1. Food Terminal Complex, P 230 Million

The project is being proposed by the National Development Corporation or NDC which owns the property located near the Davao Fishport Complex at Daliao, Toril.

It aims to gain competitive edge among the EAGA countries through the establishment of a modern facility that will serve as consolidation, processing, packaging, storage and distribution center for the farm produce within and coming in to Davao City and to accommodate the growing numbers of traders and bulk sales of agri-produce in Davao City.

The project will have 7 components (trading center, cold storage facility, food processing center for value adding activities, dry storage warehouse, cargo handling and trucking, commercial or industrial spaces for lease or sale, and common-bonded warehouses for trading activities.

Prospective Locators will have the Following Options for Ownership of the Facilities:

1. Lease to own. Locators will pay a monthly amortization cost to the proponents for a maximum of 25 years to fully own the property in the complex;
2. Outright purchase from proponents. However, the sale to the locators shall be subjected to certain conditions to ensure proper utilization of the complex;
3. Invest in stocks. This is with the assumption that the proponents decide to create a corporation with developers and other prospective stockholders that will manage the complex.

2. Wastewater Collection and Treatment Facilities, P 1.148 Billion

The study shows that the collection and transportation of the wastewater of the most densely populated area of Davao City is feasible and would cost 1.148 billion pesos or 30 million US$.

The best layout has been found to be the separation of the whole area into three sub-basins, each with a pumping station, pumping directly to the wastewater treatment plant on the west bank of Davao River.

The most suitable site for a wastewater treatment plant that would serve the City of Davao has been identified as that located in Bucana, on the west bank of the Davao River, just downstream of the Bolton Bridge. Subsequent to a technical-economic evaluation of several alternatives, the SBR (Sequencing Batch Reactor) process has been shown to be the most attractive treatment option in terms of its capital cost which amounts to 9.9 million US$.

Operating costs using SBR process are estimated to be 1.98 million US$ annually. (Estimates excluded costs of resettlement, land, financing, duty, and tax. Complete lists and exhibits of tables, summary of computations, layouts, and comparisons can be found in the feasibility study conducted by APTCO and the SM Group International, October 1999).

3. Proposed 23-km Coastal road, P 500 – 800 Million

This project is a 23-kilometer road that will start from Toril (a sub-urban area in Southern Davao) down to Cabaguio (a 4-lane road) across the Magsaysay Park. The construction of this coastal road will include toll ways and a center median wide enough to accommodate the piers for the Light Rail Transit system. Depending on the cost of lot acquisition since the project covers areas that are privately owned, the project may range from P500m to P800m.

4. Seaport Expansion Facilities

Modern facilities for the city’s seaport are needed with continuous increase in trading. A modern seaport will also complement the growing export-related manufacturing industries in the City.

5. Theme Parks

Theme parks in the tradition of Disney and Enchanted Kingdom shall provide thousands of tourists another alternative destination and itinerary when doing business or pleasure trip in the City or its nearby localities. Due to the absence of such establishments in the entire island, a pioneering venture in said industry is seen very feasible considering the more than 30-million market of Mindanao and the Visayas.

6. Sta. Ana Waterfront Development

From this area will rise amenities such as conference facilities, hotels, shopping center, fisherman’s wharf, commercial buildings, amusement facilities and parks. Left riverbank will be converted to a green area including commercial establishments. The coastal road and a few access roads will be connected with the reclamation area. This is estimated to cost around 12 billion pesos

7. Light Rail Project, P 240B

This project aims to establish an urban light rail transit system that will serve the coastal areas of the city as well as neighboring cities and municipalities in Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur. It hopes to provide faster, stable and reliable services to transport people and cargoes in the area. It is expected that the implementation of the project will result to the reduction of passengers’ travel time as well as solve the traffic congestions on the roads.

The project will cover a total of 37 stations for a total of 82.7 kms. Stretching from the city of Panabo in Davao del Norte and the Municipality of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur. It will be implemented through a Built-Operated Transfer (BOT) financing scheme and as planned, will be constructed as follows:

• Stage 1 Panacan to Toril 35.7 kms 22 stations
• Stage 2-A Toril to Sta. Cruz 25.0 kms 10 stations
• Stage 2-B Panacan to Panabo 22.0 kms 5 stations

8. Davao City Sports Complex, P 600 Million

The project aims to create an environment-friendly complex such as indoor / outdoor sports facilities, open space, sports academy (classrooms, auditorium, library, sports laboratory, sports medicine clinic) and quarters for athletes undergoing training and sports officials.

Under the agreement, the University of the Philippines is to make available, from its reservation, 20 hectares for this project and provide professional input in the operation of the sports complex. The city in turn will provide the funding for the infrastructure and the improvement of the access roads leading to the Complex.

1. Business Process Outsourcing

The City is now being eyed as a viable site for call center operations and other related business process outsourcing operation (medico-legal transcription, animation, etc.) due to its readiness in terms of manpower, infrastructure and other required amenities.

2. Housing Development

With a backlog of more than 40,000 units, Davao City is a very viable site for housing projects that will offer low-cost to medium cost housing units.

3. Products and Services for Relaxation

There is a growing demand for products and services that will offer relaxation to the growing working population such as spas, salons, candles for aroma therapy, pillows, etc.

4. Establishment of Medical, Educational, Training and Sports Facilities

Davao’s daytime population doubles primarily because it is considered as the de facto capital of Mindanao serving as the center for commerce, education, services.

