Shortages and surpluses in Pinoy produce

How to stop throwing tomatoes and mangoes away

BY SOL VANZI

  

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AT A GLANCE

• While everyone is complaining endlessly about food items we have to import, very little attention is focused on local produce that are flooding the market, literally being given away.

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Newspapers, TV, and radio carry daily news about the spiraling prices of agricultural produce, such as rice, sugar, garlic and onions. The situation is no different for sources of protein—pork, chicken, and fish.

Supply shortage has been pinpointed as the root cause of the price situation; importation was decided to be the immediate solution. To improve distribution and cut out the middle man, hundreds of Kadiwa stores have been set up nationwide, selling rice for ₱25 per kilo. Housewives patronize Kadiwa stores to stock up on government-subsidized food items.

Local produce aplenty
While everyone is complaining endlessly about food items we have to import, very little attention is focused on local produce that are flooding the market, literally being given away. At the top of this list are tomatoes and mangoes, which command very high prices when not in season. In summer, tomato farms harvest at the same time, causing prices to drop.

Highways in Ilocos are lined with mango trees under whose verdant trunks are yellow carpets of ripe mangoes ignored by local residents. Meanwhile, in many provinces, trucks of freshly harvested tomatoes are being thrown down cliffs and abandoned on farm roads. It costs more to plant, harvest, pack, ship, and sell the tomatoes to middlemen or at retail markets.

As mangoes and tomatoes have a short shelf life, it is important to know how to take full advantage of the glut.

Purchase tomatoes wholesale by the kilo and mangoes by the hundreds. Classify them according to degree of ripeness. Wash the fruits well in basins of water with soap or detergent. Rinse well with tap water and dry with clean towels.

At this point, the tomatoes can be packed in bags and stored in the freezer. Frozen tomatoes, given a quick rinse, are easy to peel, perfect for stews, soups, and sauces. My aunt used to cook gallons of sauces, which she froze in half-liter microwavable containers. The sauces, perfect for pasta or pizza, made life easier for the mother of five.

Another family breakfast and snack favorite is tomato jam, so easy to make from frozen tomatoes. Scoop seeds from one kilo frozen tomatoes, simmer with 450 grams sugar and juice of one lemon. Cook over low heat, stirring often, until thick.

Mango salads and spreads
The public market in Laoag, Ilocos Norte is my favorite stop in the north for one delicacy peculiar to the town—pickled green mango in all stages of ripeness, spiciness, and sweetness. Huge glass jars hold the pickles. Customers range from schoolchildren to senior citizens, all hooked on the addictive local specialty, which we buy a lot of to nibble on during the long drive back to the city.

Some of the ripened mangoes become jam or preserves to serve for breakfast with pancakes, toast, or waffles. Simply slice or scoop out ripe mango flesh and cook in a simple syrup of white sugar and pure mango juice. This goes well with cheese.

Instant sinigang
Sauté a little sliced onion with quartered frozen tomatoes. Add boiled mashed green mangoes to taste. Store in freezer until needed.

Many home cooks, and even professional chefs, are so hooked on store-bought mixes, which they have made a huge commercial success. A tip from some of them: frozen tomatoes improve sinigang made with commercial instant mixes.

For sinigang sa miso, frozen sauteed tomatoes, miso, and mashed green mangoes are stirred into sinigang made with or without store-bought mix.

Pinoy sawsawan
When the Thai food craze invaded the Philippines several decades ago, one of the major hits with Filipino diners was Green Mango Salad with Crispy Fried Catfish. Food reviewers were overwhelmed by the five-star setting at the Makati hotel that hosted the dinner. I guess that clouded our judgment.

It all came back to me last week when our labandera made Crispy Fried Tilapia on a sawsawan (dip or salad) of shredded green mango, chopped tomatoes, sliced salted eggs, topped with sautéed bagoong alamang. That Filipino sawsawan was much better than the imported Thai salad we all gushed about.

