Councilor Luna Acosta has challenged broadcaster Korina Sanchez’s assessment that Davao City is “napag-iwanan,” saying the city’s economic progress should not be measured solely by the presence of new buildings and high-rise developments.
Sanchez made the remark during a recent episode of Memo on Bilyonaryo News Channel, recalling her experience reporting in Davao in the 1980s and 1990s.
She said that upon returning to the city, she wondered, “Ito na ba ’yun?” and described some areas as “parang sinauna pa rin.”
Sanchez also observed that outside commercial hubs associated with Ayala and Megaworld, she did not see the same level of visible development in other parts of the city, leading her to describe Davao City as “napag-iwanan.”
Acosta, however, said Sanchez’s observations may have focused too much on the physical appearance of certain areas without considering the broader economic activity of the city.
“Kasi Davao City is so big. Kung pumunta lang siya sa mga areas na napuntahan niya dati tapos she sees the same buildings, maybe she’s not correlating the existence of a good economy and infrastructure,” Acosta said during the Davao Peace and Security Press Corps media briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday.
She said the presence or absence of new buildings does not necessarily reflect the overall strength of a city’s economy.
“Hindi naman ibig sabihin may mga bagong buildings, maganda agad ang ekonomiya ng isang lungsod. Hindi rin porke’t wala tayong bagong buildings sa opinyon niya, mababa ang ekonomiya,” she said.
Acosta pointed to employment, new businesses and investments as indicators of Davao City’s economic activity.
“In fact, Davao City is one of the largest growing economies not only in the Philippines, but in the whole Asia. Ganyan kabilis ang growth ng Davao City. So, it’s not just infrastructure ‘yung mga nakita niya na sinauna pa daw, but it’s really about what lies beneath. Ano ba talaga ang ekonomiya natin?” Acosta added.
She said Davao City’s growth can also be seen in the increasing number of businesses, jobs and investments in the city.
“And I can see that it’s really rising kasi ang dami nating mga bagong trabaho, bagong negosyo dito sa Davao City. Maraming nag-i-invest because they know that Davao City is really the place to be,” she said.
Acosta also challenged the idea that high-rise buildings should be a primary measure of urban development.
“And siguro, in her idea, kailangan malaking high-rise. Pero dito sa Davao City, sa laki ng lupa natin, hindi mo kailangan ng high-rise. We can afford to place more buildings in more areas. High-rise lang ’yan sila kasi wala na silang lupa. Tayo, marami pa,” Acosta added.
Sanchez’s remarks have also drawn responses from other Davao City officials, including First District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, who said the city’s progress should not be judged solely by high-rise buildings, malls and commercial establishments.
