DAVAO CITY — As Davao City’s business sector continues to expand, reliable infrastructure, including water services, plays an increasingly important role in supporting business operations, investment, and economic growth.
From January 1 to 31, 2026, the Davao City Business Bureau recorded 45,621 new business permit applications, up 3% from 44,410 applications from January 1 to 31, 2025 – highlighting sustained business confidence and investment activity in Davao City.
“Most of our registrations are coming from retail and services—sari-sari stores, groceries, distributors, and all kinds of service contractors,” Business Bureau Head Maribel T. Paguican had said.
Previously, business permit applications rose to a record 52,219 applications for the full year 2024, up from 50,792 for the entire 2023 and 49,935 for the entire 2022. Of full year 2024 figure, about 12% or 6,496 were new business permit applications.
With the increasing number of registered enterprises in the city, access to dependable infrastructure, power, and water services are key factors in supporting business continuity and maintaining Davao City’s competitiveness as an investment destination. These make Davao City well positioned compared to other major cities facing growing water supply challenges.
Helping to strengthen Davao City’s water system is the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP), a public-private partnership between the Davao City Water District (DCWD) and Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc.
Through the project, Apo Agua develops and operates the bulk water facility that treats surface water sourced from the Tamugan River and supplies up to 300 million liters of treated water per day to DCWD. This additional supply supports the city’s growing water requirements and helps strengthen the reliability of water services for households, businesses, and institutions.
“Davao City continues to maintain a secure and resilient water supply system, making it one of the key factors that enable businesses to operate efficiently, expand confidently, and invest in the city,” Paguican said. She also added that a reliable water supply reinforces Davao City’s position as a competitive and business-friendly destination for investors.
The additional water supply helps improve service reliability, supports more consistent water delivery, and enables the utility to expand service to more customers as demand continues to grow.
Reliable Water for a Growing Economy
For Davao City businesses, reliable water service is more than a basic utility, it is critical infrastructure.
“Mamroblema gyud mi sauna kay tig two days jud mawala ang tubig, maong magkuha na lang mi ug panghakot, usahay pinakalit ra mawala ang tubig maong maguol gyud mi. Karon wala na kaayo mi kadungog ug water interruption, kusog na pud ang pressure (We really had problems before because the water would be gone for two days at a time, so we had to fetch water ourselves. Sometimes, it would suddenly stop without warning, which really stressed us out. Now, we hardly experience any water interruptions, and the pressure is strong again.),” said carinderia owner Evelyn del Campo of Barangay Indangan previously.
Manufacturers, food processors, hospitals, hotels, commercial establishments, and office developments rely on consistent water supply to maintain operations, protect productivity, and support future expansion.
As Davao City continues to attract investments and businesses, resilient water infrastructure will remain fundamental to sustaining growth.
Through a more reliable water supply system, the DCBWSP is helping build the foundation for a more competitive and business-friendly city.
