BY ALEX ALAGON
AGRICULTURE, forestry, and fishing reported a slow growth of 1.9% from 2024, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (XI) Economic Performance of Davao region for 2025 Report on Thursday.
Jocelyn Gerones, Department of Agriculture XI Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division officer, agriculture is the most sensitive when it comes to weather conditions frequenting the region.
“Agriculture is very vulnerable to weather conditions, La Niña, El Niño, typhoons, is a big concern for agricultural damage,” Gerones told TIMES, noting these affect the production.
Gerones added that the low growth can also be attributed to pests and diseases such as influenza in animals and livestock, especially hog production.
The PSA XI reported that the economy of the Davao Region in 2025 reached a value of P1.14 trillion, reflecting a 5.1 percent growth compared to 2024.
The agency said this is the region’s third consecutive year of sustaining a trillion-peso economy, securing its position as the fifth-largest regional economy in the Philippines.
However, of the share of major industries for the economy of the region, where Services logged 62.1%, and Industries had 24.7, agriculture, forestry, and fishing had the lowest share with 13.2%.
Of the P1.14 trillion, the industry logged a share of P149.68 billion, where crops logged the highest with 65.8%; livestock and poultry and other animals (19.7%); support activities (11.1%); fishing (3.4%), and forestry (0.01%).
Taking a closer look at the industry, of the major industries, while the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry logged a positive growth, the rate is slow.
From 2023, the industry reached a value of P147.45 billion, which decelerated to P146.90 billion in 2024 but rebounded to P149.68 billion in 2025.
Gerones said that while this is a slow growth, the region is still hopeful for the industry as it has continued to increase in economic value.
“Although wala kaayo nag increase, gikan man gud sa negative growth, so nag positive karon maong di kaayo makita ang increase, but at least nag positive,” she said.
DA XI continues to conduct seed subsidy, fertilizer assistance, and provision of planting materials to the farmers as per the request of the local government unit and walk-in clients.
Gerones said the agency is focusing on the yield of the rice production in the region, as it continues to be dependent on other regions, such as Region 12, among others, which is more than 100% sufficient.
As of 2025, the region’s rice sufficiency level is only 56%, attributed to the area of rice plantation.
Since the region cannot expand to the rice area, as its strength is more in high-value crops, Gerones said the agency is working on increasing the yield.
The agency is developing the techno-demo for rice varieties and the provision of fertilizers, focused on the maximum yield.
“Those varieties that we get from techno-demo, mao to among gipresent sa farmers, so our challenge is how the farmers adapt to these new varieties,” she said.
The agency provides hybrid rice seeds of one bag per hectare, and fertilizers for inbred varieties, and fertilizer assistance to techno-demo fields.
ALSONS Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev) has completed the turnover of its first batch of residential units at Narra Park Residences Avia, the first residential development within Avia Estate in Alabel, Sarangani.
The milestone marks the transition of early homebuyers into homeowners and reflects the steady progress of Narra Park Residences Avia as part of the broader development of Avia Estate, Alsons Dev’s 121-hectare township in Sarangani.
The turnover was marked by the first Buyers Appreciation Day of the community, where homeowners and guests gathered for project updates and community activities within the estate.
For early homeowners, the experience reinforces confidence in their investment and the long-term value of the development.
“Based on what I have experienced today, I can already say this home will be good for us in the future. If there’s one place I can recommend for both investment and family, this is it,” said Catherine Cuico, one of the first homeowners of Narra Park Residences Avia.
Alsons Dev president and CEO Miguel Rene A. Dominguez, who led the ceremonial turnover, said the milestone reflects the company’s commitment to delivering communities that are thoughtfully planned and built for long-term living.
“These represent more than completed units—they are the beginning of a community,” Dominguez said. “Our focus has always been to deliver developments that are well-planned, responsive to how people want to live, and built for long-term value.”
Building a growing community in Avia Estate
Narra Park Residences Avia is part of Avia Estate, Alsons Dev’s first major township expansion outside its Davao stronghold. To date, 59 homes have been completed within the residential enclave.
The estate continues to develop key shared spaces that support everyday living and community life. Following the inauguration of the Alabel Public Safety and Security Complex in January 2025 and the opening of The Abba’s Orchard Montessori School in August 2025, recent additions include the Avia Estate megatent for events and a football field. Upcoming developments include an interim commercial area, a pickleball court, and the completion of the Narra Park Residences Avia community facilities, all designed to support the growing needs of residents and foster stronger community connections.
Together, these developments reflect Avia Estate’s ongoing evolution as a master-planned community designed to grow alongside its residents.
