Davao Oriental is one of four provinces that comprise Davao Region ( Region XI ).

The province is subdivided into ten (10) municipalities and one city, with a total of 183 barangays represented as two congressional districts. The seat of the provincial government is at the capital city of Mati.

Davao Oriental is the easternmost province of the great island of Mindanao, where the sun shines first. This is where a day in the Philippines begin. By rough estimates, sunrise here comes eight minutes earlier than sunrise in Manila, or three minutes earlier than sunrise in Davao City.

Verdant forests and blue crystal clear waters serving as a backdrop to winding roads are what greets visitors upon entering this quiet coastal province set at the back end of the country.

Davao Oriental is famous for its waterfalls, white-sand beaches, historical attractions, and of course, its people. Davao Oriental’s inhabitants are an eclectic mix of migrants from other provinces and indigenous communities, the most dominant of which are the Mandayans, particularly in the town of Caraga from where they originate. This native tribe’s unadulterated culture and traditions are still very evident in their day-to-day lives. The community is noted for their prolific production of dagmay, a kind of intricately hand-woven abaca fabric.

Many other extraordinary experiences await the visitor, with such marvels as a forest of bonsai trees, tiger sharks, the oldest Catholic church in Mindanao, and its best kept secrets ~ its untapped resources and unsullied sights from islands to highlands.