ADB invests $15M in DALI ‘hard discount’ grocery chain in PH

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is investing $15 million to support the expansion of Swiss “hard discount” grocery chain DALI’s network in the Philippines.

In a statement, the ADB said it signed a $15-million equity investment deal with DALI.

The investment will support the grocery chain’s network of retail stores and distribution centers and cold chain infrastructure in the Philippines, which would create at least 4,300 new jobs, “nearly half of them for women.”

“Almost half of households in the Philippines are moderately or severely food insecure, and rising inflation is making it more expensive for them to purchase essential household products,” said ADB director general for Private Sector Operations Suzanne Gaboury.

“ADB’s support for DALI’s expansion will contribute to food security and food safety by ensuring essential products are available to consumers at affordable prices, in a hygienic environment, and by integrating local agricul-

Formed in September 1977, the all-girl group is one of the more successful bands to come out of Davao. It was a regular of JEM Records, owned by Jesus V. ‘Chito’ Ayala and wife-composer Fe Misa Ayala, compose of the popular song ‘Miss Kita Kung Christmas.’ It was Mrs. Ayala who handpicked Ruth Vergara, the sister of two Davao City councilors, as a member of the band.

The group had recorded a number of cuts with JEM and the Japan-based Victor Records, and was regularly tapped as a backup chorus for JEM recording artists like Janet Basco, APO Hiking Society, Maria Cafra, Hajji Alejandro, and Jacqui Magno.

One of its early gigs was in Singapore where it got a candid yet inspiring review in The Strait Times, Singapore’s oldest English daily