Dasmariñas (), officially the City of Dasmariñas, is a component city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people. With a land area of , it is the largest city both in terms of area and population in Cavite and the wealthiest local government unit in the province.
Being located just from Imus and south of Manila, the growing congestion and conurbation of the Manila Metropolitan area has led to its rapid development in the late 1900s. This growth is manifested by the influx of major shopping malls, hospitals, universities, banks, industrial parks, and the growing number of residential subdivisions accommodating its growing population.
Etymology
Dasmariñas was named after Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas, the 7th Spanish governor-general of the Philippines who served from 1590 to 1593. After his death, his son Luis Pérez Dasmariñas became the governor-general from 1593 to 1596. Pérez Dasmariñas came from San Miguel das Negradas of Viveiro, in Galicia, Spain.
Dasmariñas literally means "from As Mariñas" (coastal region of Lugo combining the comarcas of A Mariña Occidental, A Mariña Central and A Mariña Oriental), coming itself from mariño ("of the coast, seaside or shore" in the Galician language, the native tongue from Viveiro Galicia, Spain), and this from mar ("sea").
History
Foundation and Spanish Ruling
In the 19th century, during the Spanish colonial period, Dasmariñas was originally called Tampus, meaning "end of the forest" in the local Tagalog language. It was formerly a barrio of Imus and part of a vast Recollect hacienda that supported the various missionary activities of the Recollects in the Philippines and Spain.
On April 9, 1864, a council composed of the Archbishop of Manila, the politico-military governor of Cavite, the Prior Provincial of the Augustinian Recollect Order, and the parish priest of Imus met to discuss the creation of a new town and parish to separate from Imus. At that time, there were only 643 inhabitants in Tampus. After thorough discussions, Rafaél de Echagüe, the Governor-General of the Philippines, approved the creation of the new town on May 12, 1864, with Don Juan Ramirez elected as the first town head, or gobernadorcillo.
The creation of the town was unique among other towns in Cavite. For the first time, a town was established not through a petition from the local populace and its officials, as was customary and legally required, but instead through the initiative of high-ranking church officials and the Cavite politico-military governor.
In the month of February 1899, the Philippine–American War began. General Henry Ware Lawton's brigade operated south of Manila including the province of Cavite in the middle of June 1899. The Americans could not land directly at Bacoor because Zapote river was defended by the Filipino revolutionists who built trenches as tactical defenses forming three sides of an angle which made the Filipinos hardly visible. The American's 14th Infantry Battalion swam across the during the Battle of Zapote River and under the cover of military artillery, charged against the Filipinos who then retreated to the woods.
In 1917, under Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison, Perez-Dasmariñas was again declared a separate municipality. The provincial governor of Cavite, Antero S. Soriano, convened the local leaders, including Placido Campos, Francisco Barzaga, and Felipe Tirona. Together, they agreed to remove the word "Perez" and retain only "Dasmariñas" as the new name of the town. For the second time, Placido Campos was appointed mayor.
Meanwhile, after surviving in the Bataan Death March and released from Camp O'Donnell concentration camp in Capas, Tarlac, General Mariano Castañeda returned to Cavite and helped organized the resistance movement in Dasmariñas headed by Colonel Estanislao Mangubat-Carungcong of the 4th Infantry Regiment of Camp Neneng Dasmariñas and Colonel Emiliano de la Cruz of the 14th Infantry Regiment of Camp Paliparan. This unit provided guerilla warfare and was prepared to attack, sabotage missions, cut off enemy communications and logistics, perform recoinnaissance missions, provide protection to civilians against aggression by the Imperial Japanese Army, provide evacuation plans for them, and intensify intelligence reports to the U.S. 11th Airborne Division headed by General Joseph Swing and 187th Glider Infantry Regiment under Colonel Harry B. Hildebrand .
The Dasmariñas Bagong Bayan (DBB), also known as Dasmariñas Resettlement Area, was established in 1975 by Letter of Instruction No. 19 issued by the then President Ferdinand Marcos.
From 1983 onwards Dasmariñas had an economic boom. Different factories and establishments sprouted in the town which gave way for the growth in population. From a sixth-class municipality, the town became a first-class municipality. was filed by Congressman Renato P. Dragon with other cityhood bills of Imus (HB 08960) and Bacoor (HB 08959). It was filed last February 11, 1997, and read last February 13, 1997. Committee Report N0. 01361 was submitted on December 17, 1997. It was approved on the third reading by the House last January 10, 1998. It did not push through as a Republic Act and no plebiscite happened.
The second attempt was in 2000, when HB099883 was filed by Congressman Erineo Maliksi last March 13, 2000. It was first read last March 13, 2000. It was approved on the Second and Third reading of House last March 15, 2000, and March 27, 2000. It was transmitted to the senate on March 28, 2000, and received on March 31, 2000. It did not push through as a Republic Act and no plebiscite happened.
