Even before President Rodrigo R. Duterte was sworn into office last June, his hometown has long been cited as a model city, praised largely for its favorable peace and order situation, and regarded as the premier agricultural and trade center of Mindanao.
Indeed, the highly urbanized Davao City offers a number of unique products and attractions, including some of the country’s best-tasting fruits, as well as scenic tourist spots, historical sites and landmarks, and pristine beaches. Add to that the unique chance for a close encounter with the famed Philippine Eagle or with some of the fiercest crocodiles in Davao’s Crocodile Farm.
But what makes Davao stand out is the way it takes care of its people and its investors by providing a safe and secure atmosphere that is conducive for its residents to live in and for businesses to thrive.
To give you a clearer view of what to expect, see, and experience in Davao, Inquirer Property listed some of the city’s best attractions and festivals.
Heritage
Davao’s rich cultural heritage makes it a truly interesting place to visit. From the Davao Museum, the Mindanao Folk Arts Museum, Davaoeño Historical Society Museum, to the Philippine-Japan Museum, there’s always something new for visitors to see and learn in the city.
Add to that the Japanese historical sites that included the Japanese Tunnel, the 20th-century Japanese cemetery and the Furukawa Fiber Plant. Indeed, a visit to these sites alone would allow any tourist to have a taste of the past and relive the good old times.
Culinary treats
Talk about the bounty of the sea and the freshest catch and Davao will surely not disappoint. A haven for every foodie, Davao is famous for its grilled dishes and the kinilaw, which could be either tuna or mackerel in vinegar. Davao is similarly regarded for its sweet and tasty fruit selections that included durian, pomelo, marang and mangoosteen.
Destinations
Tourist destinations in the city include the Philippine Eagle Foundation and Nature Center, Mount Apo, the Davao Crocodile Park, Eden Nature Park, and the People’s Park in the city center, which is highly popular for its sculptures of indigenous people and a dancing fountain.
Meanwhile, Samal Island which is a part of Metro Davao, is popularly known as well for its scenic beaches. Outdoor activities can be enjoyed as well such as wild river rafting, river tubing, wakeboarding, and trekking to the peak of Mt. Apo.
Eagles, flowers
The Philippine eagle, the country’s national bird and considered the largest eagle in the world, is endemic to Davao while the orchid waling-waling is famous and cheaper in the city.
Festivals
Two major annual festivals are held in the city: the Araw ng Dabaw and the Kadayawan Festival. Also celebrated during the entire month of December is the so-called Pasko Fiesta sa Davao, which is an integration of festive and competitive Christmas activities showcasing colorful lightings and array of decorations in barangays, public parks, roads and buildings.
Also included in the month-long celebration is the series of competitive performances showcasing the community’s creativity and talents.
For investors, there are countless prospective opportunities across industries, whether for agriculture, mining, IT and business process management, and real estate, among others.
The lure of prospective business opportunities in Davao City and its favorable investment climate have been highlighted even more so with the availability of a skilled labor pool, prompting many firms to flock to and set up shop in the said city.
But one particular company who has long seen the merits of making its presence felt in Davao City is trusted property developer Sta. Lucia Land Inc. (SLLI).
“When we came to Davao we knew it was a great market that we are touching base with. The peace and order situation in the city is just so impressive that you wouldn’t have second thoughts doing business in the area. Besides, we feel that there’s a huge market potential waiting to be tapped and thus, we went to partner with some of Davao’s most trusted local businessmen. The rest, as they say, was history,” said SLLI President Exequiel Robles.
Sta. Lucia entered Davao in 1997 with Rancho Palos Verdes as its first project. It now has two golf courses in Davao (Rancho Palos Verdes and South Pacific). Seeing Davao as a bright spot, it has already created more than 10 projects and currently has three projects in the pipeline, one in Digos City, Tagum City and one near Eden in Toril.
“There are cities or areas that you go into because you feel so strongly about the place and I consider Davao as one of those. We have such great belief and admiration to the people of Davao that we, at SLLI, believe that there are a lot more that we can do to better serve this market. We have such great plans for Davao and it won’t be long before we accomplish all these. We remain committed to the market and we will make sure that we will deliver what we have promised to do,” Robles concluded.