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Duterte orders water firms to tap more water from Angat

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has directed the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to order Metro Manila’s two water concessionaire to tap more water from Angat Dam on Friday.
“The President is aware and concerned about the (suffering) of the residents of Metro Manila due to the present water crisis,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said in a statement Friday,
Mr. Panelo said the President ordered the MWSS to “demand from the Manila Water Company, Inc., Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and other responsible offices to release water from Angat Dam by noon time today, March 15.”
He added the expected water releases should be sufficient for 150 days to cover affected areas in Metro Manila.
“In the event of failure to act or comply with this directive, the President will personally go to them and make the responsible officers account for such failure,” Mr. Panelo said.
Separately, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the opening of the cross-border water transfer facility on West Avenue corner Bulacan St., in Quezon City today to enable Maynilad Water Services, Inc. to transfer water to Manila Water Co.
Maynilad President and Chief Executive Officer Ramoncito S. Fernandez said the cross-border transfers are expected to allow some 10 million liters of water per day to flow to the East Zone.
“The Maynilad line will provide water supply to Manila Water. Maynilad has some surplus. This is only one of the initially five locations we had identified to help Manila Water,” he said in a statement.
In the same statement, Ms. Arroyo said she has ordered a resolution in the House backing future legislation that will permit the tapping of deep wells, as recommended by Representative Winston T. Castelo of the 2nd district of Quezon City.
Mr. Castelo has noted that use of deep wells is not yet allowed by law. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

DoubleDragon issued pre-selling license for Davao hotel

DOUBLEDRAGON Properties Corp. said on Friday that its hotel subsidiary has obtained a pre-selling license for a project in Ecoland, Matina, Davao City.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange, the company said its unit Hotel of Asia Inc.’s Hotel101-Davao will have 519 rooms, making it the biggest hotel in Mindanao.
It occupies 5,300 square meter site along Eco West Drive near SM City Davao.
Hotel101-Davao will have a convention center, business meeting facilities, infinity pool, fitness gym, an all-day dining restaurant and a commercial strip. It is now under construction and is set to be completed by the end of 2020.
“We envision Hotel101 to become the largest and most recognized hotel chain in the Philippines in service and value, while likewise significantly contributing to the recurring income of DoubleDragon, and at the same time providing the market with an investment backed by a condominium title,” DoubleDragon Chairman Edgar J. Sia II said in a statement.
He said the project is a prototype and has been well-received by the market.
He added that the company is ready to roll out the concept “in a big way across various strategic locations in prime tourist destinations and in major cities.”
This year, DoubleDragon is set to launch and start pre-selling four Hotel101s in Davao, Boracay, Bohol and Palawan. The unit inventory is valued at P12.21 billion, which the company targets to fully sell in the next two years.
Hotel101 is the flagship hotel brand of the listed company. It will make up majority of the 5,000 hotel rooms in its target portfolio by 2020.
Hotel101-Davao is the third such project to be launched by the company.
On Friday, DoubleDragon Properties fell 1.88% to close at P20.85. — Victor V. Saulon

Phoenix Petroleum assessing proposed areas for retail expansion


DAVAO CITY — Listed independent oil firm Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. is assessing various locations proposed by potential dealers as part of its expansion program this year, a top company official said yesterday.
Lawyer Allan Raymond T. Zorilla, Phoenix Petroleum senior vice president of external affairs, business development and security, told BusinessWorld that the review takes into consideration not just location but “moving traffic” in the area.
“We will look at the viability of the areas as we always consider location as a primary factor (in expansion),” said Mr. Zorilla.
He added that the company is especially interested in opening more service stations in Mindanao, where the company started.
On average, he said, the company opens about 50 new service stations every year and it reported last month that it ended 2018 with 600 nationwide.
Apart from setting up new service stations, Mr. Zorilla said the company also buys “white stations” or existing facilities not attached to specific brands, or even those that sell competing brands including those held by small independent retailers.
Phoenix Petroleum, in a Feb. 27 statement, reported a “banner year in 2018 with the strongest revenue and earnings in the Company’s history, driven by record volume from new businesses and sustained strength in its core fuels business.”
The company, headquartered in Davao City,reported a net profit of P2.77 billion, up 82%, while revenue was at ?88.61 billion. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