The idea of converting Dasmariñas into a component city was again proposed for the third time after failure in 1997 and 2000. House Bill no. 5258 converting the municipality of Dasmariñas into a component city was filed by Cavite 2nd District Congressman Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr. on October 3, 2008. It was later signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Republic Act No. 9723 on October 15, 2009.
COMELEC Resolution No. 8682 in connection with the November 25, 2009, plebiscite to ratify the conversion of the municipality of Dasmariñas province of Cavite into a component city pursuant to Republic Act 9723 dated October 15, 2009.
Republic Act No. 9723 was ratified by the registered voters of Dasmariñas through a plebiscite conducted last November 25, 2009, converted the municipality of Dasmariñas in the province of Cavite into a component city to be known as the City of Dasmariñas. There were about 44,000 voters who cast the plebiscite ballot in the town's 1,508 polling precincts. The yes votes won overwhelmingly. The yes votes got 36,559 while the no votes got 8,141.
Mayor Jennifer Austria-Barzaga, elected in 2007, is both the first female mayor and first city mayor of Dasmariñas since its achieving city status.
In 2011, the Paro-Paro Festival was first celebrated. It is celebrated every November 26 to commemorate the incorporation of the city of Dasmariñas with people dancing and parading in the streets in butterfly costumes. In November 2013, the Paru-Paro Festival was cancelled as allocated funds would be donated to the Typhoon Yolanda victims.
As of the 2020 census, the city recorded a population of more than 700,000. The city serves as a catalyst for major economic development and sustained growth for the Greater Manila Area since the 1990s. The influx of industries, educational and health institutions, shopping malls, and real estate developments is significant.
Geography
thumb|270px|Poblacion
thumb|270px|Previous Dasmariñas map in 2005
Dasmariñas is about . It is bounded by Imus and Bacoor to the north, Silang to the south, Muntinlupa and Las Piñas in Metro Manila to the northeast, General Mariano Alvarez, San Pedro in Laguna to the east, and General Trias to the west.
The city center, or the poblacion, is on the westernmost part of the city, Sabang, San Jose, Salawag and Salitran are in the north, San Agustin, Langkaan, and Sampaloc are in the south, Paliparan is on the easternmost part, while Burol and Bagong Bayan are in the middle, sandwiched between the Poblacion and Paliparan.
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 . It is about the same distance from Laguna de Bay and 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.
Demographics
In the 2024 census, the population of Dasmariñas was 744,511 people, with a density of .
From the original 643 inhabitants of the old Perez-Dasmariñas, the population grew and so did the town. By 1888, there were already more than 4,576 people living in Perez Dasmariñas. Gradually, the economic life of the people improved. The inquilinos (lessees) of the hacienda rose to become the middle class. Dasmariñas, 8,664 hectares were all farmed in 1890 except for 3,770 hectares (including parcels at Gatdula and Balimbing). Lessees paid the usual land rent base on the measurement of lowland and upland riceland set up by the "uldog" (friar administrator) of casa hacienda de Salitran. In the 1880s, there were 200 quinones of dry and 50 quinones of wet ricelands yielding some 2,300 cavanas of palay, 5,000 piculs of mucavado sugar, 50 cavans of corn and camote, 60 piculs of tao and 25 piculs of peanuts.
Dasmariñas was a highly advanced town where not only textiles from Batangas and Bulacan looms, but also imported European cloth from Manila reached the town elites. Fish and other staple food however still came from nearby towns. Surprisingly until 1880, there was no public market in the town. There was a principal public dirt road in Perez-Dasmariñas that went to Silang which was passable to all kinds of vehicle only during dry season, but reachable only by foot and horseback during wet season. By 1870, mails from Manila were received at a central station in Cavite Puerto where it was sorted. Mails were brought via Kawit, then Imus then Dasmariñas.
Culturally, Perez-Dasmariñas was not too behind for by 1874 there were already two competing brass bands in the town. Don Valeriano Campos, an inquilino and a former gobernadorcillo of the town (1879 to 1881) organized one of the brass bands. He was popularly known as Capitang Vale. He was the highest taxpayer and owned a house made of cogon and wood on Calle Real with an appraised value of P300. His son Placido Campos learned his trade and also considered a man of means. Manuela Monzon, another well to do woman owned a house at the town's main street. The house made of nipa and wood was valued at P200 and was rented as a boys' school for P72.
Most affluent families from Metro Manila and nearby towns and provinces have chosen Dasmariñas to be their home due to its proximity to the National Capital Region. The mass exodus of people here in Dasmariñas is also brought about by the industrial boom which brought about more jobs. There are also a big number of foreign residents such as Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, Americans, Hindus, Britons and Eurasians. Because of this, Dasmariñas can be also considered as the "Melting Pot" of Cavite.
