150-foot Divine Mercy statue to rise in Davao

MANILA, Philippines — A 150-foot-tall Divine Mercy, which could be recognized as one of the tallest statues in the world, is set to rise in Davao in the coming years, according to a post on CBCPNews.

The proposed statue will stand atop a mountain overlooking an island and is envisioned to be visible even from the air, similar to Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer.

Joji Ilagan-Bian, lay coordinator of the Divine Mercy Apostolates of the Archdiocese of Davao, said it is a project that they have planned for 40 years.

Bian said the statue will be part of a larger religious and tourism hub that will include a major church, several chapels or prayer hubs, gallery of saints, Marian garden, waterfalls, retreat centers, convention halls and tent city for youth pilgrims.

“This will benefit everyone – whether you’re a Divine Mercy devotee, a Marian follower, or just someone seeking peace,” Bian said. “This is not just a statue. It will be a promise fulfilled. A monument of mercy, of hope and of love built not just with concrete, but with the prayers and sacrifices of generations.”

The site masterplan, created by architect and urban planner Felino Palafox, was approved last July 18 during a ceremony he attended along with Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles and Divine Mercy Apostolate-Davao officials.

Groundbreaking for the statue and supporting structures is set for July 2026 as advocates work on securing regulatory approvals, including one from the Civil Aeronautics Board because of the project’s height and proximity to flight paths.

The project will be launched during the 5th Philippine Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Davao on Aug. 28 to 30.