Davao City is a highly urbanized city in the Davao Region of the Philippines. It is the largest city in terms of land area and population in the province of Davao del Sur, where it is geographically situated and grouped under the province. However, Davao City is not a province itself. Prior to Philippine independence in 1946, the entire Davao Region was a single province called Davao Province, with Davao City serving as its capital. After the division, Davao City was officially named the regional center of the Davao Region. The Davao Region consists of four provinces (Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental) and one highly urbanized city, which is Davao City.