Monday, March 07, 2016

Dasmariñas city

Dasmariñas City  is the largest city, both in terms of area and population in the province of Cavite, Philippines. It is located approximately 27 kilometres (17 mi) south of Manila. As of 2010, Dasmariñas is now the largest component city and the 12th largest city in the country in terms of population with 575,817 people. It is classified as "first-class" city in terms of income classification and has a land area of 90.1 square kilometers (34.8 sq mi).

The growing congestion and outward urban expansion of the Metropolitan Manila Area has set up a favorable atmosphere for the development of the city. This inevitable growth is manifested by the influx of industries,the presence of large educational and health institutions, and the growing number of subdivisions elevating its economy.

History

The origin of the name “Dasmariñas” is “Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas”, a Spanish governor of the Philippines from 1590 to 1593. After his death, his son Luis Pérez Dasmariñas was the governor from 1593 to 1596. Pérez Dasmariñas came from San Miguel das Negradas, Galicia (Spain). Dasmariñas literally means “from the marines” in the Galician language (NW of Iberian Peninsula). According to Agustin de la Cavada in his Historia Geografica, Geologica y Estadistica de Filipinas, this town started as a barrio of Imus and it was made into an independent municipality in 1867.

The Spanish government named the town of Perez Dasmariñas in honor of Don Perez Dasmariñas who was the Governor General of the Islands from 1590 to 1593. Chinese oarsmen whom he had hired murdered him. His son, Don Luis Perez Dasmariñas also lost his life in the hands of the Chinese in 1603. Don Gomez Dasmariñas was well remembered because he was the one who ordered complete fortification of Intramuros and the construction of Fort Santiago.

The town of Perez Dasmariñas was founded by the Recollect Fathers in the year 1867 under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception whose feast day is celebrated on December 8. Perez Dasmariñas was formerly a “visita” of Imus that was also founded by the Recollect Fathers in 1795. According to records, the first settlers must have arrived in 1861 and were believed to be the families of Gil Tirona, Vicente Guevarra, Eleuterio Geda and Eustaquio Paulino.

Dasmariñas has a colorful history. On February 25, 1897, the Spanish forces came and brought destruction to the town and its people. Almost fifty percent of the population was wiped out during the attack and almost all buildings were burned down except the Roman Catholic Church which remained undamaged. The Spaniards utilized it as their garrison. At the coming of the American fleet of Admiral Dewey and the famous naval battle of Manila Bay in May 1898, which defeated the Spanish forces under Admiral Montojo, the people of Dasmariñas under the leadership of Placido Campos, fought and drove away the Spaniards occupying the town. Noted Filipino generals like Flaviano Yengko and Crispulo Aguinaldo (elder brother of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo) died in action in Dasmariñas during the encounters.

The people who resettled back thereafter rebuilt the town that was heavily devastated. So sooner was it rehabilitated, then in the late 1800s, the Filipinos were again up in arms, this time against the Americans. Then again, Dasmariñas was annihilated and identity was lost in a heap of rabble. Two years later, the American regime took over and in 1904, the town was again reverted to its former distinction as part of Imus. In 1917, however, Dasmariñas re-gained its recognition as a separate municipality. Consequently, provincial Governor A. Soriano along with leading officials of the town particularly Placido N. Campos, Francisco Barzaga, Felipe Tirona and many others, convened and voted to drop the name “Perez” and retain “Dasmariñas” as its official name. Today, Dasmariñas is complemented with over 556,000 population (as of 2007).

As one of Cavite’s municipalities situated within the Metro Manila urban area, Dasmariñas serves as the main catalyst for a major economic development and sustained growth throughout the 1990s. The influx of industries and real estate developments is unheard of in a town outside of a financial district, attest to the fact that Dasmariñas is way ahead in crossing the bridge to the 21st century. The next millennium is a challenge but Dasmariñas will no doubt prevail.

Geography

Dasmariñas City is about 8,234 hectares, 12 kilometers from Metro Manila or the National Capital Region and 27 kilometers south of the center of the City of Manila. It is bounded by the city of Imus and the municipality of Silang, both in Cavite at the north and south respectively, at the east by the towns of San Pedro and Biñan by the side of Laguna and Carmona and at the west, it is bounded by General Trias, also in Cavite and a little further from this boundary is Trece Martires City.

