Davao region get P15-B investments

DAVAO CITY – Davao Region is on track to corner at least P15 billion in investments in 2018 despite martial law jitters, an official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

DTI Assistant Regional Director Edwin Banquerigo said Davao already captured investment projects worth P14.8 billion as of January to November this year. He said of the total projects, majority are in Davao City worth P14.1 billion, followed by Davao del Norte at P687.4 million.

“This is an indication that the region is right for investment,” Banquerigo said, adding, concerns on martial law had initially spooked the business sector, but these proved to be a non-factor as more businesses remain bullish with Davao region’s economic potentials.

He said optimism for the region’s business climate is expected to drive more investments well into 2019.

DTI-11 records show that based on the business name registration alone, Davao City has close to 10,334 new business reg- istrants as of November 2018. “If you move around, there are many infrastructures everywhere. The skyline is changing very fast. Increase in the number of hotels is popping up,” Banquerigo said.

He said the major projects in the region in 2018 included water supply, sewage and water management worth P13,324.67 billion; real estate activities with P665.30 million; human health and social science with P376.5 million; agriculture, forestry and fishing with P325.97 million; administrative and support services with P121.25 million; and accommodation and food service activities with P14.8 million.

He also noted an increase in investment promotion activities, such as the holding of trade fairs, forums, and capacity building workshops. Banquerigo said trade promotion activities have resulted in the realization of big infrastructure projects, as the Davao South Greenspace Eco-industrial Park where a 450-hectare lot in Astorga, Davao del Sur will be developed into a seaport that will host a shipbuilding facility, logistics center, and a business park and information technology hub.

Meanwhile, the Compostela Valley Business and Investment Conference, this year, raked in a total investment lead worth P258.08 million from 15 firms. The business sector also negotiated and booked sales amounting to PHP56.704 million while new and expansion projects in Compostela Valley province are also expected in the areas of processing, production, real estate, and infrastructure development.

The Davao cacao and coffee products also emerged as new export products to Japan following the business deals forged during the trade shows in Japan on June 1315 in Tokyo, and in Nanning, China, on September 9-16. Banquerigo underscored the need for Davao City and the rest of the region to intensify investment promotion activities while offering investors with attractive incentive schemes. (Lilian C Mellejor)