Ayala Land Breaks Ground on Ascenda, Fueling Davao's Growth Push

LEFT TO RIGHT: Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Land Director; Meean Dy, Ayala Land President and CEO; Ma. Linda Lagdameo, Anflo Group of Companies, Chairperson; Davao City Vice Mayor Rigo Duterte II; Ricky Floirendo, Anflo Group of Companies, Vice Chairman; Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Land Chairman.

First there was Makati. And then Nuvali. Now here comes Ascenda – a large, master planned, nature-inspired development by the country’s leading developer of sustainable master-planned communities. With P10.3 billion in planned investment for Ascenda’s full development– the company’s biggest investment in Mindanao to date – Ayala Land, in partnership with Anflocor, has further deepened its stake in Davao City.

“Davao is truly a city on the rise, with its economic growth outpacing the national average. Major infrastructure projects—the Samal-Davao Bridge, the Coastal Road, and the Davao Bypass Road — are unlocking new connectivity and opportunities. Ascenda is well positioned to benefit from Davao’s momentum, providing Davaoeños new space to grow and an environment attuned to their modern, upgraded lifestyles,” reveals Meann Dy, Ayala Land’s President and CEO.

Investing big in Davao

According to the World Travel Index released in July 2025, Davao City ranked as one of the safest places to live in the Philippines. Beyond peace and security, Ayala Land believes the city has much more to offer as an economic center, a cultural capital, a permanent residential address, and a tourist destination.

“Davao has been in Ayala’s radar since the 1970s,” said Dy. “We were the first major property developer to invest in Davao City when we launched Insular Village in 1976. Then, in 2007, we developed Abreeza, and then Azuela Cove in 2017. Now the time has come for us to go full blast here in Davao with our largest estate development ever in the Vismin region.”

“We refer to Ascenda as ‘Davao’s Nature-Inspired Southern Gateway’ because it draws from Ayala Land’s experience in masterplanning large-scale suburban estates that place nature at the top of their value proposition,” explained Dy.

Only the best for Davao

Alongside an exclusive, upscale suburban lifestyle, Ayala Land has gathered its best mixed-use components in Ascenda, with community, connectivity, and convenience at the core of the 204-hectare property.

The estate is poised to become one of Davao City’s prime destinations and top value drivers. It will create a new vibrant residential enclave, town center, and commercial district, making Metro Davao doubly attractive to investors, locators, and tourists.

Ascenda’s master plan has two main components: a 65-hectare Town Center as its commercial and cultural anchor and a 139-hectare residential district featuring Ayala Land’s top premiere residential brands.

The Town Center’s most prominent component is the Eco Park– a testament to Ascenda’s strong focus on nature and sustainable living. Designed by Henning Larsen, Ascenda’s version of Bishan Park will provide a stimulating space for community bonding and recreation. It will also serve as a platform for preserving Toril’s ecosystem in line with Ayala Land’s strict development standards.

Other Town Center components include prime commercial lots, greenways, and shopping streets with unique lifestyle concepts. Here, Ascenda residents and guests can access local and global retail brands and various restaurants, cafés, and shops. The town center will also host a community church.

Premium Living

All of Ayala Land’s estates in Davao benefit from decades of experience and insight, coupled with the company’s sterling record of strategic residential and commercial investments that appreciate in value year after year.

“Ascenda’s value as a residential enclave and commercial hub is expected to greatly appreciate in the coming years, much like Ayala Alabang and Nuvali in Luzon have escalated in value. Beyond its premier residential offerings, Ascenda also features prime commercial lots that present exceptional opportunities for investors”, mentioned Dy.

Outside Davao, Ayala Land has over 50 estates, including Makati Central Business District, Bonifacio Global City, Cebu Business Park, Nuvali in Laguna, and Alviera in Pampanga, each a testament to the company’s solid legacy of trailblazing developments in major cities across the Philippines.

What makes Ascenda special

Ascenda marks a series of firsts for Ayala Land in the region. It is the first Ayala horizontal estate in Mindanao. It will offer, so far, the only Ayala Land Premier residential village, Virendo, in Davao. The estate is also the first major development that will benefit from the new Davao by-pass road, complementing the newly completed Coastal Road and Maharlika Highway system, cutting travel time from Davao City proper from 45 mins to 25 mins, and from Matina from 25 minutes to 15 minutes.

Ascenda is located in Davao’s Toril District, 16 kilometers from the city center. The estate is close enough for residents and businesses to connect with the busier side of Davao life but far enough to enjoy and commune with the peace and beauty of nature, which are front and center of Ascenda’s development philosophy.

In masterplanning Ascenda, Ayala Land worked closely with internationally acclaimed design firm Henning Larsen to shape the estate’s land use. Inspired by Singapore’s Bishan Park, which Henning Larsen redeveloped, the estate’s design preserves green corridors and waterways, integrates open spaces, and seamlessly weaves nature into the urban landscape. This thoughtful design not only enhances livability but also positions Ascenda as a model for sustainable and future-ready communities in the region.