Religion
thumb|right|[[Immaculate Conception Parish Church of Dasmariñas]]
Christianity is the predominant faith, composed of Roman Catholics, Protestants, and other independent Christian groups.
The majority of the population 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.
Several Roman Catholic parishes in the city include the Immaculate Conception Parish in Poblacion, Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in DBB-A-3, and Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Salitran, among others.
Other prominent religious groups include Church of God World Missions, Philippines, and the local Church of God Dasmariñas, serve as the National Office of the Church of God based in Cleveland, Tennessee. Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry (Dasma Outstation, Iglesia ni Cristo, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Day by Day Christian Ministries, Jesus Is Lord Church (JIL), Evangelica Unida De Cristo, Victory Christian Fellowship, United Pentecostal Church (Phils), Inc., World Mission Church, The United Methodist Church, Herald of Grace Covenant Bible Church of Cavite, Presbyterian Churches, Baptist and Bible Fundamental churches, Seventh Day Adventist Churches, Members Church of God International known as Ang Dating Daan, The Lord's Hand Family Apostolic Church, and The Jesus People (TJP), also known as Jesusites.
A considerable percentage of the population is also composed of Muslims. This city has the largest number of Balik Islam 'reverts to Islam' community in the Philippines.
Religious tolerance exists among members of different sects.
Languages
The city has a majority of English and Tagalog 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 considerably minor number of speakers of Bicolano, Ilocano, Ilonggo, Cebuano, Pangasinan, Kapampangan and Chavacano.
Cityscape
thumb|The map of the whole City of Dasmariñas, including barangay borders.
thumb|A barangay map showing the barangays of Dasmariñas City
Barangays
<!--SUGGESTION: This should be just a mere list of barangays. Wikipedia should not accept entries unofficially recognized by Dasmariñas LGU.-->
The City of Dasmariñas is divided into 11 unofficial administrative districts and further subdivided into 75 barangays. Each barangay is composed of puroks, and some also include sitios.
Poblacion
thumb|[[Poblacion]]
The Poblacion serves as the city center and is home to the long-standing residents of Dasmariñas. Located within the town plaza are the renovated church of the Parish of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Dasmariñas Library, Dasmariñas Elementary School, and the Immaculate Conception Academy-Science High School. The municipio, or town hall, is situated a few meters from the plaza. Also near the Poblacion are the De La Salle University-Health Sciences Campus and the DLSU Medical Center, the first ISO-certified hospital in the Philippines.
Divided into four zones, the city center is primarily a residential area scattered with various business establishments. The plaza serves as a center for celebrations, shows, and public gatherings. Every December 8, the Poblacion celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, an event marked by colorful banners, marching bands, and firework displays that attract visitors from across the province of Cavite. Due to the frequency of its cultural shows and weekly festivities, the city is often referred to as "The Liveliest City in Cavite."
Langkaan
This area is located on the south-western part of Dasmariñas. The name "Langkaan" came from the word "langka" meaning jackfruit; which is believed to be planted in many parts of this barangay in 1900, the year it was founded. Barangay Langkaan was a part of a vast hacienda during the Spanich period and there are numerous water systems for rice fields that can be found here. The San Agustin Dam was constructed in 1855. On the last part of the 19th century, the Spaniards erected an indigo plantation here. The stone-made grinder of indigo still exists and it is the mark of the Spanish influence on the area. The Spaniards are the first who planted sugar cane, which became the primary source of income during the 18th century. During that time, tarapiche and carabaos are used to make panucha and paldo. Don Placido Campos and Andres Medina owned these tarapiche. When the Americans arrived, this area attracted residents from the Poblacion. The Quillao, Bautista, Sarabusab, Reyes, Remulla, Sango, Laudato, Empeño, Satsatin, Medina, de Lima and other families moved here during those times. During the Second World War, the Japanese had a big plantation of cotton trees in Langkaan. Dasmarineños were forced to work here. A Japanese concentration camp was also established in this area.
Langkaan is considered to be the backbone of the economic progress of Dasmariñas City. There are numerous factories here, such as Monterey Cavite Meat Plant, First Cityland Heavy Industrial Center and the First Cavite Industrial Estate. There are also other business establishments here like commercial banks and fast food chains that serve the workers living in Dasmariñas and other towns of Cavite as well.
According to the 2006 Commission on Audit report the City of Dasmariñas is the wealthiest local government unit in the province of Cavite. In addition to that, Dasmariñas was the only municipality in the Philippines that had both SM and Robinsons malls prior to its conversion into a city.
