2. Brief History
Cateel is one of the oldest towns in northeastern Davao Oriental. It is situated on a shore of a bay of the pacific Ocean at the mouth of the river bearing its name.
Cateel was once part of the Caraga Province that was composed of four encomiendas during the Spanish period namely: Encomienda de Bislig where Cateel then belonged, Encomiendas de Surigao, Butuan and Tandag.
In 1582, the Spaniards partly explored the coast of Cateel. Landing at the mouth of the river they called it Rio de Cateel or Cateel, after they found some Mandaya (natives) splitting rattan vine. Cateel is a kind of rattan that abound in the place.
Cateel has a long and varied history. The Spaniards took the town in and lost it to the Americans in It became a regular Municipality during the American regime by virtue of Organic Act No. 21 passed by the Legislative Council of the Moro Province of October 29, 1903.
Bounded on the North by the Municipality of Boston, on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the South by the Municipality of Baganga, and on the West by the Municipality of Compostela, Cateel is a land of rich and fertile valleys, rolling, hills, beaches, swamps and vast plains.

3. BASIC INFORMATION Creation : October 29, 1903
Legal Basis : Organic Act. No.21
Town Fiesta : July 25 (Sr. Santiago Apostol)
Araw ng Cateel : October 29 (Kutoo Festival)
Income Classification : Second Class
Population (census) : 38, 680
Population Density : 1:41 Person/Has.
Land Area : 54, 556 Hectares
Numbers of Barangay : 16 Barangays

4. OTHER INFORMATION Power : Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative (DORECO)
: Maglahus Mini Hydro Power Plant
Water : Cateel Water Supply System and Artesian Well and Orient Bliss
Communication : SMART, GLOBE and POSTAL OFFICE
Banks : Bay Bank and Enterprise Bank
Pawnshop/Money Transfer : MLhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier , 98c Pawnshop
Dialect Spoken : Mandaya, Bisaya and Ilokano
Dominant Tribe : Mandaya
Transportation : Bachelor Express, Mallen Tours, Lyra Trans and Vans for hire

5. VISION
“ Cateel to be socially stable, economically progressive and spiritually abiding through the pursuit of Agri-industrialization and tourism promotion within the context of a balance ecology.”
MISSION
“Development of the resources and potentials towards a progressive and sustained agri-industrialized, eco-tourism destination and propelled by enlightened leaders and empowered citizenry committed to sustainable countryside development.
GOALS
To achieve optimum utilization of land resources and other natural resources/tourism potentials of the municipality.
To have established equitable economic opportunities and social services within the context of ecological balance; and
To promote the establishment and operations of peoples’ organization, NGOs and the private sectors as active partners adopting the principle of local autonomy.

6. ECO TOURISM DESTINATIONS

7. THE
PRIDE OF
CATEEL

8. Aliwagwag Falls, Largest falls in the Philippines
Barangay Aliwagwag
Aliwagwag Falls, Largest falls in the Philippines

9. Aliwagwag falls can be considered as the most precious gem stone in Cateel’s crown jewel of tourist attractions. With its majestic cascading waterfalls, not one person who would see it would ever doubt that only a powerful being could create such incomparable beauty. To borrow the words of Atty. Auxencio Dacuycuy, “it looks like a cotton-covered stairway to heaven when seen from a far or from the air.”
The falls presents a striking view because of the contrast of pure, clean and rushing water amidst lush vegetation and forests surrounding the area. It has 127 steps of cascading water from the highest to the lowest portion. Many who have gone to the main source of the water falls had said that they have seen things and wonders of nature that would make a whole day of trekking and hiking worth every drop of sweat. The experience is said to be a meeting of the real world and our magical fantasies – truly a taste of paradise. After the fatigue of walking for hours, you can easily recharge your energy by taking a dip at the very cool and refreshing pools of the waterfall.
You can enjoy swimming and watching nature at its best and listening to the sweet singing of the birds and other forest creatures. These things make the Aliwagwag falls as the municipality’s greatest tourist treasure that should be developed and shared to the world because God’s masterpieces should be enjoyed by all men and by generations to come.

10. Langyawan Caves Sitio Langyawan, Barangay Aragon.
Langyawan cave is beautiful natural scenery located in Barangay Aragon, Cateel, Davao Oriental. It is 14.6 kilometers away from the town proper. It offers a breath-taking panorama of rocks of different sizes and formations that could virtually amaze anyone who would see the place.
It has captivating shapes of glittering stalagmites and stalactites. There’s an underground river inside it that flows directly to the river.
It is an untouched creation of nature that is yet to be fully discovered and explored to learn and experience the splendor that lurks behind the darkness of the cave.
Inside this mysterious place lies the grandeur that will only be exposed to someone who is willing to take the time and effort to visit the place. Great rewards for the adventurous and thrill seekers are the guaranteed prize. That’s how beautiful the cave is.

