PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has declared July 23, 2025, as a special non-working day in the municipality of Nabunturan, Davao de Oro, through Proclamation No. 949, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, to give residents the full opportunity to participate in the municipality’s 68th founding anniversary celebration.
“It is fitting and proper that the people of the Municipality of Nabunturan be given full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy the celebration,” the proclamation reads, underscoring the administration's support for the town’s commemorative events.
Nabunturan, now the capital of Davao de Oro, was officially established as a municipality on July 23, 1957, through Republic Act No. 2038 signed by then-President Carlos P. Garcia. The town was originally a barangay under Compostela and derived its name from the Visayan word “nabungturan,” meaning “surrounded by hills.”
Development in the area accelerated in 1938 with the construction of a national road that drew settlers, particularly from the Visayas.
During World War II, Nabunturan was occupied by Japanese forces and later liberated by American and Filipino troops. In the postwar years, it became the seat of civil governance for the surrounding areas.
The municipality further rose in prominence when Republic Act No. 8470 was enacted in 1998 under President Fidel V. Ramos, creating the new province of Compostela Valley (now Davao de Oro). In a plebiscite held on March 8, 1998, Nabunturan was chosen as the provincial capital.
As Nabunturan marks its 68th year, the local government is expected to organize various cultural, religious, and civic events to commemorate its historical journey.
With a population of over 84,000 as of the 2020 census, the town continues to play a vital role in the economic and political life of the province.
The special non-working holiday is seen as both a recognition of Nabunturan’s legacy and an opportunity to unite the community in celebration.