Sawata, Davao del Norte

Sawata
San Isidro
Municipality
Municipality of Sawata
Flag of Sawata
Flag
Official seal of Sawata
Seal
Map of Davao del Norte with Sawata highlighted
Map of Davao del Norte with Sawata highlighted
Interactive map of Sawata
Sawata is located in Philippines
Sawata
Sawata
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 7°44′52″N 125°43′40″E / 7.74765°N 125.72785°E / 7.74765; 125.72785
CountryPhilippines
RegionDavao Region
ProvinceDavao del Norte
District 1st district
FoundedJune 26, 2004
RenamedApril 11, 2026
Barangays13 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorSilvano "Papa Banot" Gaje
 • Vice MayorJacinissa "Dagdag" Cafe-Binasbas
 • RepresentativeDe Carlo "Oyo" Uy
 • Municipal Council
Members
  • Daisy Llevado
  • Balty Cuyos
  • Alliah "Yang" Dela Rama
  • Kap Maret Biernes
  • Roselyn "Rose" Cuestas
  • Lolito Salazar
  • Jaylen Gaje
  • Celoy Lamsin
 • Electorate20,363 voters (2025)
Area
[2]
 • Total
152.49 km2 (58.88 sq mi)
Elevation
7.0 m (23.0 ft)
Highest elevation
27 m (89 ft)
Lowest elevation
−1 m (−3.3 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)[3]
 • Total
27,552
 • Density180.68/km2 (467.96/sq mi)
 • Households
6,571
DemonymSawatenyo
Economy
 • Income class3rd class municipality
 • Poverty incidence
18.97
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 180 million (2022)
 • Assets₱ 285.7 million (2022)
 • Expenditure₱ 160.9 million (2022)
 • Liabilities₱ 118.7 million (2022)
Service provider
 • ElectricityNorthern Davao Electric Cooperative (NORDECO)
 • WaterSawata Water District
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
8121
PSGC
1102324000
IDD : area code +63 (0)84
Native languagesDavawenyo
Cebuano
Ata Manobo
Kalagan
Tagalog
Major religionsChristianity
Patron saintIsidore the Laborer

Sawata, officially the Municipality of Sawata (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Sawata; Tagalog: Bayan ng Sawata) and formerly known as San Isidro, is a municipality in the province of Davao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 27,552 people, making it the least populated municipality in the province.[5]

History

Formation of the municipality

Republic Act No. 9265 was signed by then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on March 15, 2004.[6] A plebiscite was administered and approved by the electorate of Asuncion and Kapalong on June 26, 2004.[7] Under the name San Isidro, the newly chartered municipality absorbed six barangays from the municipality of Asuncion, namely: Sawata, Sabangan, Mamangan, Santo Niño, Igangon, and Kipalili; and seven barangays from the municipality of Kapalong, namely: Dacudao, Datu Balong, Libuton, Pinamuno, Monte Dujali, Linao, and San Miguel.

Renaming of the municipality

Davao del Norte 1st district representative and former House speaker Pantaleon Alvarez filed House Bill No. 9452, renaming the municipality to Sawata.[8][9][10] It passed on third and final reading by the House on August 3, 2021, and on the Senate on January 31, 2022.

On June 2, 2022, Republic Act No. 11814, the act renaming San Isidro as Sawata, as well as its municipal proper, Barangay Sawata as Poblacion, lapsed into law without the then outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte's signature.[11] On March 4, 2026, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) issued Resolution No. 11202, setting the plebiscite on April 11, 2026.[12]

The plebiscite was successfully administered on April 11, 2026, despite a low turnout of close to 40% of the registered electorate of the municipality. Later, on that day, the COMELEC announced the ratification of these proposals by majority of participated voters.[13]

Results of 2026 plebiscites for the renaming of local divisions
Old name Proposed new name Choice Valid votes Invalid votes Total votes Turnout (%) Registered voters
Yes No
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Municipality of San Isidro Municipality of Sawata 7,555 98.94% 81 1.06% 7,636 99.63% 28 0.37% 7,664 36.55% 20,970
Barangay Sawata Barangay Poblacion 1,226 98.32% 21 1.68% 1,247 99.52% 6 0.48% 1,253 38.07% 3,291
Sources: COMELEC, via SunStar.[13]

Geography

Located in Davao del Norte, Sawata shares its borders with the municipalities of Kapalong and Asuncion. Additionally, it also borders the province of Davao de Oro, specifically the municipality of Laak.

