The Businessman Who Owns the Davao Crocodile Park Has Died
ILLUSTRATION: Igi Talao
Philip Dizon, a businessman based in Davao City perhaps best-known for Dizon Farms and the popular Crocodile Park in the city, has died, various news outlets reported on Monday (January 8). He was 69 years old.
According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Dizon was involved in a vehicular accident along the Bansalan-Balutakay road in Davao Del Sur on Sunday morning. He was reportedly riding his three-wheel Can-Am when he lost control, swerved to the opposite lane and hit the concrete lane.
Dizon was immediately brought to the Davao Provincial Hospital in Digos City where he passed away.
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Who is Philip Dizon
Philip Dizon is the owner of several businesses, including the fruits and vegetables supplier Dizon Farms, the crocodile farm, the Mt. Apo Highland Resort, and Mt. Apo Civet Coffee. His parents are Francisco and Pacita Dizon, who founded Dizon Farms over 70 years ago. One of eight children, the young Philip forged his own path and started his own businesses.
A Philippine Star profile from 2012 says his interest in crocodiles began with a pair of shoes in 1986. Discovering that crocodile skin is very expensive and prized the world over, he began learning more about them. Eventually he started breeding them to replace a pig farm business that he closed down. He opened the Davao Crocodile Farm in 1989.
He got his initial supply of 100 crocodiles from the wild and eventually grew them to 900 by 2012. Today, the Davao Crocodile Farm is a popular tourist attraction in the city, with state-of-the-art farming techniques, as well as other animals like monkeys, eagles, and pythons.
Dizon is a serial entrepreneur. He also founded the Mt. Apo Highland Resort, which is located near Mount Apo Nature Park, and the Mount Apo Civet Coffee.
“When you’re an entrepreneur, there also has to be a purpose," he once said in an interview. "Of course profit is of upmost importance because it is the primary drive and motivation of businessmen. However, you can’t become a social entrepreneur earning profit without helping people.”
Dizon is survived by his wife Jackie Dizon and their children Bianca, Rosanna, and Marco.
