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Davao City govt opposes plan for foreign military facilities

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

THE CITY government of Davao openly opposed plans to build foreign military services in the city. 

“The city government of Davao does not welcome and will oppose any plan to build foreign military facilities within the jurisdiction of Davao City,” the city government said in a statement on Tuesday, April 14.

This, following reports that a US military fuel depot is being planned to be established in the Davao Region.

On March 31, the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) issued a formal solicitation for contractors to bid on a Defense Fuel Support Point (DFSP) project in the said area. 

The DFSP forms part of a broader network of refueling hubs intended to support US military vessels and aircraft operating across the Pacific.

It is expected to store up to 41 million gallons of fuel products and lubricants aimed to support US military operations.

The city government maintained that it will not support such a move if it does not help address the economic strain brought about by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

“If such a plan does not help cushion the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, such as reducing the price of oil and commodities and alleviating the living conditions of the people, then we will not support it,” the city government said.

To note, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)-Southern Mindanao strongly denounced the planned US military oil depot in Davao Region, considering it a grave violation of Philippine sovereignty.

The group called on the local government units of Davao City, Davao del Sur, and neighboring provinces to categorically reject the DFSP project and “uphold the region’s security and sovereignty against foreign military encroachment.”

“As consistently raised by concerned groups for years, increased US military presence in the country heightens the risk of the Philippines being drawn into geopolitical conflicts among global powers,” BAYAN stressed.

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News

High alert 

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron
  • Davao City activates crisis center for OFW families; AFP gears up amid Middle East conflict

THE CITY government moved swiftly to prepare ample support for the families of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who may be caught in the crossfire as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.

Davao City Information Office head Harvey James Lanticse announced on March 2, 2026, that the Davao City OFW Families’ Welfare and Crisis Center is now closely monitoring the situation to provide immediate assistance to “left-behind” families.

How to access assistance

Families concerned about their relatives in the Middle East are encouraged to contact the city’s dedicated welfare center through the following channels:

  • 24/7 Hotline: 0962-996-6520
  • Landline: (082) 225-6214
  • Email: ofwcenter.davaocity@gmail.com
  • Facebook: OFW Families’ Welfare and Crisis Center Davao City

The city’s activation of these services coincides with the national directive to ensure all government agencies are ready to assist Filipino lives and uphold national security as the global situation evolves.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is on heightened monitoring status as tensions escalate in the Middle East, but it assured the public that while there is no “credible direct threat” to Philippine territory, national security forces are prepared for large-scale repatriation and crisis response.

In an official statement released on March 1, 2026, the AFP confirmed it is working in close coordination with the Department of National Defense and various civilian agencies to track developments overseas. 

The military emphasized that national security conditions remain stable, but urged citizens to rely only on verified government sources to combat potential disinformation.

“The AFP stands ready to augment possible repatriation and crisis response efforts for Filipinos in affected areas, when directed,” the statement read, reinforcing the military’s commitment to the government’s “whole-of-nation” protection strategy.

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News

City honors 129th anniversary of martyrdom of Jose Rizal

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

THE CITY government commemorated the 129th death anniversary of national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, on Tuesday, Dec. 30. 

Councilor J. Melchor Quitain Jr. led the wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument, City Hall grounds, along with government line agencies and consular representatives from Indonesia, Japan, and China, among others.

In a speech delivered by Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Quitain said Filipinos must also make use of their talents and skills to uplift the community just as Rizal used his intellect and voice to serve humanity.

“Rizal’s martyrdom and the martyrdom of all our heroes helped awaken the collective consciousness of the Filipino people and ignited the flame of freedom, one that inspired our forefathers to stand firm for dignity, justice, and self-determination,” he said.

“As such, the Philippines became not just a place we live in today, but a nation, we are called to love, serve, and belong,” he added.

Brigadier General Christopher M. Diaz, commander of 103rd Infantry Raptor Brigade, 10th Infantry Division, who served as the keynote speaker, commemorated Rizal as the hero who advocated for reform through peaceful means.

“More than a hero, Rizal was like any of us, an ordinary Filipino, but what set him apart was his extraordinary sense of duty to fight for our nation, at a time when our honor and sovereignty were being taken away,” he said.

“His story, a reminder, especially for our soldiers, that heroism is not only about grand gestures, but the strength to go beyond oneself, and for the greater good of the many,” Diaz added.

Diaz urged people to remember the life and writings of Rizal not only in fighting and protecting our freedom, but also in confronting the challenges in the contemporary environment.

“He was a visionary, a man of immense courage and intellect, who believed in the power of knowledge to create change. His relentless pursuit of education and enlightenment set the stage for his crucial role in our nation’s history,” he said.

Diaz also reiterated the lines of Rizal “Ang Kabataan ang Pag-asa ng Bayan,” reminding to nurture and protect the youth.

“It is our collective duty to protect our young Dabawenyos from radicalization, violent extremism, and more so the illegal drugs. Let us invest in education, mentorship, and programs that will provide them with a better, safer and successful future,” he stressed.

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Community

McDonald’s Philippines, Davao City Partner toEmploy Senior Citizens

by Contributor
written by Contributor

Davao City — McDonald’s Philippines is set to hire at least 110 senior citizens for 18 of its stores in Davao City, as part of the company’s inclusive hiring program M For All, which aims to employ senior citizens and persons with disability (PWD). The program will run from October 2025 to December 2026.

The quick service restaurant (QSR) giant recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Davao City Government, together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and its Public Service Employment Office (PESO).