ICTSI says ‘sure’ of going ahead with Port Sudan deal amid gov’t review

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) said it is certain it will ultimately take over a container terminal at Port Sudan on the Red Sea despite a strike called by employees to protest the transfer of management control.
“Yes, for sure,” Christian R. Gonzales, ICTSI Global Corporate Head, told reporters in Manila on Monday, when asked if ICTSI will go ahead with the deal despite a review of the transaction by the Sudanese government.
“Any concession agreement, after you sign the initial contract, will always have a number of conditions subsequent to signing related to labor, impact on the community and other matters related to the stakeholders,” Mr. Gonzales said.
In January, ICTSI said that it signed a 20-year concession agreement with Sea Ports Corp. of Sudan (SPC) to operate, manage, and develop the South Port Container Terminal (SPCT) at Port Sudan.
ICTSI is to assume control of operations and development of SPC’s container terminal infrastructure and terminal handling equipment, while SPC on the other hand will become the supervising authority and landlord of the terminal.
ICTSI reported a $249.8 million net profit in 2018, up 20%.
On Friday, ICTSI closed at P119.50 per share, up 0.50%. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio

Schneider Electric Philippine unit posts 2018 revenue growth of 14%

SCHNEIDER Electric (Philippines) Inc., a maker of energy management equipment, said revenue grew 14% in 2018 due to increased output of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices.
“Last year we had a revenue at the factory of more than $900 million. It was an increase of 14%. We increased the production by 14% and reduced the energy consumption by 14%,” Schneider Philippines President Alex Vermot said in a briefing Friday in Rosario, Cavite.
The company launched yesterday the conversion of its Cavite plant into a so-called “smart factory” which will enable the firm to digitally manage its operations across each stage of production.
The company will use the EcoStruxure platform to set up a central database where operations-related data are transmitted from all computers across the eight buildings of Schneider Philippines.
The technology allows virtual monitoring through mobile devices, while predictive technology enables earlier anomaly detection allowing managers to intervene in case of product assembly issues, electrical and temperature irregularities, production delays, equipment malfunctions, among others.
Schneider Philippines said other drivers for 2018 results were the growth of data centers and the gaming industry.
This year, Mr. Vermot said Schneider’s revenue growth will be “double digits.”
Schneider Philippines exports around 97% to 98% of its UPS production but hopes to expand its domestic footprint.
Schneider Philippines employs about 2,200 people, making the Philippines the French group’s 10thbiggest site in the world in terms of manpower.
The Philippine site is the fifth factory where the EcoStruxure system has been deployed, following sites in France, China, India and Indonesia.
Its parent company is Schneider Electric SE. — Janina C. Lim

