people. ^[6]

Etymology

Santo Tomas was so named after Saint Thomas, the patron saint of Danao which is the hometown of then Governor of undivided Davao Province Vicente Duterte, father of the 16th Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.

History

What is now Santo Tomas, initially called Tibal-og, was once part of the jurisdiction of nearby town of Kapalong. Before the 1950s. the place used to be a lush forest inhabited by the indigenous Ata-Manobo people.

According to the town's pioneering residents, the area of what is now Kapalong (in which what is now Santo Tomas was still part of) and Panabo City were planted for abaca during the pre-war years.

Santo Tomas was established as a municipality through Executive Order No. 352, issued by President Carlos P. Garcia on August 14, 1959. It consists of Barrio Tibal-og, designated as the seat of government, and "other barrios or sitios " of Kapalong, and four barrios of Panabo, all then part of the old Davao province. ^[7]

Feliciano P. Ganade served as the first elected mayor of Santo Tomas after briefly governing the city of Kapalong.

From then on, it continued to grow and prosper, even as it went several successions of mayoralty governance throughout its history.

Geography

Santo Tomas is located on the island of Mindanao, and it is in the province's second political district. It is bounded in the north by the Municipalities of Kapalong and Talaingod, in the east by the Municipality of Asuncion, in the west by Davao City, and in the south by the Municipality of Braulio E. Dujali.

Climate

Rainfall in Santo Tomas is evenly distributed throughout the year. Being a nearly typhoon-free municipality, the production of high-value crops is favorable all year round and makes a profitable investment.

Climate data for Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	28 (82)	28 (82)	29 (84)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	30 (86)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	30 (86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	22 (72)	22 (72)	22 (72)	22 (72)	23 (73)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	63 (2.5)	50 (2.0)	35 (1.4)	22 (0.9)	47 (1.9)	68 (2.7)	51 (2.0)	53 (2.1)	49 (1.9)	47 (1.9)	39 (1.5)	38 (1.5)	562 (22.3)
Average rainy days	15.0	12.6	10.4	8.2	18.8	22.5	21.2	20.5	20.3	20.3	14.4	11.7	195.9
Source: Meteoblue [8]

Barangays

Santo Tomas is politically subdivided into 19 barangays.

• Balagunan
• Bobongon
• Casig-Ang
• Esperanza
• Kimamon
• Kinamayan
• La Libertad
• Lungaog
• Magwawa
• New Katipunan
• New Visayas
• Pantaron
• Salvacion
• San Jose
• San Miguel
• San Vicente
• Talomo
• Tibal-og
• Tulalian

Demographics

Population census of Santo Tomas

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1960	16,687	—
1970	21,241	+2.44%
1975	31,584	+8.28%
1980	44,512	+7.10%
1990	67,916	+4.32%
1995	77,182	+2.43%
2000	84,367	+1.93%
2007	97,210	+1.97%
2010	109,269	+4.35%
2015	118,750	+1.60%
2020	128,667	+1.70%
2024	131,100	+0.45%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

Santo Tomas is home to a diverse culture inter-mingling with Mandaya and Ata-Manobo. The people are predominantly Cebuano.

Santo Tomas is also the most populated municipality in the Province of Davao del Norte.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Santo Tomas

10 20 30 40 2000 32.67 2003 26.30 2006 31.00 2009 23.49 2012 21.74 2015 23.26 2018 12.06 2021 10.65 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

Banana plantation, located at the southern portion of Santo Tomas

Significant to the economic development of Santo Tomas is a number of multi-national corporations and cooperatives engaged in banana based commercial production successfully operating in the municipality. Rice production also contributes to the economic development of the municipality. SantoTomas was part of the lists for the top 15 richest municipality in Davao Region which was listed as the second place.

Transportation

Davao del Norte Circumferential Road, Santo Tomas-Panabo leg, Barangay Balagunan, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte.