The turnover of Narra Park Residences Avia and development milestones at Avia Estate underscore Alsons Dev’s consistent approach to building communities anchored on thoughtful planning, livability, and long-term value. As the company expands its footprint beyond Mindanao’s urban centers, it continues to apply the same standards across its developments, reinforcing its commitment to creating communities where people can live, grow, and belong.
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines — Limketkai Sons Inc, the Mindanao-based conglomerate behind the iconic Limketkai Mall, has named Bonita Limketkai and Cindy Limketkai to its top leadership posts, marking a transformational shift for one of the region’s most recognized family enterprises.
Bonita Limketkai now serves as chair of Limketkai & Sons Inc., while Cindy Limketkai assumes the role of president.
Breaking the mold
The appointments represent a departure from a family tradition where leadership historically passed to male heirs.
Bonita shares, “The family has chosen a path forward. They recognize that progress will come through diversity and innovation.”
A philosophy and business school graduate who founded and built ventures across Toronto, Shanghai, and New York before returning home, Bonita brings an entrepreneurial edge to the role. Cindy, shaped by careers in analytics and global strategy, anchors the partnership with a data-driven approach. A graduate of Management Honors at Ateneo de Manila University, followed by an MBA at Columbia Business School in New York, Cindy began her career at McKinsey & Company, working on strategy and transformation projects across Asia.
“I naturally look at data to guide decisions,” Cindy said. “But I’ve learned that execution depends on people.”
Complementary forces
The cousins-in-law describe their dynamic as vision meets precision.
“I create the vision and strategy. Cindy implements,” Bonita explained. “We discourse, but working together seems natural, effortless, yet fun. We’re both complementary in our skill sets, hold the same high standards for quality and execution, and also share similar values on faith and community service.”
Cindy put it simply: “Bonita and I recognize in each other, hard work and grit. I started as a cashier at my lolo’s department store. I learnt retail from the ground up. While Bonita, as a student overseas, worked minimum wage in construction and F&B, doing manual work like painting, dishwashing, and mopping floors. She prides herself on being an exceptional toilet cleaner.”
Reimagining the mall
Since taking the helm, very quickly, Bonita and Cindy have disrupted the industry with their bold and progressive moves, carrying on the reputation of Limketkai as a first mover in a space that has become saturated, cluttered, and noisy.
Central to their agenda is the transformation of Limketkai Mall from retail destination to community hub, what Cindy calls a “true third space.”
“We have to define what that means,” she said. “A place where people choose to spend time.”
Bonita frames the mission in personal terms: “I’m a mother at heart. I made the center my new home—to clean, repair, and prepare for guests to stay.”
Ketkai, as most locals endearingly call it, has seen the most developments since they’ve taken over, paving the way for fiscal growth and dynamic brand expansion. New brands have made their way to the mall, a modern dining hall has debuted, and a focus on food and recreation is at the center of it all.
A Community-Centered Vision
Both leaders emphasize that the family’s businesses exist to serve the region that supported it.
“We aim to elevate the quality of life for Kagayanons by supporting local entrepreneurs, pioneering innovative products and services,” Bonita said. “We want to raise the bar on how we better serve our people—our employees, our customers, our community, our city.”
“Our family’s 100-year-old story started with our grandfather’s entrepreneurship, and it grew with both our fathers’ drive and perseverance. We are building on this by committing to uphold our grandmother’s teachings to love and serve God, family, and community.”
“Our family business has soul. We know who we are, our purpose, and what we mean to Kagayanons.”
VERONICA “Kitty” Duterte, the youngest daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, broke her silence on Thursday with a defiant message, following a major legal setback for her father at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Her statement comes after the ICC Appeals Chamber officially confirmed the court’s jurisdiction over the investigation into the “war on drugs,” rejecting the appeal filed by the former president’s defense team.
In an interview with Alvin & Tourism, which quickly gained traction on social media, Kitty Duterte addressed her father’s critics directly, suggesting that political and legal opposition would fail to diminish his legacy.
“No matter how much you hate PRRD, there will always be millions who loved him just as much or even more,” she wrote. “If you think you will win, no, you won’t, because either way—Invictus.”
The term “Invictus” (Latin for “unconquered”) is a direct reference to the Victorian-era poem by William Ernest Henley, which famously celebrates resilience and personal autonomy in the face of adversity.
She echoed the poem’s closing lines to characterize her father’s stance:
“I am the master of my own destiny, I am the captain of my own soul.”
By rejecting the defense’s appeal, the ICC has cleared a significant procedural hurdle, allowing the prosecutor to continue investigating alleged crimes against humanity committed during the administration’s anti-drug campaign.
The Duterte defense team had argued that the ICC lost jurisdiction when the Philippines officially withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019. However, the court maintained that it retains authority over crimes allegedly committed while the country was still a member state.
