President Rodrigo Duterte’s home city of Davao has become a casualty of the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao, with the tourism industry suffering fever that pushed down tourism figures.
But presidential daughter Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is taking the slow down in tourist arrivals and cancellation of scheculed events in stride.
This is only temporary. A week or two and we will be back to normalcy, said Duterte-Carpio.
Already having earned the Convention City of Mindanao tag, Davao City’s tourism industry has further perked up following the election of President Duterte last year.
Located in southern Mindanao, Davao City, where President Duterte was mayor for more than two decades before becoming President, is the southern Philippines’ premier metropolis.
Duterte-Carpio confirmed through reports by the City Tourism Office and the regional bureau of the Department of Tourism that many events set in the city have been cancelled following the declaration of Martial Law.
On May 23, President Duterte declared Martial Law in Mindanao as the local terrorist Maute Group laid siege on Marawi City, a predominantly-Muslim city in Lanao del Sur in western Mindanao.
Marawi is about 250 kms. away from Davao City.
Martial Law and the Marawi violence doubled up to take its toll on tourism in Davao City.
The relatively peaceful Duterte city is no stranger to bombings in a spill-over of violence in other regions.
Last year, as government forces launched a massive campaign in Marawi against the Mauti Group, its bombers exploded a bomb in Roxas Night Market killing 15 people and wounding 70 others.
THE DURIAN POST 