Ayala Land Inc. has broken ground on Ascenda, a new 204-hectare master-planned, nature-inspired development in Davao City, representing the company’s largest estate investment in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
The country’s leading developer of sustainable master-planned communities plans a total investment of P10.3 billion for Ascenda’s full development, further deepening its stake in Davao City in partnership with Anflocor.
“Davao is truly a city on the rise, with its economic growth outpacing the national average,” said Ayala Land president and CEO Meann Dy.
“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,” she said.
Ascenda, located in Davao’s Toril District, marks a series of firsts for Ayala Land in the region. It is the company’s first horizontal estate in Mindanao and will feature its first Ayala Land Premier residential village in Davao, named Virendo.
The estate is also positioned to benefit significantly from the new Davao bypass road, complementing the newly completed Coastal Road and Maharlika Highway system. This connectivity is projected to cut travel time from Davao City proper to the estate from 45 minutes to 25 minutes, and from Matina from 25 minutes to 15 minutes.
“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,” Dy said.
In masterplanning Ascenda, Ayala Land collaborated with internationally acclaimed design firm Henning Larsen. The estate’s design, inspired by Singapore’s Bishan Park, integrates open spaces, preserves green corridors and waterways, and seamlessly weaves nature into the urban landscape.
The 204-hectare property is master-planned with two main components: a 65-hectare Town Center as its commercial and cultural anchor, and a 139-hectare residential district featuring the company’s top residential brands.
A key feature of the Town Center is the Eco Park, also designed by Henning Larsen, which is a testament to Ascenda’s focus on nature and sustainable living. The park is intended to be a space for community bonding and recreation while preserving the Toril’s ecosystem.
Other Town Center components include prime commercial lots, greenways, shopping streets, and a community church.
Dy cited the estate’s investment potential. “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,” said Dy.
Ayala Land has been investing in Davao since the 1970s, launching Insular Village in 1976, followed by Abreeza in 2007 and Azuela Cove in 2017.
Dy said Ascenda is the company’s “largest estate development ever in the Vismin region.”