Step into Manila

German athleisure superbrand presents maiden fashion show in the Philippines highlighting the streets of Manila, grit and grind included

BY JULES VIVAS

May 27, 2023 00:47 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Manila can be a reflection of your state of mind… Manila can be chaotic and spiritual, dirty and divine, gritty and gorgeous all at once. If you don’t find beauty and poetry here, you will never find it anywhere.—Carlos Celdran

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Kylie Verzosa

How does one make noise in Manila? Host an epic party, and then some.

German athleisure company Puma recently made waves in the Philippines with the exclusive preview of its latest autumn/winter collection. The invite-only affair took inspiration from the brand’s mantra, “Forever faster,” and paid tribute to the streets and humans of Manila.

The venue, White Space Manila, was transformed into everyday Manila, replete with crumbled sidewalks, noisy and crowded. The LED screen flashed a medley of old-world structures and high-rise towers. On the side was an icon of Philippine culture—the jeepney, parked right before the runway made to look like a twisting road littered with traffic signs.

Daniel Matsunaga

Guests were treated to cocktails pre-show. By the end of the program, an after-party in the same space took place. It was the first time Puma held a fashion show in the Philippines, making it a monumental occasion for the global sports label.

Present at the event were local movers, breakers, and game-changers, who represent Pinoy bravery, confidence, determination, and joy, traits that resonate with the same core values as Puma.

Gracing the catwalk were motorsports and racing driver Marlon Stöckinger, Miss International 2016 Kylie Versoza, and actor Daniel Matsunaga, among others, all wearing the AW23 collection. Model Santino Rosales, son of renowned actor Jericho Rosales, also strutted his stuff on the catwalk.

Santino Rosales

The fashion show was a narration of the Filipino’s bravery and daily hustle as witnessed on the streets—a love letter to the inherent confidence of Pinoys and a celebration of pride and resiliency.

The AW23 collection presents a wide range of activewear fitted for sports and street style-savvy Filipinos.

“Sports is at the heart of Puma. We are eager to play our part and help nurture it in the country, with emphasis on youth development,” says Southeast Asia general manager Sanjay Roy. “For 75 years, Puma has pushed sports and culture forward by challenging conventions, innovating through design, and supporting the next generation. Through history, culture, performance, and design, we are committed to being ‘Forever faster.’”

Marlon Stockinger

To Puma Philippines country manager Paolo Misa, the Philippines, being a nation of loyal sports fans and fashion-savvy consumers, has so much potential. “[It] presents a lot of wonderful opportunities for the brand,” he says. “This was a major factor in our decision to come in stronger as a full-on subsidiary and increase our presence in every aspect of the business.”

Into the world of basketball
On the same day, the brand announced its foray into the Philippine basketball market by naming Kai Sotto as its first Filipino baller to serve as a global brand ambassador, a move set to strengthen Puma’s presence in the basketball scene as well as appeal to young consumers who identify with Kai’s talent, personality, and style.

Kai Sotto

The former University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) juniors champion and MVP left the Philippines in 2019 to pursue his dreams of joining the National Basketball Association (NBA). Kai has since made an impressive stint in the international basketball scene as a Filipino import for club teams in Australia and Japan. He signed with Adelaide 36ers of Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL) from 2021 to 2022. Today, the seven-footer Pinoy import is playing with the Hiroshima Dragonflies of Japan B.League. The Filipino basketball community hopes for his return to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas to help the country’s campaign at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup this year.

“My style and story as an athlete have always been about getting faster and better in every game. I am proud to be part of a brand that represents both my story and the values that are inherent to Pinoys. I am excited and happy to be the new cat in the Puma family,” says Kai.

The global sports label established its flagship store at Glorietta, Makati in November 2022. Since then, 22 franchise stores nationwide have been up and running. The German activewear company, as part of its aggressive expansion plans, will open a few more stores this quarter, throughout Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu.

The AW2023 collection will be available in the Philippines starting in July this year.

Catholic Church marks Pentecost Sunday on May 28

BY CHRISTINA HERMOSO

  

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The Easter Season ends as the Roman Catholic Church observes Pentecost Sunday on May 28.

The solemn feast commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus Christ as He had promised.