Climate

Climate data for Sawata, Davao del Norte
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(81) 		27
(81) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		28
(82) 		29
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22
(72) 		21
(70) 		21
(70) 		22
(72) 		23
(73) 		23
(73) 		23
(73) 		23
(73) 		23
(73) 		23
(73) 		22
(72) 		22
(72) 		22
(72)
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[14]

Barangays

Sawata is politically subdivided into 13 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

  • Dacudao
  • Datu Balong
  • Igangon
  • Kipalili
  • Libuton
  • Linao
  • Mamangan
  • Monte Dujali (Mandalingan)
  • Pinamuno
  • Poblacion
  • Sabangan
  • San Miguel
  • Santo Niño (Adecor)

Demographics

Population census of Sawata
YearPop.±% p.a.
2007 24,696—    
2010 25,548+1.24%
2015 26,651+0.81%
2020 27,233+0.46%
2024 27,552+0.28%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18][19]

Economy

Poverty incidence of Sawata

10
20
30
40
50
60
2006
37.90
2009
53.63
2012
43.19
2015
42.23
2018
25.12
2021
18.97

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[20][21][22][23][24][25]

Sawata's main source of economy is agriculture;[26] as cacao is its main plant.[27] Its main product is sikwate (Visayan term for chocolate drink) which is made from tablea.[26][28] Hence, the municipality is known as the "Chocolate Hub" of Davao del Norte;[27][28] with Sikwate Festival being held in October of every year.[26]

Sawata, among other areas, is reportedly the largest contributor of cacao beans in Davao Region with 4,000-hectare cacao farms.[28] These make up an industry that, by 2006, yielded an estimated 3,600 metric tons of cacao beans per hectare annually.[27] In 2012, more than half of farms were destroyed by super typhoon Pablo, causing sudden decline of tablea production.[28] In the municipality's first founding anniversary, the largest tablea with the diameter of 2.5 meters and weighing 500 kilograms, was featured.[27]

Sikwate is produced mainly by the Chocolate de San Isidro (CSI), a private entity.[26] CSI has been making tablea since it started in 2009. In 2016, production of tablea began to increase through mechanized production. As of 2018, 120 kilograms of tablea were being produced daily; and up to 3 tons were being shipped monthly to other parts of the country.[28] Likewise, sikwate is being exported.[26]

Moreover, despite being equipped with the basic market facilities, Sawata's proximity from the provincial center makes the development still ongoing.[26]

Tourism

Sawata is known mainly for caves.[27] Tourism destinations include the Cugsing and Kabyawan caves and Tugtugan Falls in Barangay Dacudao; as well as Maltag Falls at Datu Balong.[26]

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sawata.
  1. ^  Municipality of San Isidro | (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. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  6. ^ "REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9265 - AN ACT CREATING THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN ISIDRO IN THE PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL NORTE". Supreme Court E-Library. Supreme Court of the Philippines (published 2004-06-18). 2004-04-12. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  7. ^ "Bakasyon Pa! Marcos Adds 4 Local Holidays In June". Politiko. May 31, 2025. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  8. ^ "House Bill No. 9452: Third Reading copy" (PDF). House of Representatives of the Philippines. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  9. ^ "Committee Report 995" (PDF). May 24, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  10. ^ "Notice from the Senate" (PDF). December 14, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  11. ^ "Republic Act No. 11814". Official Gazette (Philippines). gov.ph. June 2, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  12. ^ "RESOLUTION NO, 11202. CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES AND PERIODS OF CERTAIN PROHIBITED ACTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONDUCT OF THE APRIL 11, 2026 PLEBISCITES TO RATIFY THE RENAMING OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN ISIDRO TO MUNICIPALITY OF SAWATA AND BARANGAY SAWATA TO BARANGAY POBLACION, PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL NORTE, PURSUANT TO REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11814". COMELEC Resolutions on Plebiscites. Commission on Elections. 4 March 2026. Retrieved 29 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ a b Banal, Anton (April 12, 2026). "Residents approve change of names for Davao del Norte town, barangay". SunStar. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  14. ^ "San Isidro: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  15. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  16. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region XI (Davao Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  20. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  21. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  22. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  23. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  24. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  25. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g Caduaya, Editha (December 19, 2019). "San Isidro: a town by day and village by night". Newsline Philippines. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  27. ^ a b c d e Abangan, J.M.D. (July 14, 2006). "San Isidro and Its Chocolate Factory". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved April 13, 2026 – via Davao Today.
  28. ^ a b c d e Valle, Gingging (December 2, 2018). "Envisioning a chocolate haven". SunStar. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
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