Commerce
thumb|right|Dasmariñas Public market
Commerce and trade transactions are intensively undertaken in the identified commercial areas along Don Placido Campos Avenue, Camerino Avenue, Governor's Drive Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Carlos Trinidad Avenue, Salawag-Paliparan Road, Gov.Mangubat Avenue, Congressional Avenue, Congressional Road, Fatima Road, Amuntay Road, Langkaan Road and other areas particularly in Barangay Paliparan and in Dasmariñas Bagong Bayan.
Commercial establishments are lined along major thoroughfares. A strip pattern of commercial growth are evident at other Barangays in Dasmariñas City.
Preferred locators are those involved in non-pollutive small and medium-scale industries. Presently, 48 companies have located their businesses in First Cavite Industrial Estate. Some notable projects here include a central business district, and a new University of the Philippines campus which will focus on technopreneurship. In 2023, Villar Avenue opened, serving as the spine road of the development and connecting De La Salle University - Dasmarinas in the west and Alabang in the northeast.
Meanwhile, Ayala Land established Vermosa, a 770-hectare township straddling the cities of Imus and Dasmariñas in 2015. The first residential project named The Courtyards is located in the city.
Other townships in development include the 37-hectare Idesia City by PA Properties located in San Agustin 1 and the 12-hectare Praverde by Vista Land located in Paliparan 1.
Highrises are also beginning to dot the city. At the moment there are three high-rise developments in Dasma, namely: The One Dasmariñas Place and SMDC Green 2 Residences in Gov. Mangubat Avenue; and Elijah Hotel and Residences in Salawag.
Other soon to rise developments are the Green 3 Residences Dasmariñas in Brgy San Agustin 3 and Washington Heights in Brgy Sampaloc 2, both along Aguinaldo Highway. Also Praverde Residences Brgy Paliparan 1 along Governor's Drive, Novus Prime Residences in Villar City Brgy Salawag and Newtowne Residences Dasmariñas in Anabu Road Brgy Burol Main.
Leisure
The Orchard Golf and Country Club in Jose Abad Santos Avenue located in Barangay Salawag.
Government
Local Government
Dasmariñas has been a municipality and later a component city with a mayor-council form of government since its establishment in 1866.
The mayor is the chief executive of the city. He is elected to serve a three-year term, with a maximum of three terms. The incumbent city mayor is Jennifer Barzaga, who succeeded her husband, now congressman, Elpidio Barzaga Jr. She previously held this post from 2007 until 2016, she served as the member of the House of Representatives for 4th District from 2016 until 2019.
The vice mayor is the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Dasmariñas (English: City Council of Dasmariñas). He is also the chief executive of the city whenever the mayor is out of the city. He is elected to serve a three-year term, with a maximum of three terms. The incumbent vice mayor is Rex Mangubat, incumbent since 2016.
The Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Dasmariñas (English: City Council of Dasmariñas) is composed of 12 members with 2 ex officio members which are the Association of Liga ng mga Barangay ng Dasmariñas (English: League of Barangays of Dasmariñas) President and the Sangguniang Kabataan (English: Youth Council) Federation President. There are 20 committees in the city each headed by a chairman who is a city councilor. They are elected to serve a three-year term, with a maximum of three terms.
Elected Officials
The city officials from June 30, 2019, to June 30, 2022. They were elected last May 13, 2019, during the 2019 Philippine national and local elections, which since 2007, all candidates from the Barzaga's group (Team Dasma) sweep the Municipal/City council.
|Jennifer Barzaga
|-
| City Vice Mayor of the City of Dasmariñas
|-
| President of the Youth Council Federation<br />- Dasmariñas Chapter
| Justine Mae V. Quillao
|}
Municipal Presidents and Mayors
Except for lack of dates of the terms of the gobernadorcillos (also popularly referred to as captain) during the Spanish regime, the list of town heads of Dasmariñas is complete from its founding to the present.