While human rights advocates hailed the ICC ruling as a step toward accountability, the Duterte family continues to frame the proceedings as an infringement on Philippine sovereignty and a personal attack on a leader they believe remains a hero to millions.
A LAWMAKER here said the city government remains committed to pursuing the waste-to-energy (WTE) facility despite significant delays in its implementation.
Councilor Temujin Ocampo, committee chair on environment and natural resources, said the information relayed to him by the city administrator was that the Japanese government is still interested in funding the project.
“As far as the city government is concerned, we are green [light], maghulat pud ta sa Japanese government,” Ocampo said during the Pulong-pulong sa Dabawenyos forum on Tuesday.
The local government has been pushing for the construction of the WTE project, with the proposed 11-megawatt facility located at Purok 6, Barangay Biao Escuela, Tugbok District.
“It’s only a matter of time kung kanus-a ni ma realize because they are still doing some studies para ma siguro the construction will push through,” he said.
Amid the opposition of the environmental groups, Ocampo maintained that the city government is “hoping” it will be realized.
Notably, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) has voiced strong opposition to the proposed incineration project, as it is “counter-intuitive” to the city’s established circular economy goals.
However, Ocampo said he backs the explanation of the Japanese government that this technology is really safe, considering it’s used in several cities in Japan to manage waste.
“As a matter of fact, pag visit namo sa WTE sa Kitakyushu, Japan, it was surrounded by residential areas, so far wa may reportedly nga naay nagkasakit or nadaot didto,” he stressed.
In a media engagement here on April 17, Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo defended the proposed WTE project in the city, asserting that advanced Japanese technology can address the mounting trash crisis without compromising public health.
“If you visit Tokyo, many waste-to-energy facilities are operating even in the middle of a very big city. We believe that with existing technology, we can establish environmentally friendly and sustainable facilities,” Endo said.
He stressed, “In fact, existing sanitary landfills can often be even more harmful to the environment than modern WTE plants.”
It can be noted that the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) XI conducted a public scoping on April 15, 2026, at the Barangay Biao Escuela gym.
The agency affirmed the procedural integrity of the public scoping process as a preliminary step in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, governed strictly by DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2017-15.
Under DAO No. 2017-15, the EIA process is designed to ensure that environmental and social safeguards are addressed before any decision is made on the issuance of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
However, when asked about the results of the public scoping, Ocampo said he is not privy to the discussions as his office was not invited.
“I don’t know. I was not invited. I did not receive any formal invitation, so I did not come,” the councilor said.
Public scoping provides a platform for host communities, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to identify and raise specific concerns.
All inputs gathered during the scoping will form the basis of the Scoping Checklist, which defines the specific studies the proponent must undertake in their Environmental Impact Statement.
THE STATE weather bureau raised the El Niño alert after assessing a 79% possibility that the extended dry season would develop from June to August 2026, according to the advisory released on Wednesday, April 22.
Based on the PAGASA statement, an El Niño Alert is issued when conditions are favorable and a forecast probability of 70% or more within the next 2 to 3 months.
The weather bureau said El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-Neutral is prevailing over the Tropical Pacific. However, most climate models with expert judgements suggest 79% chance of El Niño emerging in June-July-August 2026 season and is likely to persist until early 2027.
“El Niño is a warm phase of ENSO and is characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) over the Philippine Sea and warmer-than-average SSTs in the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific (CEEP),” it said.
During an El Niño event, the possibility of drier-than-usual conditions is increased, which can lead to negative impacts such as droughts and dry spells in some parts of the country.
However, the weather bureau affirmed, above-normal rainfall conditions may also be experienced over the western section of the country during the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) season.
PAGASA continues to closely monitor the development of this ENSO phenomenon.
Meanwhile, the weather bureau said moderate to strong El Niño conditions are possible during the September–October–November season.
“All concerned government agencies and the general public are encouraged to keep on monitoring and take precautionary measures against the impacts of developing El Niño,” it stressed.
- PLA uniforms, explosives found as 20 foreigners arrested in Davao raid
By Rhoda Grace B Saron
A JOINT task force led by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) XI and the 10th Infantry “Agila” Division apprehended 20 Chinese nationals on Wednesday, April 22, uncovering what appears to be a sophisticated illegal mining network operating in the Davao region.
The operation, which targeted sites in Pantukan, Davao de Oro, and Tagum City, Davao del Norte, was initially launched to serve mission orders 2026-151 and 152 for suspected immigration violations. However, the raid took a turn upon the discovery of high-level contraband.
Reportedly, authorities discovered mineral resources and heavy mining equipment, explosives used for extraction, and Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) uniforms, raising questions regarding the background and intent of the foreign nationals.
Initial investigation suggested that the individuals—all holders of tourist visas—have been overstaying and engaged in unauthorized small-scale mining for an extended period. Authorities believe the gold and mineral ores extracted were intended for smuggling out of the country.
