It is said that architecture is visual art and the buildings speak for themselves (Julia Morgan). With Agriya, it is more than just buildings. Agriya cultivates inspiration and responsibility through the creation of exciting adventures. Agriya enhances the way of life through top-class amenities and innovation.
An 88-hectare mixed-use development project by Damosa Land Inc. (DLI for brevity), Agriya is the first Agrotourism city in Asia. A modern agropolis (agricultural metropolis), it comprises of Residential (9 hectares), Commercial (24 hectares), Agri Tourism (9 hectares) and Institutional (9 hectares) components located in Panabo City, Davao del Norte. DLI is the real estate arm of Anflo Management and Investment Corp.
DLI has brought in the services of Palafox Associates for the design of Asia’s first ever Agrotourism city. Masterplanned by Architect Jun Palafox, Agriya capitalises on the agricultural development of the region. The confidence, expansion and cooperation is what will give this project its edge amongst others.
Palafox Associates Managing Partner and Urban Planning Head Karima Patricia Palafox emphasized that what they have planned for DLI’s Agriya cores upon agriculture, with the banana plant as inspiration, as the foundation of economic growth. She added, “Open space for tourism, agriculture and ecotourism. Specifically, build it with what’s on the site. The subdivided clusters are then all self-sustaining.”
During the groundbreaking event, DLI Vice President Ricardo F. Lagdameo said, “There are 3 phases — residential, school and commercial. Half of the land is included in the first phase. Of which, construction for the Residential (component) is scheduled to start within the third quarter of the year while the Agri-tourism (component) is targeted to be completed within the next two years.”
Partnership amongst the UPLB, ANFLOCOR and DAMOSA Land, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed last 30 January 2017. UP PSAE will be offering off-campus mode the Master of Science in Plant Pathology. Additional graduate programs will be offered each succeeding year. Short courses and trainings will be announced as they become available.
UPLB Chancellor Dr Fernando Sanchez Jr shared, “UPLB’s presence can now be enjoyed in the 3 islands of the country”. With the partnership, he added, “We aim to continue to inspire all of us to better serve Filipinos”. Dr Sanchez further stated, “We are not here to compete; we are here to capacitate — help capacitate the resources.”
It has been a long time dream of UPLB to touch the lives of Mindanaoans. With Agriya, the dream is slowly becoming a reality. UPLB will be offering Graduate School programs — dependent on the needs, at first and slowly adding other programs as necessary. The total roll out of development of UP PSAE, both in infrastructure and campus program, will be spread over the next seven years.
Of the phases, the commercial arcade is expected to begin its initial development in the last quarter of 2019. Locators will be dominantly made up of Food and Beverage concepts to cater to the residential community. More so, a majority of the traffic expected will come from guests of the agri tourism component.
Within the commercial arcade, an affordable boutique hotel concept will service domestic and foreign tourists. Pegged as “NATURETAINMENT”, said project capitalises on the agricultural heritage of Mindanao with a diverse mix of exciting adventure and recreational activities with an educational twist. DLI Vice-President Cary Lagdameo added, “It will be a combination of both; an adventure zone.”
Panabo City Mayor James Gamao cannot contain his happiness as he witnessed the groundbreaking and lowering of the capsule of Agriya in Panabo City. He stated, “ This is symbolic of being an industrial gateway to the world. Signifies strong nation building efforts, the City of Panabo takes pride that Anflocor has been very, very supportive in terms of development and employment opportunities and of industrial development. Also, an added boost on tourism.”