Diocese of Cubao Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco will celebrate a feast mass at 9:30 a.m.at the Our Lady of Pentecost Parish in Loyola Heights, Quezon City on Sunday.

A procession was held on May 27 while novena masses were offered from May 19 to 27.

Also known as the Feast of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost Sunday is observed 50 days after the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday.

In Holy Masses on Sunday, Church rites will include the recitation of special prayers and the Litany to the Holy Spirit, prayers for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit.

Red vestments will be worn by the clergy “to symbolize God’s burning love for mankind and the supreme power of the Holy Ghost.”

Mass readings will focus on the events of Pentecost, which, according to the Acts of the Apostles, took place in a house in Jerusalem, where the Last Supper was held. Witnessed by the Blessed Mother and other loyal followers of Jesus, He blessed His apostles and bestowed on them the gift of the Holy Spirit. He said, “Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive are forgiven, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

In Rome, Italy, the Pope traditionally celebrates the Mass of Priestly Ordination in recognition of the apostolic succession - from the apostles to the priests who have been tasked by God to undertake the evangelical mission of the Church to spread the Word of God.

Considered as the birthday of the Roman Catholic Church, “Pentecost is a powerful feast of salvation, a day to celebrate hope that God, through His Holy Spirit, is at work among His people. It is a celebration of newness, of renewal, of purpose, mission, and calling as God’s people. It signifies the extension of the Divine Body of Christ in all believers,” Church leaders said.

Pentecost is one of the great feasts in the Eastern Orthodox Church, a solemnity in the Roman rite of the Catholic Church, a festival in the Lutheran Churches, and a principal feast in the Anglican Communion.

UNICEF: Filipino children among most at risk from 'overlapping' climate hazards

Cristina Chi - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is among the world’s most dangerous countries in the world for children in terms of exposure to multiple types of overlapping climate and environmental shocks and stresses, according to the latest UNICEF East Asia and Pacific report, ‘Over the Tipping Point.’

At least 96% of children in the Philippines face more than three different types of “overlapping” climate-related hazards or stresses, much higher than the global average of 73% and the regional average of 89%.

With climate shocks increasing in frequency, the effects of these hazards may be more amplified among children who are already vulnerable to begin with due to non-climate shocks like the COVID pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, among others, according to UNICEF.

This leads to a “polycrisis” — “a situation with multiple near-simultaneous shocks with strong interdependencies,” UNICEF stated in its report, which sought to measure the compounding effects of several environmental shocks in the East Acia and Pacific Region.

“Other human-driven trends amplify these effects, leading to more shocks, thus creating knock-on effects on several interconnected systems and sectors,” UNICEF added.

Based on data from several climate- and environment-related research institutions, the Philippines has an "extremely high" (more than five) number of hazards, shocks or stresses.

Climate hazards striking the country simultaneously could also be “eroding” people's capacity to mitigate its effects, the report stated.

“The recurrent climate hazards, shocks and stresses do not have isolated impacts — they have cascading effects on a host of other risks. Droughts, floods and severe weather, coupled with other environmental stresses, compound one another,” the UNICEF study noted.

As climate hazards occur more frequently, the likelihood that climate shocks will take place in closer succession could also increase — a pain point in countries like the Philippines where typhoons have become more severe in recent years.

UNICEF cited as an example Typhoon Pepeng (Parma), which hit the Philippines in 2009 and was “accompanied with another associated hazard — floods, which killed nearly 512 people and caused economic losses of US$798 million.” 

This was immediately followed by Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana), which hit the country during the same year, “causing torrential rainfall and further flooding, compounding the damage caused by Parma,” UNICEF stated. 

“Aside from killing an additional 500 people, there were economic losses of $323 million, creating a multiplier effect that exacerbated the impacts of each hazard,” the UNICEF report stated.

Climate hazards can also lead to “secondary multiplier effects” when they impact those with different vulnerabilities in social, economic, human and ecological systems that are interconnected.

Floods increase the risk of water-related infectious diseases due to contamination, and floods and cyclones increase the risk of malaria and dengue due to the appearance of more mosquito breeding sites.  