It is strategically located at the intermediate zone of the Metropolitan Manila area. With adequate accessibility, Dasmariñas is within the urbanizing development influence of Metro Manila area.

It is composed of the Poblacion and the barangays. The Poblacion which is now divided into four zones is on the westernmost section of the city, Sabang, Salawag and Salitran are to the north and to the south are San Agustin, Langkaan and Sampaloc. Burol, Paliparan, and the Resettlement Area are on the eastern side of the city.

The city of Dasmariñas is landlocked. However, it is not too far from the coastal towns of Rosario, Kawit, Bacoor, Noveleta and Cavite City whose average distance from Poblacion is less than 30 kilometers. It is about the same distance from Laguna de Bay and about 27 kilometers from the resort city of Tagaytay and the famous Taal Lake.

At present, Dasmariñas is served by corridors traversing the central areas which provide linkages to the Metropolitan Manila area core in the north and the developing nodes of Laguna and Batangas.

Topography

Dasmariñas is partly lowland and partly hill. The Poblacion itself is elevated. From an elevation of 80 meters at the Poblacion, the land rises to 250 meters towards Silang. Generally, land near rivers and creeks are rugged. Dasmariñas is outside the typhoon belt and has no fault line constraints. Further, it is served by natural drainage system since it is traversed by several rivers and water tributaries draining to the Manila Bay. The city has yet to experience floods.

Strongly sloping to elevated areas cover approximately 1,532.16 hectares or 18.61% of the total area.

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 These are dispersed among Burol, Langkaan, Paliparan, Salawag, Sampaloc and San Agustin. Areas with slopes 10.1 to 18% cover about 575.72 hectares of land in portions of Salawag, Salitran, Burol, and other parts.

On the other hand, gently sloping or undulating areas comprise merely 710.4 hectares or 8.62% of the total land area while undulating areas with a slope of 2.6 to 5% account for the biggest percentage of 50.59% of the total land area equivalent to 4, 165.64 hectares of land which are dispersed over the municipality except Sabang and San Jose.

Climate

Dasmariñas has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen climate classification: Aw) with two pronounced seasons: wet season and dry season. Wet season covers the period from May to December of each year and dry season covers the period from January to April.

Religion

Christianity is the predominant religion, and the majority of the people are Roman Catholics. The city is the seat of the Vicariates of Immaculate Conception and Our Mother of Perpetual Help under the jurisdiction of Diocese of Imus. Other prominent religious groups include Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry (Dasma Outstation, Iglesia Ni Cristo, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Jesus Is Lord Church (JIL), Evangelica Unida De Cristo, Victory Christian Fellowship, World Mission Church, The United Methodist Church, Salitran Covenant Bible Church, Presbyterian Churches, Baptist and Bible Fundamental churches, Seventh Day Adventist Churches, Members of Church of God International known as Ang Dating Daan, The Lord's Hand Family Apostolic Church, Apostolic (Oneness) churches such as The Pentecostals of Dasmariñas other United Pentecostal Churches (UPC), Lighthouse Apostolic Ministry of Pentecost, Family Tabernacle of Jesus Christ, etc., and other denominations. A considerable percentage of the population are also composed of Muslims. Religious tolerance exists among members of different sects.

Languages

The city has a majority of English and Filipino speakers. Almost all households in the city are bilingual and know how to speak English. Due to its proximity to Metro Manila and being part of the Greater Manila Area, there is also a considerable amount of speakers of the Bicolano, Cebuano, Ilocano, Pangasinan and Chavacano. There are also a number of Spanish and Arabic speakers in the city.


Commerce

Commerce and trade transactions are intensively undertaken in the identified commercial areas along P. Campos Avenue, Camerino Avenue, Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, University Avenue, the Congressional South Avenue and other areas.

Commercial establishments are lined along major thoroughfares. A strip pattern of commercial growth are evident at other places in Dasmariñas.