Gobernadorcillos (1868–1895)
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Barangay !! District !! Barangay Captain !! Population (2020) !! Area (km<sup>2</sup>) !! Density (/km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
| Burol Main || Burol || John Derrick P. Mercado || 11,902 || ||
|-
| Burol I || Burol || Renilo M. Teves || 17,287 || ||
|-
| Burol II || Burol || Edwin C. Unlayao || 6,025 || ||
|-
| Burol III || Burol || Alma M. Lapno || 10,921 || ||
|-
| Datu Esmael (Bago-A-Ingud) || DBB-H || Pundarola M. Pagandag || 7,969 || ||
|-
| Emmanuel Bergado I || DBB-E || Alexander J. Ablang Jr. || 8,002 || ||
|-
| Emmanuel Bergado II || DBB-E || Eduardo R. Abejonar || 2,796 || ||
|-
| Fatima I || DBB-F || Garry N. Esteban || 6,782 || ||
|-
| Fatima II || DBB-F || Jamil B. Ibardolaza || 4,305 || ||
|-
| Fatima III || DBB-F || Ramir M. Dela Cruz || 3,684 || ||
|-
| Barangay H-2 (Santa Veronica) || DBB-H || John Renan I. Mendoza || 12,000 || ||
|-
| Langkaan I (Humayao)|| Langkaan || Rommel Z. Sarabusab || 26,939 || ||
|-
| Langkaan II || Langkaan || Fernando T. Laudato || 33,651 || ||
|-
| Luzviminda I || DBB-D || Jeffrey D. Galit || 3,565 || ||
|-
| Luzviminda II || DBB-D || Julius M. Pacia || 4,868 || ||
|-
| Paliparan I || Paliparan || Ryan A. Sarimos || 10,125 || ||
|-
| Paliparan II || Paliparan || Rolando C. Ambal || 20,804 || ||
|-
| Paliparan III || Paliparan || Chrisanto C. Maya || 72,945 || ||
|-
| Sabang || Sabang || Kenneth S. Saria || 17,329 || ||
|-
| Salawag || Salawag || Enrico S. Paredes || 78,778 || ||
|-
| Saint Peter I || DBB-A-3 || Cesario R. Hernandez Jr. || 2,287 || ||
|-
| Saint Peter II || DBB-A-3 || Crisanto N. Ratin || 2,471 || ||
|-
| Salitran I || Salitran || Jennifer A. Potente || 5,158 || ||
|-
| Salitran II || Salitran || Marvin T. Alindog || 12,337 || ||
|-
| Salitran III || Salitran || Raul A. Ballos || 15,396 || ||
|-
| Salitran IV || Salitran || Prudencio R. España || 11,819 || ||
|-
| Sampaloc I (Pala-Pala)|| Sampaloc || Melencio Licot Jr. "Badong" || 7,662 || ||
|-
| Sampaloc II (Bucal/Malinta) || Sampaloc || Virginia S. Campano || 18,225 || ||
|-
| Sampaloc III (Piela) || Sampaloc || Gregorio A. Upo || 13,807 || ||
|-
| Sampaloc IV (Talisayan/Bautista) || Sampaloc || Armando M. Movido || 41,678 || ||
|-
| Sampaloc V (New Era) || Sampaloc || Jose V. Padre || 3,252 || ||
|-
| San Agustin I || San Agustin || Darwin P. Torres || 11,971 || ||
|-
| San Agustin II (R. Tirona) || San Agustin || Fernando H. Narvaez || 11,692 || ||
|-
| San Agustin III || San Agustin || Jaime B. Hembrador || 10,178 || ||
|-
| San Andres I || DBB-C || Melchor T. Moya || 4,259 || ||
|-
| San Andres II || DBB-C || Virgilio N. Galura || 3,405 || ||
|-
| San Antonio De Padua I || DBB-J || Carter P. Manzano || 3,407 || ||
|-
| San Antonio De Padua II || DBB-J || Fernando D.C. Muli || 3,062 || ||
|-
| San Dionisio || DBB-A-1 || Mercy L. Zablan || 6,741 || ||
|-
| San Esteban || DBB-A-1 || Noel Y. Dela Cruz || 4,583 || ||
|-
| San Francisco I || DBB-I || Virgilio D. Delfin || 3,099 || ||
|-
| San Francisco II || DBB-I || Arnulfo M. Fatalla || 3,363 || ||
|-
| San Isidro Labrador I || DBB-G || Robert R. Rillo || 4,834 || ||
|-
| San Isidro Labrador II || DBB-G || Roderick C. Olaes || 2,463 || ||
|-
| San Jose || San Jose || Jeffrey N. Frani || 11,925 || ||
|-
| San Juan || DBB-A-2 || Atanacio G. Cantimbuhan Jr. || 3,667 || ||
|-
| San Lorenzo Ruiz I || DBB-E || Roldan M. Viajedor || 3,311 || ||
|-
| San Lorenzo Ruiz II || DBB-E || Morlito S. Asebias || 4,275 || ||
|-
| San Luis I || DBB-E || Henry P. Omillo || 3,963 || ||
|-
| San Luis II || DBB-E || Mildred F. Patalbo || 4,336 || ||
|-
| San Manuel I || DBB-A-3 || Rommel R. Ros || 2,822 || ||
|-
| San Manuel II || DBB-A-3 || Jeffrey Z. Espineli || 2,581 || ||
|-
| San Mateo || DBB-D || Isaias C. Villanueva || 4,950 || ||
|-
| San Miguel I || DBB-A-3 || Virgilio H. Ortega || 4,118 || ||
|-
| San Miguel II || DBB-A-3 || Marvin M. Benis || 2,272 || ||
|-
| San Nicolas I || DBB-D || Rolando A. Villalobos || 2,071 || ||
|-
| San Nicolas II || DBB-D || Leonardo T. Cabillo || 4,576 || ||
|-
| San Roque || DBB-C || Miguel V. Pamatian || 2,855 || ||
|-
| San Simon || DBB-C || Rodolfo Q. Berlon || 6,242 || ||
|-
| Santa Cristina I || DBB-C || Prudencio E. Bacomo Jr. || 3,307 || ||
|-
| Santa Cristina II || DBB-C || Marlon C. Grande || 3,505 || ||
|-
| Santa Cruz I || DBB-E || Kirby A. Andrada || 5,112 || ||
|-
| Santa Cruz II || DBB-E || Cita A. Baron || 2,138 || ||
|-
| Santa Fe || DBB-I || Emanuel B. Noora || 6,314 || ||
|-