11. Cateel Centennial Park

12. Cateel Centennial Park is one of the must-see places in the municipality. It attracts not only tourists but the locals as well. The park lies at the center of the municipality’s seat of power, in between the Cateel Parish Church and the Municipal hall. Its former name was Cateel Town Plaza, but through the initiative of Corazon N. Malanyaon the then Representative of the First Congressional District of Davao Oriental, it was changed to its present name. The park was renovated and improved in preparation for the celebration of town’s 100 years of founding anniversary, hence the new name Cateel Centennial Park to commemorate the momentous event in Cateel’s history.
At the park, one could take time to unwind themselves from the rigors of everyday life. The gentle blow of the winds coming from the sea is very refreshing. Aside from that, one could also see the beautiful fountain, a replica of the mighty Aliwagwag falls, the decorative metal benches, lamp posts, and plants that help the air smell fresh and clean. The park’s main attraction however is the monument of our national hero, Jose Rizal. It is considered to be the tallest in the entire province of Davao Oriental. Amidst all the changes the park has gone through, Rizal’s monument was the only structure that was never replaced nor destroyed, not even the powerful and destructive winds of Typhoon Pablo could break it .It has been a symbol of stability and strength of the Cateelenos, that no calamity or trials could ever knock us out of our feet permanently. We may take a fall sometimes but we will surely rise up again to face every challenge that will come our way.
The park will certainly provide you a venue for relaxation, a place to spend time with your family and at the same time experience Cateel and the culture of its people.

13. The Creamsand Longbeach
This is a Nine-kilometer shoreline that stretches from Barangay San Antonio to Dawis point of Barangay Baybay. It has Forty-Six hectares of marine protected area as declared by the municipality and the Integrated Coastal Resource Management Program (ICRMP). Deriving its name from the cream-colored, fine-textured sand, the residents named it as creamsand.
Creamsand longbeach features a natural beach forest dominated by the so –called “octopus tress” and “pitogo” (a local name for a kind of plant from the palm tree family). The beach is perfect for skim boarding and surfing as the beach faces the Pacific Ocean. It is also a suitable venue for beach volleyball, kite flying, sun bathing or if you just need to feel the water to run through your toes as you walk along the shoreline. You can have the same experience at the top resorts but this time without the need to travel and the extra expense.

14. Mantunao Eco Park
Mantunao Eco-Park is located on the south-eastern portion of Barangay Taytayan with an elevation of 100masl to 300masl. The slope is 8 degrees to 18 degrees. It is 8 kilometer away from the barangay proper and 14 kilometers from the barangay Poblacion. Within the Eco-Park are places of interest like Kalabnawanan, Tioyan, Lumayog and Kayakalan Waterfalls and wriggling caves of Sunhkuan and Simsimon.
On May 5, 2009 Tres Marias was launched into Eco-Park as the tourism destination of the municipality.The area was awarded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as the community base forest management agreement as the holder of hectares to preserve, protect and utilized resources to uplift the livelihood among members and claimant inside the area.

15. St. James the Apostle Parish Church
The Saint James the Apostle Church occupying one block of the Poblacion is the living symbol of the Roman Catholic faith. Built by a Spanish Jesuit Missionary in 1894, it was remodeled by a Canadian PME Missionary in 1952 and renovated by a Filipino Diocesan clergy in 1994 on its centenary celebration of Christianity.
The more than a century old tree trunk pillars left memories of sturdy forest trees from distant barrios and brought to the center on force labor policy.

16. Lobster (Banagan)
Sa’ugnon
Crabs (Cagang)
Durian (Duli-an)
Fresh water shell (Tab-anay)
Upland Rice (Perya)
Native Lemon (Kabaywa)

17. Chilli Powder (Dumang)
Produced by: Subangon Dumang Maker

18. July 25 – St. James the Apostle Parochial Fiesta
Fiesta / festival
July 25 – St. James the Apostle Parochial Fiesta
October 29–Kutoo Festival

20. GATEWAYS TO CATEEL For Commuters:
Ecoland Terminal Davao City – Cateel, Davao Oriental
via Mati 8-10 hours – Bachelor Express, Vans
via Mun. of Compostela 5-6 hours – Mallen Trans, Lyra Express,
via Cuevas, Agusan del Sur/Lingig, Surigao del Sur 7-8 hours – Bachelor Express, Mallen Trans, Lyra Express
For Private Transport:
Davao City – Tagum City – Mati City – Cateel
Davao City – Tagum City – Mun. of Compostela – Cateel
Davao City – Tagum City – Cuevas, Agusan del Sur – Lingig, Surigao del Sur – Cateel

21. Distance to Barangay Poblacion:
KILOMETER
Abejod
4.05
Alegria
8.15
Aliwagwag
23.50
Aragon
14.60
Baybay
4.75
Maglahus
20.30
Mainit
7.10
Malibago
27.80
Poblacion
Town’s Center
San Alfonso
9.25
San Antonio
10.20
San Miguel
6.80
San Rafael
3.50
Santa Filomena
3.25
San Vicente
6.50
Taytayan
10.70
Distance to
Barangay Poblacion:

22. ACCOMMODATION FOOD Name of Establishment Edar’s Homestay Nico Homestay
OAR Inn
Tugki Rio Vista Pension House
Riverview Lodging House
St. James Parish Lay Formation House
FOOD
Edar’s Place Nanay Connies Lutong Bahay
Jessa’s Lechon Hauz Emmies Carenderia
Honeybee Eatery Tugki Rio Vesta Resto Bar
Triple A’s Brothers Balbido’s Eatery
BG Eatery Concesa’s Lutong Bahay
Losentes Carenderia Olarte’s Carenderia

23. Refreshments Catering Entertainment
VG Bakeshoppe Green Ribbon Bakeshoppe
Pan de Pani Bakeshoppe Lasquite Bakery
Burger Tayef
Burger Burger
Cateel Bakeshoppe
Catering
Saira Gel Catering Services
Entertainment
Boracay Videoke
Lyra Rendezvous
Marino’s Grill

24. Thank you!