Metropolitan Davao will implement a comprehensive and sustainable urban development master plan starting in November this year, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said on Wednesday.
In a partnership between JICA and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) XI, the master plan outlines strategic development priorities for the region from 2025 to 2045. This ambitious initiative aims to transform Metropolitan Davao into a hub of efficient urban management including a multi-modal transport network, that is expected to benefit 5 million residents and spur growth across the region.
In a statement , JICA said the project, which commenced in March 2024, aims to complete its final report by November this year.
The 3rd Steering committee meeting for the project was held on August 19, in Sotogrande Hotel, Davao City.
The meeting was chaired by DEPDev XI Regional Director, Pricsilla Sonido and attended by Governors of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro, Municipal Mayors from Carmen and Digos, and over 50 representatives from 15Local Government Units (LGUs) of Metropolitan Davao and various National Government Agencies in Region XI. Also in attendance are the Consul-General of Japan in Davao, and JICA officers.
During the meeting, JICA Expert Team (JET) Leader Kumazawa Ken outlined six strategic directions: establishing livable and sustainable urban areas, developing a strong multimodal transport network, fostering creative and inclusive economic growth through agri-industry, ecotourism, and innovation hubs, preserving the Davao Gulf as a vital ecological and economic resource, promoting climate resilience through flood control, slope protection, and disaster-preparedness, and advancing metropolitan governance with smart, data-driven systems.
In line with JICA’s development philosophy, the proposals combine “hard” measures (infrastructure such as roads, railways, bridges, water supply, sewerage, flood control, and solid waste facilities) with “soft” measures (institutional reforms, urban planning tools, environmental protection, disaster management, and capacity development of LGUs), according to the statement .
This integrated approach reflects JICA’s model of pairing infrastructure development with governance and capacity building to ensure growth that is sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.
With the interim report now in place, JICA said, the next phase will refine priority projects, secure stakeholder consensus, and finalize the master plan for implementation starting this year. Once realized, the plan is expected to benefit over 5 million residents across Metropolitan Davao, driving economic growth not only in the region, but across Mindanao.
