Making a Davao Visit (Part 1 of 2)

Davao is the most visited Mindanao City. The 3 main attractions are A. Sightseeing (Eden, Samal, Coastal Road), B. Shopping. Davao is the ukay center in Mindanao with big stores in Sta. Ana, San Pedro, Claveria Streets. We have the biggest number of big Malls: 2 SM’s, 2 NCCC’s, 5 Gaisanos, 3 Felcris, Ayala’s Abreeza, the only Lauder Mall in Mindanao, plus 4 big Chinese stores in Sta. Ana offering all kinds of Chinese goods. C. Hospitals. The Southern Philippine Medical Center is the biggest government hospital complex in Mindanao. Plus 2. San Pedro Hospital 3. Brokenshire 4. Davao Doctor 5. Baptist Hospital 6. Metro Davao 7. Seaman’s. We have the biggest number of Universities in Mindanao 1. University of Mindanao 2. Ateneo de Davao 3. Immaculate Conception 4. Mapua 5. Lyceum 6. National University (2026 opening) 7. De Lasalle (2027 Opening) government units 8. U.P. Mindanao 9. University of South Eastern Philippines; the only city with 2 medical schools, 1. Davao Medical School Foundation 2. Brokenshire School of Mindanao. 4 big colleges 1. Holy Cross of Davao 2. Assumption 3. Philippine Women’s 4. St. John Paul II 5. Stella Maris and 2 Seaman’s Schools and Holy Cross College of Sasa. The big school system contributes a lot to our economy. We are also Mindanao’s Convention Center; Local Government Units, National Government Departments, agencies. The private sectors, civic groups, clubs want Davao for their meetings, conventions, conferences, seminars.

The big number of visitors has put a strain on City services. Our Hotel/Inn, Resort/Bed and Breakfast/Family hostels business is the biggest in Mindanao. There is a need to review and renew the City Visitor accommodations program. Example. Pass an ordinance on illegal accommodations. These are houses, apartments, accepting tourists, guests, visitors without legal permits, illegal accommodations; they are not inspected by the city’s Departments of Health, Fire Dept, buildings, police, tourism, etc.

Maybe we can put extra requirement like 1. Allow a team of employees from the city office of tourism, health, fire, buildings to inspect buildings suspected of accepting guests, visitors, tourists under a bed breakfast, Family Hostel Pretext without a city permit/license. These structures/ buildings might be fire hazards with overloaded or wornout electrical wirings, dark dusty rooms dirty linens, bad ventilation, leaking roofs, bad bathrooms toilets ,etc.

The city team should visit all hotels, inns, hostels, bed/boards from January 15 to 30 and give a report to the Mayor and the tourism office on February 15. When inspecting occupants who say do not enter or do not allow the team to enter the room, who refuses to cooperate or to answer questions, gives false information shall be fined 1,000 pesos to be paid 24 hours after the inspection. The city tourism permit shall be posted prominently in the premises of the hostel or lobby. The city tourism office shall lead the information drive addressed to guests/tourists/visitors by way of posters, seminars, and social media.