Dao, officially the Municipality of Dao (Capiznon/Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Dao; ), is a municipality in the province of Capiz, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.
The name Dao came from a tall tree that grew in large numbers near the river. Local accounts say early leaders Isada and Paro chose the site after finding a large dao tree by the water.
Dao is one of the earliest communities in Capiz. Older writings call it Divingdin and Mandruga, once a visita linked to the parish in Panay, the first place on the island reached by Spanish missionaries.
When Dumalag became a town in 1596, Dao was placed under it as a barrio. It became independent again on February 29, 1836 through a decree of Governor General Pedro A. Salazar and was placed under the patronage of Santo Tomas de Villanueva.
It was incorporated as a municipality following the founding of the Capiz Province in 1901. It was invaded by the Japanese 41st Infantry Regiment as part of their Panay operation on 16 April 1942. In 1957, the barrio of Nasuli-B was renamed to Santo Tomas.
The community developed through its rich soil, steady river systems and a climate that supported farming throughout the year.
Dao is from Roxas City.
Dao is politically subdivided into 20 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
In the 2024 census, the population of Dao was 34,555 people, with a density of .
Dao has sites that are well known among natives and are tourist spots alike. These include:
The people of Dao celebrate festivals, sometimes along with other regions of the province, in events like:
The Dao Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.