Palace signs into law franchise extensions for Philcomsat, UM Network

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed into law the bills extending for another 25 years the telecommunication franchise granted to Philippine Communications Satellite Corp. (PhilComSat) and the broadcast franchise granted to the University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network and UM Network.
The PhilComSat franchise extension goes on the books as Republic Act No. 11226, which will allow it to continue to “construct, install, maintain and operate in the Philippines ground satellite terminal stations for telecommunication with satellite facilities and delivery carriers.”
The PhilComSat franchise was first granted in 1966, through RA No. 5514, and was extended in 1995, through RA No. 7949. The franchise was set to expire in March 2020.
PhilComSat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Philippine Telecommunication Corp. (POTC). Its services include providing Very Small Aperture Terminals (Vsat), High Throughput Satellites (HTS).
The franchise includes the right and to conduct cable and wireless operations, such as telephone, mobile, cellular, and wired or wireless telecommunication systems, like fiber optics and multi-channel transmission distribution system.
The newly-signed law will also authorize PhilComSat to improve and extend its services in areas not yet served as well as areas that are hazard- and typhoon-prone. It is required to allow for mobile number portability (MNP) and is prohibited from installing features or functions that will impede the nationwide MNP system.
PhilComSat is required to submit an annual report to Congress.
Meanwhile, the UM Broadcasting Network franchise also won an extension under Republic Act No. 11238. The franchise was first granted in 1995 and is set to expire in September 2020.
The law will allow the Network to “construct, install, establish, operate and maintain… radio and or television broadcasting stations.”
It is prohibited from broadcasting obscene or indecent language and from disseminating false information. It is also required to allot public service time, equivalent to 10% of paid commercials or advertisements.
It shall also be required to report to Congress annually.
Both PhilComSat and the UM Broadcasting Network are not allowed to sell, lease, transfer, grant the usufruct, nor assign the franchise to another person, firm, among others, without the approval of Congress. The grantees shall also offer at least 30% of their outstanding capital stock to Filipino citizens. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

FTSE rebalancing boosts PSEi

LOCAL STOCKS rose Friday — and for the second week in a row — on the back of portfolio adjustments in the face of Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) rebalancing and as uncertainty over a United States-China trade deal and Brexit drove funds towards major Asian markets.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index edged up 0.61% or 47.86 points to 7,798.28 — nearly flat from March 8’s 7,797.11 finish — while the broader all-shares index rose 0.58% or 28.02 points to 4,813.03.
“Our index closed higher as the FTSE rebalancing takes effect today,” Timson Securities, Inc. Trader Jervin S. De Celis said in a mobile phone message on Friday.
Investors abroad remained predominantly optimistic for a second consecutive day, ending Friday with P1.811-billion net foreign buying that was more than five times Thursday’s P322.875 million.
Mr. De Celis noted that foreigners purchased index heavyweights such as SM Prime Holdings, Inc.,which closed 3.5% up sy P38.40 apiece, and SM Investments Corp., which rose 0.97% to P934 each.
“JGS (JG Summit Holdings, Inc. which closed up 1.05% at P61.05 apiece), SMC (San Miguel Corp., up 1.28% at P174.20) and FB (San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc., up 2.31% at P106.50 each) which were included in the FTSE large cap index and foreigners bought P1.6 billion worth of shares of the three companies,” he said.
“So I think the last-minute buying of foreigners due to the rebalancing lifted our market today even in the absence of any strong catalyst in the local scene.”
Regina Capital Development Corp. Managing Director Luis A. Limlingan attributed the movement in Friday’s session to the delayed Brexit and US-China trade deal. “Funds focused on Philippine shares as the US-China trade meeting maybe delayed and the Brexit vote to postpone Article 50,” Mr. Limlingan said in a text message on Friday.
News during the day said US President Donald J. Trump and Chinese Prime Minister Xi Jinping won’t meet to sign a trade deal until next month at the earliest, and that British lawmakers approved on Thursday a motion for a delay in Brexit.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite Index shed 0.01%, 0.1% and 0.13%, respectively, on Thursday while many major Asian bourses gained on Friday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX, the Shanghai SE Composite, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and South Korea’s KOSPI rising 0.77%, 0.9%, 1.04%, 0.56% and 0.95%, respectively.
All six sectoral indices at home ended in positive territory, with property increasing by 1.71% or 67.03 points to 3,969.89; mining and oil rising 0.69% or 56.02 points to 8,135.77; financials going up 0.47% or 8.45 points to 1,770.81; services gaining 0.43% or 6.88 points to 1,579.08; industrial edging up 0.03% or 4.35 points to 11,556.33; and holding firms inching up 0.02% or 1.74 points to 7,673.47.
Friday saw 1.375 billion shares worth P20.793 billion change hands compared to Thursday’s 1.799 billion shares worth P5.599 billion.
Stocks that gained outnumbered those that lost 103 to 88, while 41 others ended Friday flat. — Janina C. Lim