| Santa Lucia || DBB-A-2 || Francisco S. Cornejo Jr. || 5,534 || ||
|-
| Santa Maria || DBB-J || Arden Keith M. Castillo || 5,068 || ||
|-
| Santo Cristo || DBB-A-1 || Lolita V. Federio || 4,551 || ||
|-
| Santo Niño I || DBB-A-1 || Alvin C. Gimpes || 2,859 || ||
|-
| Santo Niño II || DBB-A-1 || Rolando V. Salem Jr. || 2,737 || ||
|-
| Victoria Reyes || DBB-C || Leonila C. Bucao || 13,838 || ||
|-
| Zone I-B || Poblacion || Marlo O. Dupal-Ag || 4,219 || ||
|-
| Zone I || Poblacion || Edgardo G. De Guzman || 5,595 || ||
|-
| Zone II || Poblacion || Augusto L. Frani Sr. || 1,677 || ||
|-
| Zone III || Poblacion || Adrian P. Salasbar || 3,821 || ||
|-
| Zone IV || Poblacion || Alexander P. Geneveo || 3,770 || ||
|-
| colspan=3 | Total population (2020) || 703,141 || ||
|}
Congressional representation
The legislative district of Dasmariñas is the representation of the city in the House of Representatives of the Philippines. The district corresponds to the 4th legislative district of Cavite, which was created on October 22, 2009 just right before the ratification of the Charter of the City of Dasmariñas on November 25, 2009. Prior to being entitled its own representation, the municipality of Dasmariñas was represented in Congress as part of the lone district of Cavite from 1907 to 1972, and as part of Region IV-A in the Interim Batasang Pambansa from 1978 to 1984. From 1984 to 1986, it was represented at the Batasang Pambansa as part of the at-large district of Cavite, and was part of the second district of Cavite in the restored House of Representatives from 1987 to 2010.
The congressman of the legislative district of Dasmariñas is the representative of the city in the lower house of the Philippine Congress. It is elected to serve a three-year term, with a maximum of three terms. It is currently represented in the 20th Congress by Kiko Barzaga.
Provincial Board Representation
Despite having its own representation in the congress, it is still an ordinary component city, meaning its citizens still elect provincial officials. The city has two representatives to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Cavite (English: Provincial Board of Cavite). The board members are elected to serve a three-year term, with a maximum of three terms.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Position
! Name
|-
| rowspan=2| Representatives to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Cavite 2022–2024
| Nickol Austria
|-
| Fulgencio Dela Cuesta Jr.
|}
City Seal
The seal was the winner of the City Logo making competition sponsored by the City Government. The competition started from February 26, 2010, until March 26 of the same year.
Ryan Suarez, an alumnus of University of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts and Design created the city seal. The winning seal underwent minor revisions and for the celebration of the 1st Cityhood Anniversary and the 143rd Feast of the Immaculate Conception, from November 25 – December 8, the new city logo was unveiled on November 26, 2010, in the City Quadrangle.
- The buildings, houses and the gear originate from the old seal which now represents the growing community and work force. The church symbolizes the historic Immaculate Conception Church in the Poblacion since it was the site of Battle of Perez-Dasmariñas during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. The sun is from the Philippine flag where each rays represents the provinces including Cavite with significant involvement in the 1896 Revolution. The people represents the family and the people of Dasmariñas.
- The two rice stalks and the farmer represents agriculture that reminds us that the city was once a farming community before evolving into an urbanized city. The globe symbolizes the city's global competitiveness while the green leaf represents the city's environmental advocacy.
Housing and Services
The Province of Cavite delivers affordable housing with basic services, facilities, livelihood opportunities through responsive housing, and resettlement programs.
Culture
Tourism
The presence of Aguinaldo Highway and Governor's Drive makes the city a driving stop for tourists 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 number of hotels and resorts catering to tourists.
Every Christmas season (known as ber months), the center islands located within the National and Secondary Highways of the city, especially in Governor Dominador Mangubat Avenue (formerly known as congressional road) are decorated with numerous Christmas theme ornaments such as parols (mostly are theme in a butterfly designs).