East Asia and Pacific region most impacted by overlapping hazards 

“More than any other region, children in the East Asia and Pacific region are having to survive multiple, often overlapping climate and environmental hazards and shocks,” according to UNICEF.  

Children in the region today face at least a six-fold increase in climate-related disasters compared to their grandparents. 

For the last five decades, countries in the East Asia and Pacific region have also witnessed 11 times more floods; 4 times more storms; 2.4 times more droughts and 5 times more landslides, the report found.

“With temperatures and sea levels rising and extreme weather such as typhoons, severe floods, landslides and droughts increasing, millions of children are at risk,” the report stated.

UNICEF laid down recommendations to better protect children from the effects of overlapping climate stresses. Among others, it stressed the need to provide children with continued access to the services they need, which will require investments in “climate-smart and disaster-resilient education, health, and water, sanitation and hygiene services.”

UNICEF also called on countries to provide robust child protection and social protection systems that are “climate-responsive” and the use of strong early warning, risk management and disaster preparedness systems.  

‘Mawar’ further intensifies as it nears Philippine area of responsibility

Xave Gregorio - Philstar.com

May 26, 2023 | 8:50am

"Mawar", which will be named Betty once it enters the country’s weather monitoring area, currently packs winds of up to 215 kph near the center and gusts of up to 265 kph as it moves at 20 kph west northwest.

MANILA, Philippines — Super Typhoon “Mawar” continued to strengthen as it approached the Philippine area of responsibility, which it is forecast to enter by Friday evening or Saturday dawn.

State weather service PAGASA said Mawar, which will be named Betty once it enters the country’s weather monitoring area, currently packs winds of up to 215 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 265 kph as it moves at 20 kph west northwest.

It was last spotted 1,740 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon, PAGASA said.

PAGASA warned that Mawar may bring heavy rains over northern Luzon beginning Saturday, while it may enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat which can bring rains over the western portions of central Luzon, southern Luzon and Visayas starting Sunday or Monday.

The state weather service forecasts that Mawar will reach peak intensity in 24 to 36 hours, after which it may slightly weaken as it moves towards the waters east of extreme northern Luzon.

Mawar may weaken at a slightly faster rate by Monday or Tuesday due to “unfavorable conditions,” PAGASA said. — Xave Gregorio

PH tourism promotion efforts generate P3-B business leads — DOT

BY JEL SANTOS

May 26, 2023 09:59 AM

  

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The Philippine tourism has generated P3.33-billion business leads as a result of the Department of Tourism's (DOT) promotion and post-pandemic efforts, Tourism Secretary Christina G. Frasco disclosed.

(Department of Tourism)

In a media briefing, Frasco discussed the tourism roadmap for the country under the post-pandemic economy and the efforts of the DOT to transform the Philippines into a "tourism powerhouse in Asia."

“Through the efforts of the DOT and our attached agency, the Tourism Promotions Board, we have ushered in no less than P3.33 billion in estimated sales leads generated out of the various international expos that we have participated in across all hemispheres in the world – in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and the like," she bared.

"Domestically, we have also tried to connect our regions to each other in terms of promotions and access to connectivity and travel opportunities such as our North Luzon Travel Expo, our Mindanao Travel Expo, and soon — our Central Philippines Travel Expo, because admittedly, siguro meron pa tayong mga kababayan na living in Luzon for example, that have never been to Mindanao, living in Central Visayas, that have never been to the hinterlands of northern Luzon,” the tourism chief added.

Frasco also talked about the launch of the "enhanced tourism slogan", noting that while the agency will continue to market the country as a “fun destination”, it would also highlight that the Philippines is "a destination with a rich and diverse Filipino culture that can offer substantial, immersive, and purposeful experiences, perfectly matched with the love and warm hospitality of the Filipino people."

“We are enhancing the tourism slogan and we'll definitely take into consideration the opinion of our various stakeholders. May I just highlight that global trends, supported by data from various reliable and reputable tourism-related publications, have indicated that post-pandemic, people's reasons for travel have also changed, chief of which is that people now wish to have some sense of substantive, immersive, and cultural authentic experiences where they have opportunities to get to know the culture of the place that they're visiting. People also value the opportunity to get to know communities," she noted.

