The Department of Trade and Industry Kicks Off the 1st RAPID Regional Innovation Roadshow in Davao City

The Department of Trade and Industry’s Competitiveness and Innovation Group (DTI-CIG) together with DTI-Region 11 piloted the first Regional Innovation Roadshow (RIR) under the Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID) and Growth Project last September 21-22, 2022, in Sotogrande Hotel, Davao City. Hinged on the penta-helix model of the Davao Region, the event gathered more than seventy (70) innovation leaders and enablers from government agencies, private sectors, academic institutions, media, and civil society organizations (CSO) from Region XI. 

Led by Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba, the two-day stakeholder dialogue bannered vision and experts talks from the regional innovation champions and experts from the DTI, University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP Mindanao), the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), and RTI International in pursuit of achieving inclusive and sustainable industrial transformation and development in the Philippines. 

In Photos: Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba, Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi,  

Assistant Regional Director Delia M.Ayano, Competitiveness Bureau Director Lilian G. Salonga 

Day 1 of the Regional Innovation Roadshow was officially opened by Undersecretary for Regional Operations Group (ROG) Blesila A. Lantayona and RAPID Growth Project Director and DTI 11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi, emphasizing the essence of collaboration among stakeholders to address industry challenges in the region. Moreover, Competitiveness Bureau (CB) Director Lilian G. Salonga presented the intent and design of the RIR. The RIR has six major component activities such as vision talks, expert talks, innovation challenges, synthesis sessions, action agenda settings, and site visits. 

 

Undersecretary Aldaba laid out the Philippine Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) driven industrialization strategy to set the framework. Notably, she highlighted that the Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers (RIIC) would be an excellent avenue for channeling industrial development. Looking into the regional lens, Assistant Regional Director Delia M. Ayano shared the status and prospects of Davao Region’s priority commodities such as cacao, coffee, and coconut while emphasizing the perennial concerns and challenges due to low quality of seedlings, lack of farm input support, difficulty in acquiring quality and food safety certifications, lack of working capital, among others. Dr.Larry N. Digal of the UP Mindanao presented his study on the current status, challenges, strategies and recommendations to push forth the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in region XI. The presentation was derived from the Innovation Assessment Studies for the four RAPID priority commodities: cacao, coffee, coconut, ad processed fruits and nuts. 

 

During the Expert Talks, the country’s formidable scientists shared on-the-ground experiences to describe the current innovation landscape. This portion is envisaged to deepen the understanding and appreciation of the participants’ knowledge of creation and co-creation, technology utilization, commercialization, and intellectual property, among others. 

In Photos: Larry M. Digal, Ph.D., Alvin B. Culaba, Ph.D. 

Richard S. Abendan, Ph.D., Gonzalo C. Serafica Ph.D. 

Dr. Alvin B. Culaba of NAST discussed the reinvention of STE innovation ecosystem to accelerate regional development and stressed the critical role of local government units (LGU) in innovation policy implementation. Another NAST scientist, Dr. Gonzalo C. Serafica, contributed to the conversation as he urged the community to engage in technology utilization and commercialization. He further highlighted that this will potentially create an impact to scale production and distribution and complete product development. 

 

Dr. Richard S. Abendan of RTI International led the synthesis sessions and workshops with Assistant Director Jo-Dann N. Darong. The participants were presented with data and insights from past and present studies and tackled the three workshop innovation challenges on value capture, value creation, and value delivery. After the first workshop, the participants identified issues and concerns aptly categorize into four (4) needs pillars on research and development, infrastructure, supply chain, and skills and capability. 

Day 2 focused on gathering actionable insights which are aligned with the STI-driven industrialization strategy and setting a regional action agenda. Lastly, DTI Davao del Norte Provincial Director and RAPID Growth Deputy Project Director Romeo L. Castañaga capped off the event with three key action points for the penta-helix collaborators in support of regional industrialization: increasing appreciation for Industry 4.0 (I4.0), expanding horizons for trade and investment, and cultivating a robust innovation ecosystem. 

