The land area of Metropolitan Davao is seven times the size of Metro Manila, seven times the size of Seoul, six times the size of Singapore, and one-and-a-half times the size of Hong Kong. The Davao Region is the second fastest growing economy in the country with 8.6 percent growth. It is one of the major gateways of the Philippines to the BIMP-EAGA or the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area and to the Pacific. It can transform Mindanao into one of the front doors to the world, south of the Philippines.

Alongside lead agency Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), partner university institutions, other government agencies, and the eight local government units of Metropolitan Davao — Digos City, the Municipality of Sta. Cruz, Davao City, Panabo City, the Municipality of Carmen, Tagum City, Island Garden City of Samal, and the Municipality of Maco — the Metro Davao Urban Master Plan was formulated. 

The plan proposed, among others, interconnected parks, sky gardens and pedestrian networks with lush urban landscaping; institutionalizing mass transportation and developing new transportation corridors; establishing international cruise ports and marinas and world-class international airports; preserving culture and heritage in the design of structures. It also aims to develop big data and data-science facilities to help manage the challenges and resources of the metropolis and identify areas that will be affected by the negative impact of climate change and other hazards, among many others. More importantly, it envisions a united Metropolitan Davao by encouraging the possible institutionalization of the Metro Davao Development Authority.

With its rallying vision “Build Better Berde,” the urban master plan envisions a metropolis and region that is smart, sustainable, livable, and resilient.