The 1990s have been significant years not only for Tagum, but for the entire Philippine Government bureaucracy.
There was a radical change in the system of government through the passage of Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.
By virtue of the said Republic Act, decentralization had taken off.
The former centralized form of government became decentralized through devolution.
As an effect, local government units (LGUs) were given additional functions, powers, authorities and responsibilities.

Although, the decentralization policy of state was very relevant and vital for local and national development, however, there were also problems and issues that were encountered along the process of its implementation.
For Tagum, financial and organizational problems were felt by the local officialdom.
This was because the former municipality has broader areas of services with only limited financial and manpower resources.
But this situation had been gradually resolved through various revenue raising strategies and grants/aids from the national and foreign funding institutions.

One of the significant accomplishments of the officialdom of Tagum during the 1990s was its elevation from a second to first class municipality.
This opened a gateway to increase its financial resources through the Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) from the national government and local revenues.

This was under the leadership of Hon Victorio R. Suaybaguio, Jr. who sat as mayor Tagum for three (3) consecutive terms (1988–1998).As a matter of fact, during the 1995 election, all incumbent elected officials of Tagum, from Mayor down to the municipal councilors, were unopposed, making a significant event in the political history of Tagum.

The fast urbanization of Tagum from the late '80s to 1990 which was attributed to the mushrooming of business establishments and other commercial activities, increasing population and services and other factors, has caused various problems and needs, like roads, drainage, the increasing numbers of squatters, upscaling trend of traffic congestion in major streets, garbage and sanitation, land use and others.
Confronted by this situation, the local government of Tagum engaged into the revision of its Municipal Comprehensive Development Plan (MCDP).
This was spearheaded by the Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) with the assistance from the University of the Philippines College of Architecture Foundation, Inc. (UP ARKI), Manila and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLRB), Region XI.

The MCDP was approved in December 1993.
And during that year, Tagum was the second municipality in Region XI which had an approved Municipal Comprehensive Development Plan.

Tagum had increased the number of its barangays when the division of Barangay Poblacion which is an urbanized barangay of Tagum occurred in 1995.
This resulted to the creation of four new barangays, namely, Barangay Magugpo North, Barangay Magugpo South, Barangay Magugpo East and Barangay Magugpo West.

Another important event happened particularly in 1997 was the transfer of public market to the new P60 Million public market which is more than a kilometer away from the old market.
The new market was constructed in a seven (7) hectare donated land by the Pereyras family.
The said area is also the site of the new Tagum Overland Transport Integrated Terminal (TOTIT) worth P 60 Million and the Livestock Auction Center worth P 2.5 Million.

Foremost of the development of Tagum in the 1990s was its conversion into a Component City of Davao del Norte.
Congressman Baltazar Sator sponsored House Bill No.7509 in the House of Congress.
Prior to its approval, a public hearing was conducted in Tagum by the Committee on Local Government of the House of Congress, chaired by Congressman Ciriaco Alfelor.
The said law passed all the requisites in the House of Congress, resulting to its approval.

Then, Republic Act 8472 “An Act converting the Municipality of Tagum into a City, to be known as the City of Tagum” was passed to the House of Senate throu
The 1990s have been significant years not only for Tagum, but for the entire Philippine Government bureaucracy. There was a radical change in the system of government through the passage of Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. By virtue of the said Republic Act, decentralization had taken off. The former centralized form of government became decentralized through devolution. As an effect, local government units (LGUs) were given additional functions, powers, authorities and responsibilities.
Although, the decentralization policy of state was very relevant and vital for local and national development, however, there were also problems and issues that were encountered along the process of its implementation. For Tagum, financial and organizational problems were felt by the local officialdom. This was because the former municipality has broader areas of services with only limited financial and manpower resources. But this situation had been gradually resolved through various revenue raising strategies and grants/aids from the national and foreign funding institutions.
One of the significant accomplishments of the officialdom of Tagum during the 1990s was its elevation from a second to first class municipality. This opened a gateway to increase its financial resources through the Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) from the national government and local revenues.
This was under the leadership of Hon Victorio R. Suaybaguio, Jr. who sat as mayor Tagum for three (3) consecutive terms (1988–1998).As a matter of fact, during the 1995 election, all incumbent elected officials of Tagum, from Mayor down to the municipal councilors, were unopposed, making a significant event in the political history of Tagum.
The fast urbanization of Tagum from the late '80s to 1990 which was attributed to the mushrooming of business establishments and other commercial activities, increasing population and services and other factors, has caused various problems and needs, like roads, drainage, the increasing numbers of squatters, upscaling trend of traffic congestion in major streets, garbage and sanitation, land use and others. Confronted by this situation, the local government of Tagum engaged into the revision of its Municipal Comprehensive Development Plan (MCDP). This was spearheaded by the Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) with the assistance from the University of the Philippines College of Architecture Foundation, Inc. (UP ARKI), Manila and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLRB), Region XI.
The MCDP was approved in December 1993. And during that year, Tagum was the second municipality in Region XI which had an approved Municipal Comprehensive Development Plan.
Tagum had increased the number of its barangays when the division of Barangay Poblacion which is an urbanized barangay of Tagum occurred in 1995. This resulted to the creation of four new barangays, namely, Barangay Magugpo North, Barangay Magugpo South, Barangay Magugpo East and Barangay Magugpo West.
Another important event happened particularly in 1997 was the transfer of public market to the new P60 Million public market which is more than a kilometer away from the old market. The new market was constructed in a seven (7) hectare donated land by the Pereyras family. The said area is also the site of the new Tagum Overland Transport Integrated Terminal (TOTIT) worth P 60 Million and the Livestock Auction Center worth P 2.5 Million.
Foremost of the development of Tagum in the 1990s was its conversion into a Component City of Davao del Norte. Congressman Baltazar Sator sponsored House Bill No.7509 in the House of Congress. Prior to its approval, a public hearing was conducted in Tagum by the Committee on Local Government of the House of Congress, chaired by Congressman Ciriaco Alfelor. The said law passed all the requisites in the House of Congress, resulting to its approval.
Then, Republic Act 8472 “An Act converting the Municipality of Tagum into a City, to be known as the City of Tagum” was passed to the House of Senate throu
Tagum