Davao City: the crown jewel of Mindanao

Davao City is home to various thriving industries that help contribute to its economy and livelihood. (HTTPS://WWW.AYALALAND.COM.PH)

As one of the most secure cities in the country, Davao City strives to uphold its status as the “Crown Jewel” of Mindanao by investing in and further promoting its various assets, such as its industries, bountiful resources, and tourist attractions.

Known as the largest city in southern Philippines, Davao City is home to various thriving industries that help contribute to its economy and livelihood.

Agriculture remains the city’s largest economic sector, featuring various banana, pineapple, coffee, and coconut plantations. It is Mindanao’s leading exporter of various fruits, banana being the most notable. The locally produced durian also serves as a significant export from the city.

Davao City is also known for its chocolate industry. (GIAN D. ENRIQUE VIA HTTP://PRDP.DA.GOV.PH)

Alongside its thriving agricultural sector, Davao City is also known for its chocolate industry. In 2020, Agriculture Secretary William Dar named the city as the chocolate capital of the Philippines, following the consistent production of high-quality beans in the region.

Davao’s cocoa beans were also selected as one of the top 50 samples for the 2017 Edition of the Cocoa of Excellence Programme, and have been recognized as some of the best in the world, sought after by chocolate makers in the United States, Japan, and Europe.

Davao City produced a massive 2,289.74 metric tons of cacao in 2019 alone, which translated to over 38 percent in regional share.

Davao City has continuously strived to maintain its livability. (HTTPS://STALUCIAMARKETING.COM)

Aside from its agricultural exports, Davao City is Mindanao’s main trade, commerce, and industry hub, home to several renowned industries such as Phoenix Petroleum, Coca-Cola Bottlers Phil., Pepsi-Cola Bottlers, Phil., RC Cola Phil., Holcim Philippines, and SteelAsia, the largest and most modern steel rolling mill production facility in the country.

The city’s tourism is also known as one of its prime industries. Having received over 2.34 million arrivals and tourist receipts of around P51 billion in 2019, visits to Davao City accounted for at least half of the entire region for that year. Despite the drop in tourist visits in 2020 brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the city saw several Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (Mice)-related events in the past year, such as the convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Mice Conference (MiceCon) 2023, just in time for its 86th founding anniversary.

Mt. Apo (HTTP://PRDP.DA.GOV.PH)

Davao City’s tourist spots are sights to behold. Perhaps the most famous among them is the majestic Mount Apo, a dormant stratovolcano that overlooks Davao City and stands at over 9,692 feet, making it the highest mountain in the Philippines. The state-protected Mt. Apo Natural Park is located just outside of Davao City and features hiking trails and stunning biodiversity, as well as 22 other named mountains.

The Philippine Eagle Center is also known as a major tourist attraction in the city, home to 36 Philippine Eagles, ten other species of birds, four species of mammals, and two species of reptiles. The center operates primarily as a conservation breeding facility for the critically endangered Philippine Eagle and other birds of prey, simulating a tropical rainforest environment that gives visitors a glimpse into the Philippines’ ecosystem. It is an hour’s drive away from the city.

The Philippine Eagle Center (HTTPS://CHASEJASEPH.COM)

Also famous in the city is the 4-hectare People’s Park, home to over 1,000 species of plants and trees and the picturesque Durian Dome. Alongside being one of the country’s cleanest and greenest parks, the park also features a fitness center, a learning center for children and adults, the Children’s Library, and the Sunken Garden.

Davao City has continuously strived to maintain its livability. The city has been repeatedly recognized for its high regard for safety and security since 2015, and has emphasized prioritizing features for further urban development and prosperity.

People’s Park (https://en.wikipedia.org)

In November 2023, the Philippines and Japan signed a technical cooperation project (TCP) that involves the drafting of a 20-year masterplan that would rationalize the development of Metro Davao’s component cities and towns and connect them to growth centers such as Mati City in Davao Oriental, Maco in Davao de Oro, and Malita in Davao Occidental.

According to National Economic Development Authority (Neda) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (Jica)-funded master plan would transform Metro Davao “into a livable area with lots of opportunities for people of Davao, Mindanao and especially the young generation.”

In line with this, Maria Lourdes Lim, Neda director for Davao Region, also stated that the local governments of the cities and towns of Metro Davao had agreed to work together in areas of development planning, transport, traffic, waste disposal, flood control and sewerage management, land use planning, urban protection, pollution control and public safety, which include the formulation and implementation of programs that would enhance their preparedness and resiliency.

Sources: Inquirer archives, da.gov.ph, nro11.neda.gov.ph, davaodelsur.gov.ph, philippineeagle.org, tripadvisor.com.ph, guidetothephilippines.ph, camella.com.ph