Peso weakens on fears of delayed trade war resolution

THE peso declined further against the dollar on Friday, following reports of delays in a meeting between US President Donald J. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The peso ended the week at P52.65 against the dollar, five centavos weaker after closing at P52.60 on Thursday.
The peso opened the session weaker at P52.64, slipping to as low as P52.75 intraday. The high was P52.62.
Trading volume thinned to $976.4 million from the $1.202 billion in the previous session.
A foreign exchange trader said the peso weakened as investors sought safer currencies such as the dollar amid fears of a possible delay to a US-China trade deal.
The proposed meeting of Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi has been pushed to April at the earliest, Bloomberg reported.
US and China are looking to push the meeting of their leaders to a later date of at least April for a possible trade deal, Bloomberg reported.
On Wednesday, Mr. Trump said he is not rushing to strike a trade deal with China, adding that it should include protection of intellectual property.
Prior to the news, the leaders were supposed to meet in Mar-a-Lago, Florida later this month.
President Donald J. Trump postponed its plan to impose $200 million in tariffs on Chinese goods “indefinitely,” which was originally scheduled on March 1, citing “substantial progress.”
Michael L. Ricafort, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. economist, said the delay in the meeting between the US and Chinese leaders “partly caused slightly higher dollar against major currencies.”
“Prospects of slower global economic growth and trade that could have an adverse impact on some Asian and emerging markets,” Mr. Ricafort said in a text message.

Robotic surgery breaks ground for prostate cancer treatment

In the Philippines, prostate cancer lags slightly behind lung cancer as the leading cause of death by cancer among men. Prostate cancer seems to afflict males aged 50 and above who are usually averse to seeking medical help and only come forward when the disease progresses. Urologist Dr. Poh Beow Kiong, who specializes in prostate cancer, practising at Gleneagles Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore, said that the success rates of prostate cancer treatments are higher when detected early. Dr. Poh was here recently to talk to business leaders about different urological diseases like prostate cancer. Dr. Poh noted that new treatments are now available that offer less post-operative complications and faster recovery than the traditional open surgeries. “Our biggest challenge (for those in cancer treatment) is to find out if a tumor is benign or cancerous without surgery,” said Dr. Poh. “Our understanding of prostate cancer has changed over the past decade.”
dr. pohDr. Poh explained the Da Vinci Robot assisted prostatectomy which is effective in completely removing the entire prostate with the prostate cancer cells while preserving continent and erectile functions. The robot is controlled remotely by a surgeon skilled in the use of this machine. It is done with the robotic arms holding on to the laparoscopic instruments. These instruments are inserted into the body via 5-6 keyhole-size ports (openings) ranging from 0.5 cm to 1.2 cm in diameter. The robotic arms allow for greater precision with its 360-degree range of movements and provides the surgeon with a 3D view of the operating field inside the patient’s body. The robotic prostatectomy reduces the patient’s hospital stay and let him return to his normal erectile and continent functions quickly.

Dr. Poh is one of the few urologists in Singapore trained in advanced minimally invasive surgery and Endorology. He helped refine the technique of laparoscopic retropubic radical prostatectomy and is one of the few urologists in Singapore trained to perform the technically challenging Holmium Laser Enucleation of Prostate (HoLEP).
The advantages of robotic prostate surgery over open surgery are as follows:

  • Less blood loss and reduced need for blood transfusion during surgery
  • Lower risk of wound infection
  • Shorter hospital stay (from 7-10 days to 3-4 days)
  • Fewer days with catheter
  • Faster return of erectile (sexual) function
  • Lower risk of permanent urinary incontinence

The use of these robotic surgical systems requires surgeons to undergo special training. Without adequate training, the risks might outweigh the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery. In treating each patient, Dr. Poh stressed that a holistic approach is crucial. The entire team including the nurses, the assistant surgeon and the anesthetist need to be well trained in the robotic approach as it is a completely different concept from open surgery.
For more information about the prostate cancer and other condition, visit https://www.gleneagles.com.sg/healthplus.
Health Plus is an online health and wellness resource developed by Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore.
To make an enquiry or appointment, contact our Central Patient Assistance Centre at: 24-Hr Helpline: +65 6735 5000; email: cpac@parkwaypantai.com; online appointment: http://www.gleneagles.com.sg.

