Promoting Tourism - The Real Davao’s way
January 20th, 2006 at 7:29 am (General, Davao City, Media)
Last January 19, 2006, a letter entitled “Promoting tourism - Davao’s way” was published in the Opinion Section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The letter was written by Danilo A. Reyes of the Asian Human Rights Commission.
Reyes opened his letter with the following quote: “Round them up and put them elsewhere, away from public sight.” According to Reyes, this was the solution of Davao City officials to get rid of vagrants and street children in time for the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) that is being held in Davao City. According to Reyes the vagrants and street children were also humiliated because he quotes that they were seen as “possible accessories to the criminals and terrorists.”
I was outraged by Reyes’ allegations. First because he did not even bother to mention the name of the official(s) that he was quoting. Second because I know for a fact that his allegations are false.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly reiterated that the city, in no way, will try to mask the poverty of its residents, not even during the ATF. Sunstar Davao quoted Duterte as saying, “Tourists should be allowed to view Davao as a poor community that is struggling to be rich someday, because that’s what we are.” He has turned down suggestions that squatters be demolished or be blocked from the view of the ATF delegates.
Moreover, vagrants and street children were merely to seek the aid of the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) in order to find shelter. Shelter and assistance are being given to vagrants and street children in the city even before preparations for ATF began. The drive to provide shelter and assistance to vagrants and street children have just been intensified.
Contrary to what Reyes believes, Davao City has promoted tourism, not by masking its ills and poverty. Rather, we promote it by showing the beauty and riches that abound our city.
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Dr E said,
January 24, 2006 at 8:32 am
I wish I can visit Davao one day and see its beauty.
danilo reyes said,
February 6, 2006 at 2:10 am
i wrote the article you mentioned. i came accross with this website by accident. if indeed i was wrong, i would be glad if you could present facts too denying my observation. I don’t intend to put somebody in shame (name of officials). My intention is not propaganda but to create discussion of how to effectively implement our laws. I have raised this issue for us to discuss, and i appreciate your comment. I tried to convince myself with your views too but i couldn’t really. After studying, living and working in Davao for years…i know how things works there. To belive the rhetoric of what these officials are saying is foolness for me. We should look behind their words and see what’s the reailty and look at suffering of the people.
Andrew said,
February 6, 2006 at 2:44 am
I also read your bit in the Inquirer. It’s ironic that you wrote it without being in Davao City firsthand to backup your supposed account of what ‘really’ happened during the Asean Tourism Forum. I understand your concern for the poor people here in Davao. But hey, you’re not alone. We are too. It’s a sad reality. But to make such over-the-top assumptions is extremely irresponsible.
Maria said,
February 6, 2006 at 7:03 am
It’s funny that you are asking for facts from me when you yourself presented damaging statements and insinuations without any solid facts to back you up.
If you’re intention is really to create discussion, then you have certainly failed.
Unfortunately, you have only added to the problems of Davao City and its people. Instead of helping out, I believe you have caused more damage by making unfounded negative statements about the city.
Gerry Agustin said,
February 8, 2006 at 8:30 pm
why not make a website dedicated only for tourism. put a lot of scenic pictures of every corners of davao and info on each pics.that makes it better. make it what they see is what they would get. it always work that way.
danilo reyes said,
February 9, 2006 at 12:10 am
i don’t intend to convince others of my opinion against their will. but for them to reflect to it is more than enough for me no matter how ourageous there reaction are.
if indeed you think i have failed in that way…it’s your opinion too and i respect for that.
i wonder how could you assume that it was done without any solid facts? and i only added problem to the people of Davao? asking information from you is for purposes of argument…not sourcing out as what you may have thought.
we’re not talking about what’s funny and not. and what would please officials and tourist or not. we’re talking about how laws on social reform are actually being implemented.
to be blind from it and to hide this reality for the satisfaction of few people is a complete betrayal for me. our government has its obligations to implement these laws effectively. Davao is among the many cities all over the country whose response to implementation of laws is negligible.
i’m not doing this for my own satisfaction or selfish agenda. i stand to the comments and observations i made.
when my cousin’s son died of hunger late last year in my hometown, i was outraged too with how these welfare and health workers deal with them. had i not reported the incident the officials would not take action.
what’s shocking is the silence of the suffering people who prefer to suppress their condition. just like my cousin’s experience after having reported the death of her son, being rediculed is evident.
thanks for your comments.
Maria said,
February 10, 2006 at 6:45 am
Gerry, several developers are already beginning to build sites for and about Davao City.
Manny said,
February 19, 2006 at 8:25 pm
What else do you expect from people from the “north” like Danilo Reyes! It’s as if only Davao City in the entire country has thousands upon thousands of poor people that need to be “hidden” from foreigners’ views . What about every time there are big conferences or international summits in Manila and they have to build walls along roads so that visiting dignitaries do not see the utter squalor and filth that is Manila! Or spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer money (a lot of it coming from Mindanao mind you!) to “beautify” various areas in that metropolis. What does Davao get? Spare change!
It’s precisely because of people like him that Davao City literally has to claw its way high enough so that it can fight for the right to develop its human capital and resources.
jo said,
January 30, 2007 at 3:33 am
this discussion is stupid and gay. including the article.damned that tourists Davao grew without them in the past. We dont need them before we don’t need them much more now and we certainly dont need them in the future.
We are continually working growing our products in quality and variety here, we are having success in exporting some of it and working to export more, we get the income. tourists and people who belittles us. go to hell anyway!..we dont need you.