Housing, commercial ventures moving to industrial areas

By Greg G. Deligero
In what appears to be another development phenomenon in Davao City, residential and commercial projects were noted to be migrating into the city’s industrial zones during the past ten years, reclassifying the lands previously devoted to light and heavy industries.
The city government has classified a huge portion of the city’s second district as industrial zones under the zoning ordinance enacted in 1996 and approved by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board in 2001.
However, only 795.83 hectares have been utilized for industrial uses, according to councilor Arnulfo Ricardo B. Cabling, chairman of the city council committee on housing, rural and urban development.
Instead, at least 225 hectares of industrial areas were converted into commercial and residential uses during the past ten years.
“The industries attract people looking for work who also want to live near to their work places (thus) increasing the need for housing units. With the increased demand for houses, residential subdivisions come in and commercial establishments naturally follow,” Cabling explained.
Cabling’s committee is now reviewing the draft Comprehensive Development Plan and Amended Zoning Ordinance 2012-2021.
“We cannot reverse the trend. What we can do is to review and adjust our development direction and land use classification,” he added.
The second district is now the hub of Davao City’s newest lifestyle and commercial centers like Abreeza, SM Lanang and Damosa District, a mixed-use commercial and business facility in Lanang developed by Damosa Land which features an I.T. park, a Microtel hotel, a major supermarket and lifestyle-oriented restaurants and cafes.
Damosa Land has likewise recently launched the Damosa Fairlane, a boutique residential enclave along Mamay Road just adjacent to the Damosa District.
Forthcoming projects in the second include the multi-million-peso housing project of Camella Homes Davao and the planned mixed-used development of Alflocor Group of Companies which will feature a business park, a nature zone, a recreational zone, a residential zone and other uses.  
Marlon B. Escalicas, Camella Davao general manager, earlier told Edge Davao that the 27-hectare project of Villar-owned company located in Buhangin will also build commercial establishments to cater to the needs of the residents.
“The people will no longer see the need to come to the downtown area as their needs will be provided with the availability of commercial establishments in their own community,” he said.