Manzi Xue, special consultant of Huaren Capital: 'The Philippines has demographic dividend and mobile economy potential'

Manzi Xue, one of the best angel investors in China, was once the founder of a well-known listed enterprise and also an investor of more well-known enterprises. He was a well-known Chinese investor on Wall Street more than 10 years ago. His decades of successful business operation and investment experience allowed him to be recognized as a senior in the industry.
As a famous official and scholar, Mr. Xue became a businessman and investor who brought vitality to China’s angel investment and influenced entrepreneurs of an era. In 2018, he chose to join forces with Jeff Wang, founder and CEO of Huaren Capital, to enter the Southeast Asian market. After thorough and detailed market research, he targeted the Philippines.
“Although the current entrepreneurial environment in the Philippines is not ideal, it still has great potential. In the first eight months of 2018, Southeast Asian start-ups received a record $3.16 billion in venture capital funding. The Philippines, however, is a different story. According to public data, only a small amount of money has gone to startups in the Philippines this year. Start-ups in the Philippines have received less than $50M in venture capital funding this year. For the whole of 2018, there were only seven financing cases in the Philippines, down from 10 last year and 21 in 2016,” said Mr. Xue.
The Philippines was one of the first countries in the world to launch a mobile payment service, but has made little progress in making mobile payments mainstream. For now, the Philippines remains highly dependent on cash transactions. To get Filipinos use e-payment services, they need to be given a compelling reason to feel comfortable keeping their money in e-wallets.
“Although cash is still widely used in the Philippines, cash on delivery is very popular in the Philippines, with 80% of online merchants supporting it,” Mr Xue said. That’s mainly because nearly 98% of Filipinos still don’t have credit cards. But in the near future, digital payment will be the only way for the development of e-commerce. This determines that the DPAY project of Huaren Capital is imperative, and will eventually overturn the shackle of traditional industries, so as to realize barrierless consumption, deposit and withdrawal, and financial management.
Mr. Wang said, “The Philippines aims to maintain the annual compound growth rate of 6-7% GDP growth, thanks to the young people of social main body, the demographic dividend, and high frequency low consumption habits, credit card and bank account penetration, and comprehensive factors such as smartphone growth prospects, mobile payment has a bright future in the Philippines, just like in China and India. It is suitable for first-tier cities and CBD to drive users in remote areas.”
Now with mobile payment, people’s income and expenditure become traceable, verifiable and credible, and this credit can be expanded to the whole capital market so that everyone can join in the game. Therefore, mobile payment is the data-based cornerstone of many industries’ credit. It is precisely because of the dividend brought by mobile payment that many industries can also be capitalized, which is conducive to listing. This is the mission of DPAY in the future.
Mr. Xue said, “Success is accidental, failure is inevitable. If you don’t try, don’t say you succeeded, even failed. Success or failure, if it can change the world a little, is also great.”
Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s new sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by enabling them to publish their stories directly on the BusinessWorld website. For more information, send an email to online[at]bworldonline.com.

Celebrating the best of Davao City

In celebrating the 82nd year of its cityhood, Davao City marks another year of progress and development. From a simple village composed of various organized barangays a few hundred years ago, the city of Davao has become one of the country’s most important cities, a hub of trade and industry, commerce, cultural diversity, and education.

The city came to be known as Nueva Vergara when Don Jose Cruz de Uyanguren, a Spanish native of Vergara, Guipuzcoa, together with other 70 men and women, first colonized the region on June 29, 1848. When the Philippine Revolution came about, two Davaoeño locals named Pedro Layog and Jose M. Lerma represented the town and the region at the Malolos Congress of 1898, affixing Davao’s place in national history as a part of the nascent First Philippine Republic.

