08/10/2026
DID YOU KNOW? For the second week of our posting, let's discover the Largest Resort City in the Philippines! ๐
Located in Davao del Norte, the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) is a coastal paradise made up of 46 barangays, 31 of which are coastal. The island is largely agricultural, with farming and fishing serving as major sources of income for local communities. However, tourism is its biggest industry, providing employment for thousands of workers and indirectly benefiting thousands more through the informal employment sector. With tourism, farming, and fishing at the heart of its economy, Samal continues to pursue its vision of becoming a โLivable and Resilient Island Garden City.โ
Located at the heart of Davao Gulf, Samal thrives as a natural jewel just across from mainland Davao. The island is home to thousands of species and takes pride in its diverse parks and sanctuaries that protect and support its rich wildlife and natural habitats.
Among its environmental treasures is a 224-hectare mariculture park that promotes sustainable fisheries, along with an 11.5-hectare government-owned botanical garden and nature park home to hundreds of flora species. Samal is also home to Mindanaoโs first mangrove park, where studies on mangrove ecosystems are conducted.
Beyond its natural attractions, Samal is also known for producing the Samal Sweet Mango, one of its prized agricultural products. At least 2,000 hectares of land in the city are planted with mangoes, with some of the harvest exported to different parts of the world.
Since its creation, the Island Garden City of Samal, or simply Samal Island, has grown by leaps and bounds. Today, it stands as a top tourist destination in the Davao Region and continues to aspire to become one of the top-of-mind tourist destinations in Mindanao and the Philippines.
Would you love to discover the natural beauty and hidden gems of Samal Island? Tell us about it in the comments!
Sources:
City Government of Samal Tourism Office. Turismo Samal. https://turismo.samalcity.gov.ph/
Green Economy. Island Garden City of Samal. https://www.greeneconomy.ph/city-connect/show/island-garden-city-of-samal
SunStar Davao (2023). The story of the Island Garden City of Samal. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/the-story-of-the-island-garden-city-of-samal