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 Daño Street offers a great view of the city's fields and formerly was the site of the tiangge or a bazaar during the Christmas season.
The Promenade Des Dasmariñas is an urban garden park located along the tributaries of Imus River. and is part of the river rehabilitation and beautification project of the city. It was inaugurated on March 25, 2019.
Events
Dasmariñas has numerous festivals and events held throughout the year, from barangay religious feasts to a citywide festival.
- Gawad Karangalan – last project held on September 23, 2022 (date varies)
- Dasmariñas Day – Celebrate every October 5
- Paruparo Festival – Celebrate every November 26
- Immaculate Conception Feast Day - Celebrate every December 8
- Binibining Dasmariñas - Held Every December 8
Sports
The construction of the City of Dasmariñas Arena is almost finished that can accommodate 5000 seating capacity in Barangay Burol Main, Dasmariñas City Province of Cavite as seen on Friday (March 26, 2021). The City of Dasmariñas Arena recently hosts national events like games of the AsiaBasket last November 3–12, 2024 & Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) semi finals last May 22, 2024, soon it can also host prestigious beauty pageants like Binibining Pilipinas, and events that require a big seating capacity like concert events.
And also the city has an outdoor arena called The New City of Dasmariñas Football Field and Track Oval with Grandstand that can host a big event like "Palarong Pambansa". And a Boxing Gym.
There are 106 covered courts in 75 barangays and 10 in public schools in the city.
There are also free sports clinics in the city, such as chess, baseball, and taekwondo.
The first Inter–Barangay Sports Tournament was held in 1999 where only two events were played Basketball and Volleyball. Since then it became a regular feature in the annual program of the local government of Dasmariñas.
The City Employees' Sportsfest caters to the employees of the City Government of Dasmariñas. It started in 2005 and since then, it has become a very much awaited event. Department Heads and rank and file employees compete in a friendly competition where talent, skills and perseverance are displayed in a manner comparable to a high level tournament.
Education
thumb|right|[[De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute]]
thumb|right|[[Immaculate Conception Academy]]
Five universities are located in the city, the highest among the cities and municipalities in Cavite. This earned Dasmariñas the nickname The University City of Cavite. The number of higher education institutions in the city allows it to serve the tertiary education needs of its population as well as those of the neighboring towns and provinces.
The largest of these is the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas which offers degrees in the liberal arts, business, science, engineering and criminology. Meanwhile, the similarly named but administratively independent college De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute offers degrees in health sciences and operates the DLSU Medical Center, a tertiary-level hospital and the first ISO-Certified Hospital in the Philippines.
Other universities are Philippine Christian University Dasmariñas, TUP Cavite, National University Dasmariñas, and a campus of the Cavite State University Learning Center.
Several colleges also operate in the city. Some of these are the Emilio Aguinaldo College Cavite Campus, St. Paul College Island Park, St. Jude College Dasmariñas, National College of Science and Technology, Asian Institute of Science and Technology, STI College, and many others.
Some institutions offer degrees in maritime studies namely Magsaysay Maritime Academy, PNTC College and Southern Luzon College of Business Maritime and Science and technology Inc.
A public college funded by the local government, named Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Dasmariñas, was established in 2021 at Burol Main. The college began to hold classes in 2021, offering undergraduate degrees in nursing, civil engineering, midwifery, psychology, life sciences, and information systems.
UP Technology Innovation campus
In June 2024, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the University of the Philippines and Vista Land and Lifescapes, Incorporated for the establishment of the 5 hectares UP Technology Innovation campus at Vista City's University Town in Dasmariñas. Through a deed of donation, Vista Land will, at its own expense, develop and construct the campus' buildings and facilities. The campus' six-story building has 22,932 square meters floor area. UP president Angelo Jimenez led the groundbreaking in September.
Media
The city also has its own newspaper, Usaping Bayan, the official newspaper of Dasmariñas.
Radio and television channels from Metro Manila are received clearly in the city. DASCA Cable Services provides cable television services to the city. Dasmariñas TV Channel 3, (Digital cable) where upcoming events, projects, announcements, finished projects, etc. are reached out to the Dasmariñas residents, is the city's official television station and is available thru subscription to DASCA Cable Services.
Meanwhile, major city roads such as Paliparan Road and Salitran Road serve the suburbanized areas in the east and north. The city also maintains other thoroughfares, like Carlos Trinidad Avenue, Don Placido Campos Avenue, Congressional Avenue and several others that serves the other barangays.
In the late 2010s, new roads in the city were built. These include UTS Boulevard, diverting traffic away from the Pala-pala intersection; and Congressional Avenue Extension in Dasmariñas Bagong Bayan area connecting it to the Governor's Drive in Paliparan 1. Still under construction are Dasmarinas-General Trias Bypass Road and the Dasmariñas-GMA-Carmona Road.
