RESIDENTS of Compostela Valley woke up Monday morning, December 9, with the name of the province already renamed to Davao de Oro.
They rejoiced after the final and official result ratifying Republic Act 11297, renaming Compostela Valley to Davao de Oro, was formally announced by the head of the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC), Commission on Elections-Davao Regional Director Remlane Tambuang on Sunday evening, December 8.
The plebiscite resulted in a landslide victory for Yes to Davao de Oro, with a total of 174,442 or 97 percent, while 5,020 or three percent voted no.
The proclamation was done at 10:24 p.m. a day after the plebiscite at the Provincial Board session hall after the counting of ballots from 11 municipalities of the province.
It was announced by the Provincial Board of Canvassers after the ballot counts have shown an overwhelming result in favor of renaming the province.
Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, in a statement, said the "win is undeniable."
He thanked the people behind the success of the plebiscite, as well as those who went to their precinct and took the time to cast their votes, "no matter what their vote is."
"We all took part in making history happen yesterday. We give thanks to the people who first filed the Davao de Oro bill 15 years ago, to Congressman Manuel 'Waykurat Zamora' and the late Congressman Prospero Amatong," Uy said.
He also expressed his gratitude to former congressman and now Vice Governor Maricar Zamora and Representative Ruwel Peter Gonzaga for pursuing the proposition three years ago then lobbied the bill to the House of Representatives.
The bill was also filed by Senate counterparts -- Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Sonny Angara.
Uy previously said that the renaming of Compostela Valley province to Davao de Oro will improve the local economy, and it would attract more tourists and investments, spurring economic development in the province.
Angara, the other proponent of the law in the Senate, said in his Facebook post: "...the new name, which aims to attract more investments, fits the province because Davao de Oro has the largest gold deposits in the country, with 10 out of its 11 towns having one or more gold mines each."
Dr. Reynante Solitario, Department of Education (DepEd)-Compostela Valley superintendent, said he feels proud of the feats and successes of Compostela Valley for the past 21 years and even prouder now of the golden opportunities that await Davao de Oro.
"I am proud enough to tell that I am the last DepEd superintendent of Comval, and the first SDS of Davao de Oro!" Solitario said in his Facebook post.
Compostela Vice Mayor Levi Ebdao said in a Facebook messenger interview that the renaming of the provinces symbolizes hope and trust.
"One of the main campaigns sa renaming nato is progress. Pag-ingon sa leaders na if i-rename naay kauban na kalambuan na. Happy mi na nitiwala ang tao. Nakita karun niboto, nadaog (One of our main campaigns in renaming the province is progress, when the leaders said that with renaming comes with progress. We're happy that the people trust us, and we witness it through their Yes vote)," Ebdao said.
For Nabunturan Councilor Carlo Ancla, the plebiscite was significant.
"(It's) Returning our province that emanates from Davao provinces," Ancla said in a Facebook messenger.
Maco Councilor Joel Penido reiterated Ancla's answer, saying: "The successful renaming of CVP (Compostela Valley Province) into Davao de Oro is a clear manifestation that the majority electorate of the province is welcoming its new name since CVP is part of Region 11 wherein, gold production has been one of the main sources of livelihood and the province is also known for its abundant gold deposits."
Among the provinces in the Davao Region, only Compostela Valley does not have "Davao" in its name. The other provinces are Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Davao Occidental.
Out of 410,261 registered voters of the province based on Comelec records during the May 2019 national and local elections, 179,953 cast their votes or a 43.86 percent turnout.
On Sunday evening, December 8, a thanksgiving party was done at the Provincial Capitol grounds in Nabunturan to celebrate the success of the plebiscite.