Damosa Land’s wins affirm steady rise of regional developers
I’m surprised,” Damosa Land president Ricardo F. Lagdameo said candidly after their fourth win at the 13th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards.
“We’ve already gotten four awards [for the categories] we were nominated. It’s a testament to the hard work that the team has been putting into all the projects,” Lagdameo told the Inquirer as he took a quick breather outside the ballroom of Shangri-La The Fort.
At that time, the awarding ceremony was only halfway through, yet Lagdameo’s modest expectations were already turning into a string of victories for the Mindanao-based developer. By the end of the night, Damosa Land walked away with honors in six categories and a Highly Commended citation in one—a haul that signaled how far this homegrown brand has risen.
In particular, Damosa Land was hailed as Best Boutique Developer, while its Bridgeport Park was named Best Waterfront Condo Development. Agriya Gardens bagged both the Best Housing Development (Philippines) and Best Housing Development (Metro Davao) awards while Kahi Estates garnered the Best Sub Division Development and Best Biophilic Landscape Design awards. The company’s Anflo Industrial Estate meanwhile received a Highly Commended citation under the Best Industrial Development category.
Damosa Land’s distinction
For Lagdameo, these wins are in fact a validation of their vision, which deliberately veers away from the “cookie-cutter” approach.
That philosophy, he explained, comes to life through the personal touches the team weaves into every development. The goal isn’t simply to build and sell, but to also ensure that each project feels “perfect for our customers.”
It is this out-of-the-box thinking, often in directions other developers have yet to explore, that “has become the hallmark of Damosa Land,” Lagdameo added.
Case in point is the award-winning Agriya, an 88-ha agritourism township located in Panabo City, Davao del Norte. This pioneering development has introduced the concept of an agricultural metropolis, drawing inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of the region and the deep immersion of the Anflo Group in Mindanao’s agricultural industry.
“Good projects don’t happen overnight. A lot of our projects are like that. Agriya, for example, took several years. But with everything that’s good, there’s always a pioneer—you just have to take that first step. Thankfully, we’ve been able to make it through the hard times because when you’re starting, you often experience weak sales, weak cash flow—even if the vision is good,” Lagdameo explained. “I always tell my team, don’t lose sight of that vision. We’re not just here to make money. We’re not just here to do something that’s easy.”
Uplifting Mindanao
A big part of that vision is to help uplift Mindanao.
“We are a Mindanao developer and we’re trying to elevate the kind of real estate that’s happening here. We want to bring in more investments to Mindanao. The goal of uplifting Mindanao has always been the same since day one,” he said.
What has shifted, however, are the strategies to achieve that goal, including the types of projects that Damosa Land pursues, as well as the order in which these are prioritized and launched.
New projects
One of these highly anticipated projects is a condotel on Samal Island, to be launched under the Tryp brand in partnership with the Phinma Group.
“It’s a 100-key hotel that we’re selling as a condotel. We’re really excited about it because there’s so much potential for Samal—especially with the bridge now being built from Davao to Samal. Infrastructure is improving, power is more stable, tourism is booming across the country, and Davao continues to attract more international flights,” Lagdameo said.
As for expanding beyond Mindanao, Lagdameo said they are in no rush.
“Eventually, we will. But for now, there’s still so much opportunity in Mindanao—not just in Davao, but also in Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, and other growth areas. We’re very bullish about (Mindanao),” Lagdameo concluded.