Under the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, the suspects are being held for “undesirability” due to expired visas (Section 37(a)(9)). Furthermore, they face potential prosecution under Republic Act 7942 (the Philippine Mining Act of 1995) for operating without the necessary government environmental and extraction permits.
“This operation underscores the importance of inter-agency coordination,” said Major General Alvin Luzon, commander of the 10ID. “It not only addressed immigration violations but also exposed illegal activities that threaten our natural resources and national security.”
The Bureau of Immigration and military intelligence are currently probing the depth of the network. The presence of military uniforms has added a layer of complexity to the case, as investigators look into whether the mining operation has broader security implications beyond environmental and economic crimes.
The 20 suspects remain in custody as the government intensifies its crackdown on unlawful activities involving foreign nationals in Mindanao.
Photo courtesy of 10th ID
The access programme and advocacy initiative closed affordability gaps for Filipino patients.
Takeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc. won Most Differentiated Service of the Year – Philippines and Patient Advocacy Program of the Year – Philippines in the Healthcare Asia Pharma Awards 2026 for its access model that supports patients from disease awareness to therapy completion.
In a healthcare system where many patients face delayed diagnosis, long referral pathways, and high out-of-pocket costs, the company built a differentiated and sustainable service anchored on its Patient Assistance Program (PAP). The programme follows a clear principle: therapy completion should not depend on a patient’s ability to pay.
PAP uses an affordability-based assessment to evaluate each eligible patient’s circumstances and set a contribution aligned to what the patient can reasonably afford for the full course of treatment. This structured, patient-level approach supports equity whilst maintaining business viability. It is not a standard discount model but a tailored access scheme designed for Filipino patients and adaptable to changing circumstances.
The operating model involves independent third parties assessing financial support needs and informing programme design. Patients share in the cost of treatment, whilst Takeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc. collaborates with local authorities and partners to help cover the remaining cost. The company embeds access within hospital pathways through collaborations with organisations such as the Tzu Chi Foundation, private institutions, and major hospitals, helping reduce out-of-pocket expenses and improve coordination across the patient journey.
To date, more than 1,300 Filipino patients have received support through Takeda’s access programme, including patients living with Hodgkin lymphoma, inflammatory bowel disease, and other rare conditions. By enabling therapy completion, the programme helps patients return to work or school and resume caregiving roles, reducing the broader social and economic burden of untreated disease.
Beyond affordability, the company addresses inequity in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas by working with partners to strengthen patient navigation and connections to appropriate providers and specialists. Through Access to Medicines Summits and partnership frameworks, it also supports patients in accessing available private and government funding.
A key milestone in its advocacy efforts is the inclusion of life-saving treatment for rare diseases such as haemophilia in the Philippine National Formulary, enabling free access to essential medicines in government hospitals following partnerships and a positive health technology assessment.
C-ANPROM/PH/NON/0051
The Healthcare Asia Pharma Awards shines a spotlight on the outstanding companies redefining pharmaceutical excellence in Asia. It lauds those who redefine the pharmaceutical landscape through innovative, unique initiatives that have significantly enhanced their businesses.
Will Howell, COO and CFO of 2GO Group, Inc., and Ethel Concepcion, Head of Corporate Marketing and Communications, accept two 2026 Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards on behalf of 2GO Group.
Macau, China – 2GO, the country’s largest end-to-end logistics solutions provider, has secured Gold wins at the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, marking its debut recognition in the international awards program.
At the 13th annual awards, 2GO was honored with a Gold Stevie® for “How 2GO’s Management Engineered a Strategic Turnaround and Built a Modern, High-Performing Logistics Enterprise” under the Award for Innovative Management in Business Product & Service Industries category.
Will Howell, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of 2GO Group, Inc., was also recognized as Most Innovative Finance Executive of the Year, underscoring the leadership behind the company’s transformation and sustained operational performance.
The recognition highlights 2GO’s strategic turnaround and its continued investment in strengthening end-to-end logistics capabilities. The company has expanded its nationwide network, enhanced operational efficiency, and integrated its shipping and supply chain solutions to better serve businesses and communities across the Philippines.
The Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards recognize innovation across 29 markets in the region, honoring organizations and leaders that drive business excellence and transformation.
“What we are building at 2GO is about more than logistics. It is about empowering businesses, supporting communities, and helping drive economic progress across the Philippines,” said Howell. “This recognition reflects the meaningful impact of our work, the focus and dedication of our 2GO team, and inspires us to continue delivering value at scale.”
This milestone places 2GO alongside leading organizations across the Asia-Pacific recognized for innovation and operational excellence, reinforcing the company’s growing role in shaping a more connected and resilient logistics landscape in the region.
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