Commercial developments along Aguinaldo Highway from Silang to Pala-Pala junction particularly within areas adjacent to the Congressional Avenue shows the nature and extent of commercial activities in Dasmariñas. The presence of local commercial centers or shopping centers such as the Highway Plaza, CM Plaza and a branch of a Metro Manila-based shopping center, the Walter Mart which houses different local and nationwide known commercial establishments sets the trend of commercial developments in that part of the city. These are further enhanced by the presence of banks, financial centers and other establishments. There are also commercial establishments supportive of or are offshoots of the educational and medical services being rendered by the De La Salle University Medical Center and the Dr. Jose P. Rizal National Medical Research Center. These makes the area a financial and commercial district of the municipality. The old commercial developments within the Poblacion area (Zone I, I-B, II, III and IV) provides for the needs of the old town residents and the subdivision migrants on the Southern portion of the municipality. The nature of commercial activity being that of a neighborhood commercial center supports the daily needs of the population. The new location of the public market opens the city to the neighboring marketing population of other settlement areas. It likewise make the public market accessible to all the population both from the resettlement areas and the old townsite. Thus, the financial and commercial activity in the Poblacion, the Dasmariñas Central Market, the Highway Plaza, the Dasmariñas Commercial Complex, SM City Dasmariñas, SM Marketmall Dasmariñas, Robinsons Place Dasmariñas, Robinsons Place Dasmariñas#Terraza Dasma, Walter Mart Dasmariñas, Central Mall Dasmariñas, The District - Dasmariñas enhance the commercial center role of Dasmariñas.

Industry

Dasmariñas is an industrial city. The growth has been greatly influenced by its proximity to Metro Manila and the national government's industrial boom. It becomes the choice location for business enterprises being in a crossroad of development south of Manila.

Industrial developments along the Governor's Drive (Carmona-Ternate Road) specifically the First Cavite Industrial Estate, the Reynold's Phils. and different industries dotting the road from Carmona and Silang boundaries to Gen. Trias as well as those at the Southeastern portion along the Aguinaldo Highway provides employment and livelihood opportunities to the local as well as adjacent municipalities labor force. Since these industries are of national or multi-national corporate capitalization and are enjoyed both on local and export marketing. Taxes are being paid by these industries help provide for the basic services and amenities needed by the government as well as the constituents of the municipality.

Thirty kilometers from Manila is First Cavite Industrial Estate, a 283 hectare industrial subdivision located at Langkaan provides adequate facilities to light/medium industries. It is a joint project of the National Development Company, Marubeni Corporation, and the Japan International Development Organization Ltd. Situated in Dasmariñas, the estate is complete with power supply, water system, and telecommunication facilities, with 1,500 lines. The estate includes a General Industrial Zone, which has a customs office and warehouse.

Preferred locators are those involved in non-pollutive small and medium-scale industries. Presently, 48 companies have located their business in this state.

The Dasmariñas Bagong Bayan – NHA Industrial Estate is all of 8.6 hectares in Dasmariñas. The Local Waterworks Utilities Administration manages the water system. Its 18 pumps and its 18 elevated storage tanks, having an average capacity of 60,000 gallons each, can very well serve the needs of the occupants. Labor-intensive, export-oriented, non- hazardous, and non-pollutive industries are best situated in the area. GMA-NHA Industrial Estate The General Mariano Galvez – NHA Industrial Estate compromises 10 hectares of land in the municipality of Gen. Mariano Alvarez. Types of industries preferred for this estate are those, which are non-pollutive, labor-intensive, export-oriented, and non-hazardous such as the 6 companies that have located therein.

Other industrial estates located in Dasmariñas are the Dasmariñas Techno Park and City Land Industrial Estate Dasmariñas.

Culture/Tourism

Tourism plays a large part in the city's economy. The presence of Aguinaldo Highway and Governor's Drive makes the city a stop over for those who are travelling to Tagaytay and Batangas from Metro Manila and to Laguna from the towns on the western part of Cavite. The city has a large selection of hotels and resorts catering to tourists.

The Kadiwa Park located on Congressional Road is a large park featuring sculptures and animatronics of animals and dinosaurs attracts tourists from nearby towns and provinces.

The Museo De La Salle, located within the campus of the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, is a unique, cultural, cross-disciplinary institution serving as a permanent museum of the De La Salle University System. As a resource center for both indoor and outdoor collections, it dedicates itself to the gathering of collectible objects of intrinsic value significant to the preservation of certain aspects of the Philippine ilustrado lifestyle. It envisions itself to be a leading contributor to the Philippine University museums' movement. It seeks to form productive partnerships that serve communities in creative ways. It vows to assist the member schools of the System in the core areas of teaching, research, community outreach, and administration. Through active collaboration with other museums in the nation, it promotes the interests of museology and upholds appreciation of the arts and culture.

The scenic zigzag Daño Street offers a great view of the city's fields and becomes a 'tiangge' or a bazaar during the holiday season.

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