"These trends correspond very well to the assets of Philippines tourism that have yet to be fully maximized – our culture, our people, our communities. And that is why the enhanced tourism slogan will give our country an opportunity to market itself not just as a fun destination, which it will continue to be, but also a destination for everything else that includes highlighting our culture and our people.”

Meanwhile, Frasco also highlighted the salience of prioritizing infrastructure, connectivity, and digitalization.

“May I also qualify that the promotion of the Philippines tourism does not hinge on a branding campaign alone. More importantly, it highly depends on product development, improving aspects of the Philippine tourism industry that situates our country lower than our ASEAN neighbors,” she said.

She also stressed the need for tourism infrastructure, discussing the existing flagship tourism enterprise zones (TEZ) that are ready for investment which include San Vicente, Palawan; Panglao Island in Bohol, Corregidor Island in Cavite; Mt. Samat in Bataan; Clark, Pampanga; the vicinity of Rizal Park where the Manila Ocean Park is presently located; and 15 other registered TEZs.

Go vows to monitor Nordeco’s promise to end Samal’s power woes this month

BY HANNAH TORREGOZA 

May 26, 2023 09:59 AM

  

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Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has vowed to keep track of Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s (Nordeco) promise to end the power crisis gripping the Island Garden of Samal City residents by the end of May.
 

                           Senator Christopher "Bong" Go (Photo from O/S Bong Go)

Go made the assurance in an interview in Maco, Davao de Oro even as he urged officials of Nordeco to keep their word and fast track the installation of additional generator sets in the area.
 
“I understand the problems hounding Nordeco, that’s why I urge you to hurry up, because sometimes the people cannot understand the technical issues,” Go said in Filipino during the interview.
 
The electricity woes hounding Samal Island was also tackled by Sen. Rafael “Raffy” Tulfo during the Senate Committee on Energy hearing last Wednesday, May 24.
 
Marilou Impuesto, Manager of Nordeco’s Institutional Service Department, said the company is targeting to fix the problems and provide stable power supply on Samal “within this month” of May.
 
According to the National Electrification Administration (NEA), Samal island has a power demand of 9 megawatts but the current available power in the area is only at 6.1 megawatts (MW) after three generator sets malfunctioned.
 
Two of these generator sets are under Nordeco. According to the company, Nordeco has securred additional 2MW generator sets which will arrive by Friday.
 
Go said he hopes the plans and the timeline will push through to ensure that electricity in Samal island would be fully operational.
 
“If this doesn’t get resolve, we will have an economic crisis in the area or in the island itself,” the senator said of the famous local tourist spot.
 
“It’s very difficult to have brownouts, because tourism is affected. The residents there are affected as well…When there is no electricity, everyone is affected,”
 
“The water source is affected, even the people’s mobility; transportation and communication lines are also affected. Tourism is affected, and many people will lose jobs and livelihood if there is a power crisis,” the senator stressed.
 

Alex Eala crushes German foe, advances to second round of W25 Monastir

BY NIKOLE JAVIER

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Alex Eala crushed German qualifier Anja Wildgruber, 6-1, 6-1, at the start of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W25 Monastir in Tunisia Wednesday.

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Alex Eala crushed German qualifier Anja Wildgruber, 6-1, 6-1, at the start of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W25 Monastir in Tunisia Wednesday.

The top-seeded Eala, who turned 18 the day before, hardly broke a sweat and held her serve throughout to destroy her opponent in 55 minutes.

Alex Eala. (Alex Eala on Facebook)

Wildgruber looked poise in the opening set after putting Eala in a deuce, which the Filipina overcame to hold serve and raced to an early 3-0 lead.

The German had her moments in the next sequence after scoring four straight points to hold serve for the first time, but Eala went on another three-game run to take the first set.

The second set was no different as Eala, the 2022 US Open Girls’ singles champion, refused to give Wildgruber any chance of a comeback to seal her first victory in the tournament.