Rapid economic development followed the American occupation of the region, as foreign businessmen began tapping into the region’s fertile lands to fuel agricultural development. Coconut and banana product plantations changed Davao City from a small and sparsely-inhabited town into a thriving economic center. The demand for Davao’s agricultural products was so great that it led to the construction of the Port of Davao soon after.

The change was so apparent that on March 16, 1936, then congressman Romualdo Quimpo from Davao filed Bill 609 (passed as Commonwealth Act 51), creating the City of Davao from the town of Davao and the municipal district of Guianga. Davao was inaugurated as a charter city on Oct. 16, 1936 by then President Manuel L. Quezon, and the charter came into effect on March 1, 1937, making Davao City one of the first towns in Mindanao to be converted into a city.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Opening the month-long celebration of this founding, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio formally launched the ceremony, “Pasiugdang nga Pagsaulog”, at the Rizal Park last March 2. Davaoeños saw the introduction of the official finalists of the annual Mutya ng Davao event, as well as the launch of two new pageants: Ginoong Davao and Reyna Davaoeña. The top talents of the region, which include groups like Voices of the South Children’s Choir; DSquared Cru; EMNT; Groove Unlimited; and Fusion, also performed singing and dancing numbers to kick off the celebrations.

Various activities are lined up for the month, as the city expects an influx of local and foreign tourists to join the festivities. The anniversary of the city’s charter inauguration tomorrow, March 16, will be highlighted by the annual civil military parade Parada Davaoeño. Meanwhile, schools all over the city are launching the ‘Davaoeño Ako’ storytelling initiative along with the food and entertainment-filled event at Kalingawan sa Sta. Ana at the Sta. Ana Pier.

The best of Davaoeña beauty will be recognized at the Mutya ng Davao coronation at the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) Petro Gazz Arena while the Pasundayag sa Rizal Park was open to the public last March 3, 9 and 10.

Ginoong Davao, the pageant which aims to find the next Mr. Davaoeño, was held last March 3, at Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center — marking the first time the event was included in the annual celebration. Reyna Davaoeña, which is searching for Davao City’s first Trans Davaoeña, was also held last March 8 at People’s Park to be followed by the Hudyaka the following day. Davaoeña women were celebrated at the Women Summit last March 6 at Ritz Hotel, and International Women’s Day Parade last March 8 from Freedom Park to People’s Park.

Showcasing the competitive side of Davao City, some of the country’s best triathletes competed for honors in the 2019 Araw ng Davao Supertrikids and Novice Triathlon last March 2 and 3 at Villa Josefina Resort Village in Dumoy, Toril.

Twenty-nine events are also lined up for the month-long Araw ng Davao Sports Festival 2019. The second Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao is also set on March 24 with Mexican Mauricio Mendez and Czech Radka Kahlefeldt defending their titles as champions against representatives from 38 participating countries including the Philippines.

The 49th Conferment of the prestigious Datu Bago Awards was held on March 8 at the Arcadia Gym, honoring the outstanding, exemplary and selfless individuals who have contributed to the growth and development of Davao City and the preservation of its culture heritage.

Other events include the Araw ng Davao Light Show, a 3D light show held at Davao City Hall; Pahalipay sa mga Distrito in 12 sub-districts; Davao Quiz Competition at the Davao City Library; Pasidungog: and Garbo sa Davao at The Enderun Tent, Azuela Cove. Government employees will have their day on the Araw ng mga Empleyado celebration at Rizal Park.

Davao City will also hold its second International Marathon at People’s Park; Sayaw Pinoy event at SM City Davao; Kanta Dabawenyo; Sister City/Consular Offices Exhibit at SM Lanang Atrium; TDR 80 Ultra Marathon at Magsaysay Park-Eden Nature Park; and Agribiz Expo at Gaisano Mall of Davao atrium. — Bjorn Biel M. Beltran

Discovering Davao City’s gems

Sprawled beautifully on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, Davao City prides itself for having a wealth of picturesque sceneries, a variety of natural attractions and a host of fun activities that attract both local and foreign tourists.  The city is now considered as one of the country’s top tourist destinations, offering a mix of urban and rural living experience.