Aside from the various talks and workshops, site visits were also conducted to the following partner academic institutions and MSME beneficiaries: University of Southeastern Philippines, Ateneo de Davao University, UP Mindanao, Rosario’s Delicacies, Malagos Chocolate Factory, and Belviz Farm. 

 

The next RIR team is scheduled in Koronadal City, South Cotabato and Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental in October and December 2022, respectively. Under the RAPID Growth Project and RIIC programs, inclusive and sustainable industrial transformation and development in Mindanao are further pushed to improve innovation readiness and adoption, productivity outcomes, and market competitiveness among micro, small, medium, and large enterprises.

Davao City Embraces Cashless Transformation with GCash

Aside from being the largest city in the world, Davao City now holds the distinction of having a fast-growing digital ecosystem, thanks to GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the country. 

To help ensure safe and cashless transactions in Davao City, more and more private and public sector entities are accepting payments via GCash. For instance, all the three utility companies in the city namely, the Davao City Water District, Davao Light and BP Waterworks now accept payments from consumers via Pay Bills in the GCash app. Top retail establishments like the Gaisano Mall, NCCC Group, Felcris Group, Davao City Hardware, Amesco Drugstores, and Trust Hardware also offer GCash as a payment method for their consumers.

All over the city, residents have embraced the use of GCash for everyday purchases. There are currently 1,547 formal merchants that accept payments via QR codes, more than 500 cash-in stations and a total of 3,010 informal sellers accepting payments via GCash in Davao City.  In addition, 793 public market vendors and 644 tricycle drivers in the city are also accepting payments via GCash. With these numbers, both the entrepreneurs and consumers in Davao City have access to safe and convenient payment methods.

According to Martha Sazon, president and CEO of GCash, innovative thinking and a strong commitment to the communities of GCash partners are keys to achieving financial inclusivity in communities like Davao City. “At the heart of everything we do at GCash is our purpose to make Filipinos' everyday lives better,” she added. 

To recognize the efforts of government agencies and enterprises for embracing digital financial solutions for the benefit of their constituents and customers, GCash held the GCash Digital Excellence Awards. During the first run for Public Sector achievers in December 2021, the Davao City Water District received  the “Excellence in Digital Ecosystem Innovation Award.”  

“With the help of GCash, the Davao City Water District has made water bill payments safe and convenient for our customers. This also supported the city’s campaign for residents to stay at home and stay safe. We look forward to more years of partnership with GCash as we continue to improve our services in Davao City,” said Eduardo Bangayan, Chairman of Davao City Water District.

In April 2022,  GCash bestowed the “Industry Pioneer” award to the NCCC Group of Companies during the awards night for enterprise and MSME partners. 

 

“We continue to create innovative ways to provide our customers with a safe and convenient shopping experience. Through our partnership with GCash which started in 2017, we were able to embrace the digital transformation phase to serve patrons from Davao City, Davao del Norte and eventually in Puerto Princesa, Palawan,” said Lafayette Lim, CEO of NCCC Group of Companies.

Aside from Davaoeños being able to pay their fees on utilities like water through the pay bills feature, they can also maximize other services such as send money, buy load and bank transfer. GCash also offers its users easy access flexible payment options via credit line with GCredit, shop now pay later with GGives, COVID-19 health insurance for as low as P39 a month via GInsure, a savings account with GSave, investment starting at only P50 in a market fund with GInvest, and a one stop online shop for essentials, food and more on GLife. 

By establishing partnerships with the public and private sectors in Davao City, GCash is enabling Davaoeños to have access to safe and secure digital financial services as part of its vision of financial inclusion for all. 

For more information, visit www.gcash.com.

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About GCash

GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Financial App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, customers can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1.3k partner billers; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 4.5M partner merchants and social sellers; cash-in and cash-out at over 170k partner agents; and get access to savings, credit, insurance and invest money all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.).

 

GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) and by the IDC in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 55 million Filipinos in the country today.