A welcoming and inclusive workplace for seniors

As McDonald’s Philippines continues to scale and open more stores across the country, there is also an increasing demand for a dynamic workforce. And while a big percentage of McDonald’s talent pool are working students and fresh graduates—the Gen Z—the company also strongly believes in providing employment opportunities for individuals in their 60s and beyond.

M for All is part of McDonald’s Philippines’ people practices, providing its staff with job security, an inclusive workplace, and a world-class training and development program. Since Chairman and Master Franchise Holder Dr. George T. Yang opened the first store in Manila in 1981, McDonald’s Philippines has practiced direct employment and non-contractualization, providing job security for its over 65,000 workforce.

“McDonald’s Philippines is committed to generating employment opportunities for Filipinos, regardless of their age, gender, and background,” said Adi Hernandez, Assistant Vice President for Corporate Relations and Impact. “Our inclusive workplace is a welcoming environment not just for working students and working-age individuals, but also out-of-school youth, persons with disabilities, and through this partnership, senior citizens. We’re excited to partner with Davao City for the M For All  Program, and we’re looking forward to more opportunities for collaboration and partnership that will benefit the people and communities.”

Since its launch in 2019, M For All (formerly Alternative Workforce Program)  has been employing senior citizens in its stores. This 2025, the program has been relaunched and implemented in the City of Manila, Pasay City, Caloocan City, Parañaque City, Pasig City, San Fernando City in Pampanga, and Bacoor, Cavite, covering 61 company-owned and franchise stores.

M For All is McDonald’s Philippines’ first partnership program with Davao City, and is the first activation outside Luzon. The program will also be launched in partnership with other LGUs in Luzon and Visayas in the coming months.

Under the M For All program, each qualified applicant is engaged over a period of five months, reporting for work four hours a day, five days a week. Each applicant is assigned at the store lobby area, interacting with guests and customers, presenting their orders and drinks, and managing the tables. Aside from receiving government-mandated wages (which also include a percentage of the mandated 13th-month pay), they are also covered by a group life insurance paid for by the company.

Thirty years in Davao City

The beloved QSR has been committed not just to providing feel-good experiences to its customers, but has also been making a difference in the lives of the people it employs and the communities it serves.

In Davao City alone, over 2,000 store managers and service crew are finding their Best Me at the 22 McDonald’s stores in the city, helping generate employment for residents of the city and nearby areas while also contributing to local economic growth.

McDonald’s Philippines and Davao City kick off the M for All program in the city through the signing of a memorandum of agreement. Also supported by the Department of Labor and Employment and its Public Service Employment Office, M for All will hire 110 senior citizens for McDonald’s stores in Davao City.

Said Hernandez: “Since opening our first store in Davao City in the 1990s, McDonald’s Philippines has seen impressive growth and development in the city. For over 30 years, McDonald’s has seen families create feel-good memories, employees develop into the best versions of themselves, and the entire Davao City become stronger and more progressive.” 

Last July, the 800th McDonald’s store was launched at Davao Global Township, the first “Green & Good” store in Mindanao. As a Green & Good store, McDonald’s Davao Global Township features solar panels, rainwater harvesting tanks, power-saving motion sensors, LED lights, and efficient air-conditioning systems. These features significantly reduce energy consumption as well as the use of natural resources. Green & Good also promotes a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. The Davao Global Township store has bike-friendly features, which attracts not just serious cyclists but also biking beginners and enthusiasts.

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Business

Davao City hosts sister cities in Kadayawan, maintains good will ties

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

THE LOCAL government, through Acting Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte, hosted its sister cities and other foreign dignitaries during the Kadayawan Festival to explore new opportunities for trade, investments, culture, and education.

Among the distinguished guests were Mr. Eyos Rudimch, Governor of the Koror State Government in Palau; Hon. Yamamoto Yuma, Mayor of Sennan City Government in Japan; Mr. Zheng Feng, Deputy Secretary-General of the Dalian Municipal People’s Government in China; and Ms. Ria J. Jumawan Johnson, Tacoma Sister Cities Co-Chair from the Tacoma City Government in the USA. 

Also present were representatives from foreign chambers and the private sector, including delegates from South Korea, Russia, Singapore, as well as Fuzhou City and Nanning City in China, and Japan.

The courtesy meeting on Aug. 15 was part of Invest Davao: Kadayawan Global Connect 2025, a three-day event organized by the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC).

DCIPC said 113 foreign delegates were in attendance: 32 from foreign companies, with 90 local companies in Davao. 

DCIPC head April Marie Dayap said inviting more foreign delegates and guests will help position the city as an area of investment.

“Especially the investors to network with them, and we can build relationships with them so that they can see potential opportunities where they can put their capital and investment here in Davao,” she said. 

The event, she added, was able to showcase the city’s tourism and investment potentials to the world.

In his speech, Duterte thanked the delegates for gracing the city with the festivities of the Kadayawan Festival.

“Our sister cities are extremely vital, but creating opportunities to bridge other communities and establish new linkages is also meaningful,” Duterte said.

The acting mayor urged the foreign delegates to see the city as a bridge to explore shared interests and build alliances.

“Regardless of various backgrounds, we all share the same goal to bring prosperity, stability, and peace in our respective communities, and the best way to do this is to learn from each other and support one another,” he added.

Duterte hinted at bringing in more sister city accords in the future, following the discussions during business meetings.

At present, the city has a sister city pact with the County of Kaua’i, Hawaii, USA. For Asian countries, the city has an agreement with Tai’an City and Jinjiang City of the People’s Republic of China and Kitakyushu City, Senan City, and Hamamatsu City of Japan. 

Photo courtesy of City Government of Davao

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