As of January 2026, Cagayan de Oro City continues to show steady economic growth, strengthening its role as the regional hub of Northern Mindanao. The city’s economy remains driven by trade, services, education, real estate, logistics, and infrastructure development, with Uptown expansion and mixed-use projects shaping a more modern urban landscape.

CDO continues to attract investments in residential, commercial, and office developments, supported by its strategic location, growing workforce, and presence of major educational institutions. In terms of commerce, the city remains a center for shopping, healthcare, banking, and professional services, serving not only its residents but nearby provinces as well.

However, tourism remains one of the city’s weakest sectors.

White Water Rafting—once CDO’s flagship tourism product—has significantly declined over the past decade. At present, the city has limited tourist attractions, resulting in most visitors treating Cagayan de Oro as a transit hub rather than a destination. Tourists typically stay briefly before heading to Camiguin Island, Dahilayan in Bukidnon, or other parts of Northern Mindanao.

Realistically, the city’s main tourism offerings are hotel accommodations, dining options, and shopping malls. Beyond these, CDO functions more as a gateway city than a leisure destination.

This presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

To unlock stronger tourism growth, the city may need to actively invite investors to develop tourism-driven businesses such as theme parks, amusement parks, entertainment complexes, or family-friendly attractions. Another viable path is for the local government to initiate man-made tourism projects, similar to what Singapore has successfully done—creating destination attractions despite having limited natural tourism resources.

Moving forward, while Cagayan de Oro’s economy remains strong as a business and service hub, diversifying into tourism-led development could help balance growth, increase visitor stays, generate jobs, and elevate the city from being just a regional hub to a true destination in Northern Mindanao.

The Philippines marks a historic milestone in digital connectivity as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed the ceremonial launch of the partnership between Globe Telecom and Starlink, introducing Direct-to-Cell (DTC) satellite service to the country. The event, held last Friday at The Globe Tower, formally positioned Globe as the first telecom provider in Southeast Asia and the second in Asia to bring Starlink’s DTC technology to market.

This breakthrough initiative is set to redefine mobile connectivity across the nation, particularly in remote, rural, and geographically isolated communities.

Direct-to-Cell Connectivity: A First for Southeast Asia

Starting this year, Filipinos using standard LTE mobile phones will be able to access essential mobile services such as text messaging, data for voice and video calls through apps, and messaging—as long as there is a clear view of the sky. No special devices or satellite phones are required.

For an archipelagic country made up of more than 7,600 islands, the launch of satellite-to-mobile connectivity is a game changer, especially in areas where terrestrial mobile infrastructure is unavailable or difficult to deploy.

Closing the Connectivity Gap in GIDAs

By leveraging Starlink’s constellation of over 650 low-Earth orbit satellites, Globe aims to address long-standing mobile coverage gaps, particularly in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs). The service is expected to benefit the remaining 4% of the Filipino population who currently live without any terrestrial mobile coverage.

Through this technology, communities in rural and maritime areas will gain access not only to communication services but also to digital government platforms, including the eGov App, supporting broader digital inclusion efforts.

Connectivity as a Disaster Resiliency Essential

Beyond everyday communication, Direct-to-Cell satellite service is positioned as a critical disaster resiliency tool. In times of typhoons, earthquakes, or other natural disasters—when conventional mobile networks may be disrupted—DTC will serve as a resilient backup layer to help keep communication lines open.

This capability strengthens national resilience, supports emergency responders, and ensures that affected communities remain connected when they need it most.

Globe’s Commitment to a Digitally Inclusive Nation

“This partnership with Starlink marks a historic step in our mission to build a digitally inclusive nation,” said Carl Cruz, President and CEO of Globe Telecom. “Connectivity is no longer a privilege—it is a lifeline and a modern-day utility that fuels individual opportunity and national economic progress.”

He emphasized that the collaboration is not just about advanced technology, but about inclusivity, resilience, and empowering every Filipino, whether in urban centers or the most remote barangays, to thrive in the digital age.

How Starlink Direct-to-Cell Works

Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell service, developed by SpaceX, functions like a cell tower in space, allowing satellites to connect directly to LTE mobile phones. These satellites communicate seamlessly with each other using laser links, enabling global coverage and network integration similar to a standard roaming partner.

Globally, Starlink already connects over 12 million customers across 22 countries on six continents. Its DTC service has proven vital during emergencies, delivering millions of SMS messages and Wireless Emergency Alerts when terrestrial networks were down.

A Strong Partnership for a More Connected Philippines

As the world’s largest 4G/LTE coverage provider, Starlink partners with mobile network operators worldwide. With Globe as its Philippine partner, the collaboration is expected to empower Filipino households, businesses, and communities with more accessible and reliable connectivity.

This landmark partnership reinforces Globe’s vision of a more connected Philippines, where access to essential communication services is available to everyone—regardless of location or circumstance.