 

For more information, please contact:

ChitoManiago

Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs

GCash

Email Address: corpcomm@mynt.xyz ¦ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gcashofficial

A Guide to Davao City’s Buoyant Real Estate Market

Davao is the Philippines’ largest city in terms of land area, and quite expectedly, its real estate market is as varied as the city is wide

The center of one of the three largest metropolitan areas in the Philippines, the city of Davao is expectedly also one of the Philippines’ most urbanized. Similar to its counterparts Cebu City and Manila, it functions as the key commercial, industrial, and educational district of the Davao Region and indeed the entire island of Mindanao, and is also one of the most highly desired in terms of investing real estate and residing overall.

Global real estate website Lamudi Philippines takes a looks Davao City’s buoyant real estate market.

Plenty More to the “Durian Capital of the Philippines”

Having officially garnered cityhood in 1936, Davao City is the main component of Metro Davao, the third most populous metropolitan area in the country. As its center, Davao City serves as the main hub for the region’s commercial, industrial, and educational activity.

What separates Davao City from other major urban locales, however, is that it also has a wealth of outdoor tourist destinations. One of its most recognizable landmarks happens to be Mount Apo, the highest mountain in the county.

From both a tourist and residential standpoint, one of the major draws to Davao City has been its safety. Arguably the safest city in the country already, crowdsourced rating website Numbeo has had Davao City ranked within the top ten of safest cities in the world since June 2015.

Living in and Buying Property in Davao City

Similar to its major metropolitan counterparts, the city has a large population, and in the last census was ranked to have fourth highest in the country. As a city with numerous residents, Davao continues to see the emergence of condominium developments and mixed-use townships in an effort to meet the increasing demand for real estate from its growing population.

Investors considering properties that are near the business district or areas with high and active foot traffic can look into areas like Davao Park District, the first township project in the Mindanao Region. The 11-hectare development is a project of Megaworld Corporation, and is envisioned to become the city’s premiere business district and a major center for the IT and BPO industries. Commercial, industrial, and office spaces are expected to be plenty here, as well as a number of residential units.

There are also existing condominium developments like the Dusit Thani Residences, Ecoland 4000, One Oasis, and numerous others situated in prime locations in the city with relatively easy access to commercial areas, schools, hospitals, and other urban necessities.

Although Davao is highly urbanized, property seekers can also find traditional houses and lots in the city that would be a little scarce. Characterized by extensive mountain ranges and large, contiguous lowland areas, the types of property seen in the city are vast and are able to suit the needs of just about any type of buyer or investor.

Prices of residential property listed online for the city of Davao are currently valued between Php410,000 at the lowest, to as much as Php50,000,000. A coastal city, a number of beach lots are available in the southeast area of the city that are ideal for retirement or vacation homes, or for tropical resorts.

The city’s large area has also allowed it to have a thriving agriculture industry, and expectedly, there are also numerous sections of Davao where farm lots and acreages are situated.


*This is Press Release

6 Highly Urbanized Cities with Homes Under 1 Million Pesos

Many assume that buying a home in a highly urbanized city (defined by the National Statistics Office as having a minimum population of 200,000 and an annual income of at least Php50 million) is expensive. But it looks like this is not the case. According to data from MyProperty.ph, the following are highly urbanized Philippine cities that boast urban yet laidback lifestyle, great culinary tradition, buoyant economies, and most importantly, affordable real estate.

DUMAGUETE CITY

Photo by Mike Gonzales via Wikimedia Commons

Dumaguete City, nicknamed the City of Gentle People, is located in the province of Negros Oriental. This city is accessible by air via Sibulan Airport (aka Dumaguete Airport), which is located in the general area of the city. If traveling by sea, it can be reached via daily ferry transportation to and from neighboring Cebu Province.

This city is also the home of Asia’s first American private university, Silliman University, which makes Dumaguete a popular college town in the Visayas region.

According to the 2014 Retire Overseas Index released by Live and Invest Overseas, Dumaguete is one of seven best places to retire in the world. The index, which was cited in an article published in Forbes magazine, singled out Dumaguete’s beaches, affordable real estate, and good health care facilities are major draws.

