On March 16, 2020, the Davao region recorded its first confirmed COVID-19 case. The first eight (8) COVID-19 cases in the region involved individuals who had travel history to Metro Manila, which already had confirmed cases prior to the confirmation of the disease's entry to the region. Later on, the entire city was placed under general community quarantine (GCQ). Since then, the city, as well as the entire country, have been battling to survive the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected millions globally.
 
As of April 2021, there are confirmed 22,970 total cases in the Davao region alone – 20,620 have already recovered, while 735 have died. With the easing of quarantine orders in the entire country, the Davao region is still at the forefront of providing utmost care in handling the current pandemic situation. The city’s “Test, Trace, Treat” strategies in containing the virus has been vital in trying to contain the virus, citing also the importance of the public and private partnerships and initiatives in tackling the pandemic.
 
Indeed, the private sector and partnerships play a critical role in nation building, and especially during this time of the pandemic. This was highlighted during World Vision’s first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Summit held last October 2020. The 2-day online event, entitled “Doing Good is Good Business”, brought top business leaders from several industry sectors who shared their experiences and learnings during the pandemic and the value of doing CSR at this crucial time.
 
This was also highlighted in the recently concluded CSR Summit Mini-series: Cebu last March 2021. The event featured industry leaders from the Visayas region that promoted their own social responsibility projects and campaigns amidst the growing threat of COVID-19. The mini-series showcased how doing good is not simply a form of charity, but is now a necessity amidst these trying times.