Alsons Dev Puts Community Perspectives at the Center of Davao Design Week 2026

Davao Design Week 2026 gathered students, educators, artists, design experts, government officials, and community leaders at La Herencia Davao from October 8 to 10 to explore participatory design. This approach encourages people to take part in the design process to address local concerns, enhance everyday experiences, and develop places and systems that better respond to community needs.

With the theme “DESIGNDUMP: From The People,” the inaugural event was organized by Alsons Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev), SKS Interiors, Inc., and La Herencia Davao in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry’s Design Week Philippines. The three-day event featured panel discussions with over 30 speakers, workshops, performances, and interactive activities that allowed participants to exchange ideas and engage in conversations about issues that affect their daily lives.

One of the ways the event put participatory design into practice was through the Puhon Visioning Workshop, organized by Placemaking Davao. It invited Dabawenyos of different ages and backgrounds, including children, to share their ideas, experiences, and aspirations for public spaces, infrastructure, and community life in Davao as the city approaches its 100th year.

For Alsons Dev, a Davao-based real estate developer with more than 60 years of experience in the industry, participatory design means putting people at the center of the development process. Vice President and General Manager Jolla A. Soriaga shared this perspective in her keynote address during Davao Design Week’s opening program.

“As developers, we do more than create structures. We shape the places where people live, work, and interact, so good design must go beyond aesthetics and efficiency to respond to people’s needs. This calls for malasakit: understanding the people and places we serve and designing with genuine care for both. This community-centric approach guides our work at Alsons Dev,” Soriaga said.

Davao Design Week’s call to action, “Life is Better When We Design Together,” underscored that shaping better communities takes collective effort, combining professional expertise with the ideas, experiences, and aspirations of the people who live in them.

By taking part in Davao Design Week, Alsons Dev highlights its people-first approach to planning and development, reaffirming its dedication to creating sustainable communities that deliver lasting value and improve quality of life for generations to come.