The Cavite-Laguna Expressway is also under construction. While it will not have exits in the city, the Silang and Governor's Drive exits of the expressway will have catchment areas including the southern and western portions of the city, respectively.
Public Transport
Jeepneys can be found around the city, like other cities and town in the Philippines. Jeepney terminals are located in SM City Dasmariñas and Robinsons Place Dasmariñas, both in the Central Business District. It has fixed routes, and ply major roads of the city.
In the smaller streets, tricycles are more common. Tricycle terminals are scattered throughout the city, such as intersections of small streets and at the entrances of gated residential villages.
The city is also served by buses. These can take passengers from the city to Metro Manila, Batangas, Laguna, and other surrounding provinces, cities and towns. Other public transit options include UV Express, multicabs and a limited fleet of privately operated taxi cabs.
The nearest operating railway station is the Alabang PNR Station. It is about 23 kilometers minutes away via Daang Hari Boulevard.
Future projects
A future railway line called LRT Line 6 has been in the planning stages since 2015. It is envisioned to have 6 stops, three of which are to be located in the city: Salitran, Congressional Road and Governor's Drive. The line is planned to connect to the under-construction Niog station.
Healthcare
{| class="wikitable"
|+LICENSED GOVERNMENT and PRIVATE HOSPITALS
!Facility
!Ownership Major Classification
!Location
|-
|Dasmariñas City Medical Center, Inc.
|Private
|Salawag
|-
|Pagamutan ng Dasmariñas
|Government
|Burol 2 Bagong Bayan
|-
|Asia Medic Family Hospital And Medical Center
|Private
|Pala-Pala Sampaloc 1
|-
|Emilio Aguinaldo College Medical Center
|Private
|Salitran 2
|-
|De La Salle University Medical Center
|Private
|Zone 4 Poblacion
|-
|St. Paul Hospital Cavite, Inc.
|Private
|Burol 2 Bagong Bayan
|-
|GMF Hospital
|Private
|Zone 4 Poblacion
|-
|Medcor Dasmariñas Hospital and Medical Center
|Private
|Malinta Sampaloc 2
|}
There are 8 major hospitals in Dasmariñas. The De la Salle University Medical Center is a 300-bed tertiary-level hospital affiliated with the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute. Established in 1980, it is the largest hospital in Cavite Province. On the other hand, the public-funded Pagamutan ng Dasmariñas (English: Dasmariñas Hospital) opened in 2016, aimed to serve indigent patients of the city. Another on-going construction is the Dasmariñas Doctors Hospital located in San Agustin 2.
The MV Santiago Medical Center is located inside the First Cavite Industrial Estate (FCIE). The FCIE is a 159.5 - hectare industrial subdivision built to service all basic needs of any manufacturing concern of the light-to-medium scale industry.
The city government also offers health services via its four city ( And the fifth C.H.O is under construction) health offices located around its jurisdiction and established a barangay health centers in all of its 75 barangays. Animal bite centers, drug testing centers, a social hygiene clinic, medical & maternity clinic and a new dialysis center are also available.
Notable personalities
<!--NOTE: Only add people with existing Wikipedia articles as per Wikipedia:Notability policy. If you are a resident of Dasmariñas, do NOT add yourself here.-->
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- Wilfredo Alicdan (b. 1965), figurative artist and painter
- Jennifer Barzaga (b. 1975), current city mayor, former member of the Philippine House of Representatives
- Kiko Barzaga (b. 1998), Filipino politician, activist and animal welfare advocate
- Elpidio Barzaga Jr. (1950–2024), former member of the Philippine House of Representatives, former city mayor, (deceased)
- Jose C. Campos (1923–2005), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from 1992 to 1993
- Paulo Campos (1921–2007), physician, educator, National Scientist of the Philippines
- Seth Fedelin (b. 2002), actor, model, singer, dancer
- Malupiton (b. 1998), social media personality and entertainer
- Dominador I. Mangubat (1903–1980), physician, former Governor of Cavite
- Nardong Putik (1925–1971), Leonardo M. Manicio a Caviteno folk hero wielding an amulet
- Arny Ross (b. 1991), actress, comedian, model, dancer
- Bella Santiago (b. 1989), singer
- Miguel Tanfelix (b. 1998), actor, dancer, host
- Migs Bustos (b. 1988), Television newscaster, Radio host
- Neil Coleta (b. 1991), Actor, Model
Notes
References
External links
- Official Website of the City of Dasmariñas, Cavite
- Official Website of the Provincial Government of Cavite
- [http://collections.pvao.mil.ph/Guerilla/GuerillaInformationDownload/GUA-0001034]
- [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
- Philippine Census Information