Data from Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) shows a steady increase in the number of tourist arrivals in the city in the last three years, wherein majority of the visitors were domestic tourists and returning overseas Filipinos.

In 2018, the city attracted some 2.39 million tourists, surpassing its record of two million visitors in the previous year. American visitors topped the list of Davao City’s international visitors with 21,324, followed by Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Australians. Other nationals included in the top 10 international arrivals were Indians, Canadians, Singaporeans, British and Emiratis.

The city of Davao comes with a good mixture of both man-made and natural attractions. Tourists can visit and stroll at the city’s museums, try different adventures in parks and resorts, or indulge in the beauty of nature.

Davao Museum of History and Ethnography — Wikimedia Commons

For one who wants to know the rich history of Davao, visiting the Davao Museum is the best way to start. This two-storey building, located in Insular Village Phase 1 in Lanang, showcases the cultural heritage of Davao which rooted from the large variety of tribes that populated the region.

The museum houses photographs of the city’s historic events, large-scale versions of old maps of Mindanao and the country, centuries-old Asian trade jars, antique religious artifacts, burial urns, weaponry, musical instruments, tribal clothing, handicrafts and pottery, among others. It also features life-size dioramas depicting Davao’s diverse culture, including weaving and healing ritual.

Museo Dabawenyo or the “Museum of the People of Davao” is the other museum located in Davao City, specifically and originally situated along Fr. Selga Street going to Pichon Street. The museum is divided into four rooms: the Indigenous People’s Gallery, the Moro People’s Gallery, the Contemporary Gallery, and the Memorabilia Gallery.

The management of Museo Dabawenyo, however, announced that the museum is closed temporarily to give way to the construction of the new City Engineer’s Office (CEO) building. The museum will be relocated inside the People’s Park — one of the most visited tourist attractions in Davao today — with a bigger building. The new structure will have five floors and will be inspired by the iconic durian fruit.

Aside from visiting the said museums and the People’s Park, a four-hectare wide cultural-theme park featuring a mini-forest, man-made falls, a dancing fountain at night, fish ponds, children’s playground and a giant durian dome, tourists can also explore the Davao Crocodile Park.

As the name implies, the park houses hundreds of cultured Philippine crocodiles. The Davao Crocodile Park showcases a ‘state of the art’ crocodile farming system, equipped with modern facilities and equipment. Apart from crocodiles, the park is a home of other animals, including birds, tigers, wild boars, apes, and pythons.

Philippine Eagle Center — ARMAND DOMINGUEZ | philippineeaglefoundation.org

To complete one’s animal sightings experience, tourists can also drive their way to the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC), located at the foothills of Mt. Apo in Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City and situated within the Malagos Watershed. The PEC primarily operates as a conservation breeding facility for the critically endangered Philippine Eagle and other birds of prey. A number of other birds, mammals and reptiles — most of which are endemic to the country and some are considered rare —can be also sighted in the center.

For tourists looking for a secluded place where the gifts of nature abound, Loleng’s Mountain Resort is probably one of the best options. The resort is located at Eden-Bayabas in Toril, and is just a 20-minute ride from the heart of Davao City. It offers superb accommodation, places for recreation, and luscious yet affordable meals, which make it a perfect getaway from the bustling city life.

For those longing for more, they can also visit the Gap Orchard Resort, a sprawling 10-hectare farm orchard, dedicated to durian, rambutan, pomelo and other tropical fruits.

The farm is a popular destination in the city frequented by many tourists to spend leisure time. Tropical trees and fruits, exotic flowers, plants, and colorful flora and fauna are the main things that can be seen in the farm. There are also some landmarks scattered throughout the farm, including the old World War II Japanese carved tunnel, a Santo Niño chapel and Mother of Perpetual Help, as well as mystical statues. — Mark Louis F. Ferrolino

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