(Davao City, August 19, 2025). The Third Steering Committee Meeting for the Project for the Comprehensive and Sustainable Urban Development Master Plan (CSUDMP) for Metropolitan Davao convened on August 19, 2025 at the Sotogrande Hotel, Davao City, with local leaders, national agencies, and international development partners reaffirming their shared vision for a resilient and inclusive metropolitan region.
The meeting, presided over by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) XI Regional Director Priscilla R. Sonido, gathered key Japanese officials including the Consul-General of Japan in Davao Mr. Hirotaka Ono, and Mr. Fukui Keisuke of JICA Philippines, alongside local chief executives, notably Governor Edwin I. Jubahib (Davao del Norte), Governor Raul G. Mabanglo (Davao de Oro), Mayor Leonidas R. Bahague (Carmen) and Mayor Arthur Carlos Voltaire R. Rimando (Maco).
Since its inception in March 2024, the CSUDMP has been envisioned as the long-term blueprint for the growth and transformation of Metropolitan Davao. The project has undertaken extensive data gathering, stakeholder consultations, and strategy development focusing on sustainable land use, infrastructure, environmental management, and socio-economic growth.
In her opening message, DEPDev XI Dir. Priscilla R. Sonido, expressed her gratitude to JICA and the Japanese government, noting that the Interim Report reflects the principles of inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience set in earlier meetings.
Consul-General Ono emphasized that Metro Davao’s development is vital not only for the Philippines but also for fostering connected and inclusive growth in the wider region.
Mr. Ken Kumazawa, JICA Expert Team Leader, presented the Interim Report, which lays out a comprehensive development framework anchored on six strategies: creating livable and sustainable urban areas through integrated transport and utility systems; building a strong transportation network with major roads, bridges, railways, airports, and seaports; promoting creative and inclusive growth via ecotourism, agri-industry hubs, and marine tourism; preserving the Davao Gulf through marine protection and coastal waste management; fostering climate resilience with flood control, slope protection, and disaster-prevention infrastructure; and introducing a new approach to metropolitan management through institutional strengthening, smart data systems, and innovative land development methods.
Discussions among LGU representatives underscored priority issues such as enhancing ferry services to complement bridges, clarifying the feasibility of proposed airports in Mati and Malita, strengthening agricultural value chains like coffee, and addressing urgent flood control measures. The JICA Expert Team assured stakeholders that these inputs will be integrated into the plan’s next phase, which includes economic, financial, and environmental analyses and project prioritization, with the Final Report targeted for submission in January 2026.
Closing the meeting, Mr. Fukui Keisuke of JICA Philippines, commended the participants for their exceptional inputs and unwavering commitment to the formulation of the CSUDMP. With the strong stakeholder collaboration demonstrated throughout the discussions, Mr. Fukui emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum as the project moves forward to serve the infrastructure and development needs of Metro Davao’s communities.
The “Project for Comprehensive and Sustainable Urban Development Master Plan for Metropolitan Davao” is a technical cooperation project between the Government of the Philippines, through DEPDev, and the Government of Japan, through JICA. The project aims to formulate a master plan that will guide the sustainable growth of Metropolitan Davao over the next 20 years.
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