Santo Tomas sits astride the Davao del Norte Provincial Circumferential Road. It is more or less 30 kilometres (19 mi) or about an hour ride from Tagum City by any land vehicle, and the town offers a wide choice of public utility jeepneys via Kinamayan route or bus liners via Carmen route. Davao City is approximately 63 kilometres (39 mi) or an hour and a half ride by bus or private car.

Santo Tomas is accessible by land through any type of vehicle. There are tricycle units serving the different routes within the municipality. Most tricycles are color-coded red, with a capacity of 6 passengers per tricycle.

Education

Santo Tomas have several public and private institutions.

Elementary schools:

• Apitong Elementary School (Public)
• Balagunan Elementary School (Public)
• Balisong Elementary School (Public)
• Bobongon Elementary School (Public)
• Casig-ang Elementary School (Public)
• Davao Winchester Colleges Inc. (Private)
• Esperanza Elementary School (Public)
• Holy Infant School of Santo Tomas, Inc. (Private)
• Jireh School of Tomorrow (Private)
• Jesus Lumain Elementary School (Public)
• Kimamon Elementary School (Public)
• Kinamayan Integrated School (Public)
• La Libertad Elementary School (Public)
• Lunga-og Elementary School (Public)
• Magwawa Elementary School (Public)
• Marsman Elementary School (Public)
• Maryknoll High School of Santo Tomas (Private)
• Mustard Seed Christian School, Inc. (Private)
• Nafco Central Elementary School (Public)
• New Katipunan Elementary School (Public)
• New Visayas Elementary School (Public)
• Pantaron Elementary School (Public)
• Philippine Baptist Christian College of Mindanao, Inc. (Private)
• Salvacion Elementary School (Public)
• San Isidro Elementary School (Public)
• San Jose Elementary School (Public)
• San Vincenzo Learning Center (Private)
• Santo Tomas Central Elementary School - Sped Center (Public)
• Talomo Elementary School (Public)
• Talos Elementary School (Public)
• Temple Christian School, Inc. (Private)
• Tulalian Elementary School (Public)

High schools:

• Balagunan National High School (Public)
• Davao Winchester Colleges Inc. (Private)
• Kimamon National High School (Public)
• La Libertad National High School (Public)
• Marsman National High School (Public)
• Maryknoll High School of Santo Tomas (Private)
• Mustard Seed Christian School, Inc. (Private)
• Philippine Baptist Christian College of Mindanao, Inc. (Private)
• Salvacion National High School (Public)
• Santo Tomas National High School (Public)
• Temple Christian School Inc. (Private)
• Tulalian National High School (Public)

Tertiary education:

• Bukidnon State University (discontinued)
• Davao Winchester Colleges Inc. (Private)
• University of Southeastern Philippines
• Santo Tomas College of Agriculture Science and Technology (STCAST)

Technical/vocational schools:

• ABA Technical School of Santo Tomas, Inc.
• Davao Winchester Colleges Inc. (Private)

Culture

Araw ng Santo Tomas (lit. Day of Santo Tomas) is a celebration held every 14 August annually. Events include drum and lyre competitions; parades, fireworks display, and many more.

Gallery

• 
  Row of parked tricycles outside the Santo Tomas Central Elem. School SPED Center campus.
• 
  Santo Tomas Cultural Gymnasium
• 
  San Miguel Parish Church

References

1.   Municipality of Santo Tomas | (DILG)
2. "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN   0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. https://elevation.maplogs.com/poi/santo_tomas_davao_del_norte_philippines.485732.html.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
4. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
5. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
6. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
7. "Executive Order No. 352, s. 1959". Official Gazette (Philippines) . Government of the Philippines. August 14, 1959. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
8. "Santo Tomas: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
9. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
10. Census of Population (2015). "Region XI (Davao Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
11. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region XI (Davao Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
12. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region XI (Davao Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
13. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
14. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
15. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
16. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
17. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
18. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
19. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
20. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
21. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.

External links

• Santo Tomas Profile at the DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine
• Performance Management System Archived 2013-04-29 at the Wayback Machine