The Priority Investment Areas of the City

This listing is based on a study conducted by the Services Group of Virginia. These priority areas are believed to spur further economic growth in the city. Qualified investors may avail of the local incentives both fiscal and non-fiscal.

(1) Property development such as the development of industrial estates, convention centers, residential, commercial, and office building development;

(2) Tourism and recreational facilities such as business hotels, restaurants, beach and mountain resorts and theme parks;

(3) Agro-business and food processing such as but not limited to fruit processing (vacuum, dehydrated, spray dried), canned specialty vegetables, extruded snack food, cupflower production;

(4) Light manufacturing and Assembly such as but not limited to garments, footwear, toys, bulky kitchen and house wares; and

(5) Transshipment infrastructure/facilities such as seaport construction and common bonded warehouse.

(6) The putting up of environmental enhancement and protection projects,

(7) The establishment of foreign bank branches,

(8) Telecommunications (including information and communications technology or ICT) and

(9) Educational, medical, training, and sports facilities

1. Linkages and Accessibility

Davao City is strategically located in Southeastern Philippines. It has air and sea linkages to major points of destination in the country and the rest oDavao City is strategically located in Southeastern Philippines. It has air and sea linkages to major points of destination in the country and the rest of the world. Goods and people can also be transported by land via the Philippine-Japan Friendship highway.

The new Davao International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the Philippines with daily flights to major destinations in the country. Davao City also serves as your gateway to the sub-regional trade bloc known as the East ASEAN growth area with direct flights to Singapore and Indonesia. Modern infrastructure and facilities present in the City provide businessmen access to the 25 million market of Mindanao and the 56 million market of the BIMP-EAGA.ee zone. The all-year round predictability of its tropical weather (sunshine by day and occasional rain showers by night) makes the place conducive for business, leisure, agriculture and other worthwhile activities.

2. Perfect Weather

The City is situated in a typhoon-free zone. The all-year round predictability of its tropical weather (sunshine by day and occasional rain showers by night) makes the place conducive for business, leisure, agriculture and other worthwhile activities.

3. Efficient Public Utilities

Davao City has excellent public utilities that offer the best products and services. There is abundance in the supply of (piped) potable water.

There is availability of cost-efficient electricity through hydropower generation. 24-hours a day power is assured by the able distribution of Davao Light with the availability of a back-up generation plant. State-of-the-art telecommunications facilities connect its people to the rest of the world.

Players in the telecommunications industry (phone companies, Internet Service Providers, Cable-TV, computer vendors) have continually offered new products, services and innovations to keep the people abreast with the latest and even ahead.

4. Regional Center of Philippines South

The City is host to regional centers and headquarters of government and private agencies whose scope of operational jurisdiction covers Southern Philippines or the island of Mindanao. This is the reason why many organizations consider the City as the de facto capital of Mindanao.

It is considered as the financial center of the Mindanao Island with more than 1,000 institutions classified as banks, non-bank financing, and lending agencies.

The City is also the center for learning, education, and trainings in Mindanao with 39 tertiary education institutions classified as universities (including the University of the Philippines-Mindanao), collegesThe City is also the center for learning, education, and trainings in Mindanao with 39 tertiary education institutions classified as universities (including the University of the Philippines-Mindanao), colleges, and technical schools that regularly supply the City of needed expertise and manpower.

5. Most Peaceful City in Southeast Asia pick for the Country’s Best Police Office Award.

The City has also established the 911 central communications and emergency response center in 2002 to lessen crime incidences as well as preserve lives and properties.

6. Competitive Cost of Doing Business

In Davao City, quality products and services do not necessarily equate to high cost. Almost everything of quality in Davao City costs cheaper compared to other major cities. Rates of public utilities, real estate, rentals for commercial spaces, accommodations, labor, raw materials, and other business related inputs are comparatively cheaper than other major cities in Asia. This factor is seen vital in achieving a healthy return on investments.

7. Best Professional and Laborer

The City is home to the best professionals and laborers in Southern Philippines. Its human resources are touted as competent, highly literate, English-speaking and very cost-effective. Davao is the biggest producer of engineers, computer programmers, medical practitioners, accountants, lawyers, and other skilled labor in the region.

8. Fruit Basket of the Country

Almost all kinds of fruits grow in abundance in the City. It is host to a lot of fruit plantations and it is famous for its exotic Durian.

The City is one of the biggest exporters of banana in Asia. Other fresh produce includes delectable delights such as the pomelo, mango, mangosteen, rambutan, strawberry, lanzones, and pineapple among others. Aside from this edge, the City functions as the trade-off point of Mindanao’s high value crops.

9. Investor-Friendly City

Investors are well taken cared of in Davao City. Being the pioneer city in establishing an investment promotion center that provides free professional assistance including processing of applications for local fiscal incentives, the local government sees to it that investors are provided the red carpet in starting business as easy as possible.

10. Responsive and Forward-Looking Local Government

The City Government of Davao is very positive on developmental projects. Infrastructure modernizations such as international standard airport, roads, bridges, and seaports are being done in response to the present challenges of the new millennium.

The City’s goals, thrusts, and programs are being guided by the fundamental principles of sustainable development. Under the Comprehensive Development Plan for 1996-2021, the City’s priorities are: peace and order; health; environment; education and social services; shelter; livelihood; infrastructure; agriculture and fishery development; investment and tourism; revenue enhancement; sports development; and good governance.