On November 13, 1936, President Manuel L. Quezon declared it a regular municipality, therefore becoming the oldest town in Davao de Oro province.

From then up to the present, the elected mayors were: Graciano Arafol (1952-1959), Diosdado Basanez (1960-1963), Celso Sarenas (1964-) with Juan Caballero, Jr. as OIC (1986-1987), Jovito Derla (1988-1992), Juan Caballero, Jr. (1992-1995), Jovita Derla (1995-2004), Tok Sarenas (2004-2013), Roberto Yugo (2013–2022) and Leonel Ceniza (2022-Present).

In the 2020 census, the population of Pantukan, Davao de Oro, was 90,786 people,[3] with a density of 170 inhabitants per square kilometre or 440 inhabitants per square mile.

Poverty Incidence of Pantukan Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] The municipality is primarily dependent on mining but agriculture thrives in communities within its boundary.

Nationwide Development Corporation (Nadecor) holds the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) for the Kingking mine site.