So if one plans to relocate in Dumaguete, he will be delighted to know that houses for sale in the city are some of the most affordable. MyProperty.ph data shows that depending on the area, a two-bedroom house may cost as low as Php410,000.

DAVAO CITY

Photo by Constantine Agustin via Wikimedia Commons

The Durian Capital of the Philippines is the most populous city in Mindanao and is also the home of Mount Apo, the Philippines’ highest peak. Davao is also often cited as one of the country’s safest cities. It can be accessed via sea and land as transportation is widely available in and around the city.

The city has a lot to offer to both tourists and residents. Aside from Mount Apo, Davao City has parks and beaches for outdoor fun activities, such as extreme water sports and trekking. Also nicknamed the “Fruit Basket of the Philippines,” Davao City is the island’s leading exporter of mangoes, mangosteens, papayas, and the notable Davao fruit, durian.

Despite being Mindanao’s business capital, Davao City still offers some of the most affordable real estate in the country. A two-bedroom home can be had for as low as Php450,000.

BACOLOD CITY

Photo by Xentran via Wikimedia Commons

The capital of Negros Occidental, Bacolod City is billed as the “Best Place to Live in the Philippines” by MoneySense Magazine.

Dubbed the City of Smiles, it has a modern airport , good infrastructure, and has also been declared as a Center of Excellence by the Department of Science and Technology. But these don’t take away the city’s heritage and character. Bacolod still boasts heritage homes of the sugar barons of the yesteryears, while some of its prime areas are being converted to gleaming shopping malls and BPO centers.

In Bacolod, a starting family may purchase a two-bedroom house for as low as Php550,000.

CALAMBA CITY
Photo by WikiCalambenyo via Wikimedia Commons

Dubbed the City of Hot Springs, Calamba is a popular weekend resort destination among residents of Metro Manila. It also helps that the city is at the southern terminus of the South Luzon Expressway, making commute from the capital very easy.

Tourists flock to Calamba all year round. Apart from its hot springs and resorts, Calamba is also home to the second tallest Rizal monument, which was built at the national hero’s childhood home. Another city landmark relevant to Rizal’s life that still stands today is the St. John the Baptist Parish Church, where the National Hero was christened. The Calambanga, a huge claypot or banga in Filipino, stands at the city plaza to represent where the name “Calamba” originated from. A more modern tourist attraction, the Republ1c Wakepark in NUVALI, serves as a respite for extreme sports enthusiasts.

Calamba has plenty of residential areas and subdivisions. If one would like to live in a two-bedroom home that has a beautiful view, he may acquire one for as low as Php605,000.

ANGELES CITY

Photo by Judgefloro via Wikimedia Commons

A city renowned for its culinary tradition, Pampanga’s Angeles City is also famous for the Clark Freeport Zone, a former U.S. military installation that was turned into an economic zone after the Americans left in the early 1990s. What remained after the U.S. base shut down was a city with an international airport, waterparks, BPO centers, condos, and some of the largest townships to be built in the Philippines. Add to this the fact that Angeles is accessible from Metro Manila via the North Luzon Expressway, making commute to and from the capital fast and easy.

Angeles City’s newfound boom is fueling its real estate market. However, housing here is still quite affordable. A two-bedroom home in Angeles can be had for as low as Php650,000.

ILOILO CITY

Photo by Jennifer S. Kimball via Wikimedia Commons

The capital city of Iloilo Province, it has its own airport, a buoyant local economy, colorful festivals, and now mixed-use townships by national real estate developers.

Iloilo also has international and domestic seaports and fish ports that are heavily used for international trading of fish and marine products. These products supply fresh catch to region’s largest supermarkets, hotels and restaurants.

Native delicacies and cultural, historical and natural tourist destinations await future residents of Iloilo. However, the city is not all fun and no business. More and more BPO companies are setting up shop in Iloilo, drawn by the city’s high number of college graduates.

These developments have led to the city’s real estate boom. Aside from the aforementioned mixed-use township by Megaworld, the city boasts traditional horizontal housing in gated communities or subdivisions. A two-bedroom home can be bought for as low as PHP 980,000.