The win set up Eala a second round meeting with 23-year-old Swiss Nadine Keller, a 6-3, 6-3 winner over wildcard bet Victoria Mikhaylova.

Maricar Reyes: 'Your grades in school will not determine your success in life'

BY STEPHANIE BERNARDINO

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Maricar reminded her followers that she's not romanticizing failure.

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Doctor-actress Maricar Reyes gave some inspiring words to struggling students.

On Facebook, she posted: Your grades in school will not determine your success in life."

She added in jest how then she failed her "neuro" in medical school.

The 41-year-old star reiterated that what matters is how one "bounces back" from failure.

In the comment section, she continued: "Sa mga bumagsak at wasak dyan, it’s not the end of the world!!! Its just the tough beginning of your success story!!!"

Though, Maricar reminded her followers that she's not romanticizing failure.

"Im encouraging people TO GET BACK UP when they do," she stressed.

"This post was inspired by a teacher we spoke to recently who told us about the increasing number of self harm in students who get failing grades. Parang end of the world na pag bumagsak. This post will hopefully remind them that its NOT the end of the world…"

Maricar quipped: "Ang boring ng pelikula kung puro happy-happy noh. Dapat may kontrabida at malaking problema. How the lead character OVERCOMES CONFLICT, makes it interesting."

Meanwhile, many netizens agreed to Maricar's two cents.

In fact, online content creator licensed physician Dr. Winston Creones Tiwaquen, commonly known as Dr. Kilimanguru, reacted, writing: "True!"

TV personality Kim Atienza, on the other hand, commented: "Ako din."

𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐑𝐃𝐏 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟖 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚, 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 - "I would like to commend the Regional Development Council XI for their work in creating the Davao Regional Development Plan for CY 2023-2028. With the creation of this Plan, the path towards authentic and all-inclusive development has only just begun" said Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga in support to the launching and unveiling of the Davao Regional Development Plan (DRDP) 2023-2028.

On May 23, 2023, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XI thru Regional Development Council (RDC) XI officially launched the DRDP 2023–2028 at Mapua MCM Auditorium, Matina, Davao City. This is a blueprint that contains the Davao Region's priority development agendas for the next six years. 

Meanwhile, RDC XI Chairperson Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon of Davao Oriental, in her message, expressed appreciation to the stakeholders for pledging their all-out support of the plan and reiterated their significant roles to champion what was embodied in the plan.

“We are here to affirm our respective roles in the implementation of this comprehensive and inclusive socio-economic plan for Davao region. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts 

… we need to work in synergy for us to deliver meaningful public service for all Dabawenyos” Gov. Malanyaon said.

Moreover, Governor Gonzaga underpinned that the undertaking was a result of how government works hand-in-hand with its partners in pursuit of the one goal of accelerating the Davao region’s socio-economic status despite the hurdles brought by the pandemic.

“I am elated that this plan has the support of our people because it reflects the aspirations, needs, and goals of our community as a whole. May this serve as an inspiration for us to keep ramping up our efforts, staying steadfast and unrelenting as we work together to improve the lives of every citizen in Davao Region” Gov. Gonzaga added.

Right before the launch, NEDA XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim said in a press conference that NEDA together with its partners assures to exceed Davao region’s position as among the top three fastest-growing regional economies in the country.

“We are targeting to sustain high levels of economic growth, create more, quality and green jobs, keep prices of commodities stable, improve the welfare of individuals and families, and build resilient and livable communities,” RD Lim said. 

According to RD Lim, the goal of the plan was to drive positive and significant changes in the quality of life in the region by increasing the economic growth rate from 7.8 to 9.3%, decreasing the unemployment rate between 3.6 to 3.9%, decreasing overall inflation between 2.0 to 4.0%, decreasing poverty incidence between 9.5 to 9.9% and constructed 12,970 housing units by the year 2028.

Through the whole-of-nation approach, DRDP 2023-2028 was successfully crafted and launched by the collective efforts of various development partners from the national government agencies, local government units, state universities and colleges, government-owned and controlled corporations, business and basic sectors, and civil society organizations in Davao Region. (Jaynus Fernandez)