The Davao City government released on Friday 30 guidelines to be followed by tourists and businesses during the implementation of Martial Law.
The guidelines covered basic rules to be followed specifically by Davao-based companies and businesses, visiting business people, and businesses operating at night or so-called graveyard shift. The guidelines focus on security and safety planning.
For Davao-based business, business establishments are required to create emergency plans for their respective premises and encouraged to invest in private security and modern security equipment. Likewise, they were advised to maintain the monitoring of their CCTV cameras.
They are also advised to create a directory of emergency numbers to immediately report incidents.
Visiting business people are advised to plan their schedule ahead of time before visiting considering the heavy implementation of security in the city.
Foreign visitors are advised to have valid identification cards and travel documents brought with them.
They are likewise advised to coordinate with the DCIPC and other offices and foreign chambers in case of business missions/trips and hold meetings in accredited hotels and venues within the city proper.
For businesses operating on graveyard shift, they are asked to prepare a work schedule signed by authorized officers for verification.
Employees should also bring with them their company IDs at all times and present them when security guards would ask for identification. They are encouraged to adopt the buddy system, meaning to have a companion going to and from work.
It is also suggest that companies organize carpooling services for employees working on nocturnal shift.
On Thursday, Davao City Investment and Promotion Center Head Lemuel Ortonio said that the guidelines were crafted in consultation with business owners through the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
Below are the 30 Things to Remember for Business from the City Information Office.
“No better time to invest in Davao City than today. We make Martial Law work business for you.”
Davao-based Businesses
1. Business establishments are required to create emergency plans for their respective premises.
2. Business establishments are encouraged to invest in private security and modern security equipment.
3. All establishments are encouraged to retrain their security personnel to respond to any incident with an emergency plan in order.
4. Company CCTVs should be regularly monitored and always properly maintained.
5. Do not retain large sums of money in your premises.
6. Business establishments are advised to orient their employees on the guidelines issued by the City Government.
7. Company guards should log all arrivals and departures of employees from the office premises.
8. Company outings should only be held at licensed and accredited tourist sites in Davao City. Contact the City Tourism Operations Office for the list of sites.
9. In riding public transport, such as a taxi cab, take note of the name of the taxi cab and body number. Inform your co-workers or business partners.
10. Provide at least one hour allowance of your travel time to consider possible checkpoint delays.
11. If your business is affiliated with an industry association, regularly coordinate with them for specific action plans that affect your sector.
12. Keep a directory of emergency numbers. Dial 911 for emergencies.
13. Make sure to directly coordinate with government offices when processing permits, licenses, and other documents. Refrain from transacting with unknown third party groups.
Visiting Business People
14. Plan your trip to Davao City ahead of time. Tighter security checks are implemented at the city’s entry points, including the international airport and transportation terminals.
15. For foreigners on business trips, ensure that your travel documents showing your purpose of visit is with you at all times. Our security personnel may request for you to present them together with your passport.
16. Make sure that you have the accurate information of the hotel or inn that you are staying in. These include the complete name, address, and telephone number of the hotel or inn. Keep this with you at all times.
17. When visiting for a business mission, get in touch with the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (contact: 082-227-2860, 082-227-2870, 082-227-2880; email: dcipc@davaocity.gov.ph), the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (contact: 082-222-1402 and 082-300-2198; email: info@davaochamber.com), or local industry associations regarding your visit to the city.
18. Plan your meetings, seminars, and other business transactions in one venue. This is to avoid any delay brought about by random check points in the city.
19. Business meetings are best held at accredited hotels, restaurants, and conference venues within the city proper.
20. Make arrangements and coordinations only through your business contacts.
21. Refrain from coordinating and/or giving your contact information to unknown third party groups or referrals.
22. It is best to coordinate with the consular offices, honorary consul offices, or foreign chambers based in Davao City when visiting for a business trip. Davao City has three consular offices and six honorary consul offices. The city is also a base of several foreign chambers.
23. Coordination with the local MICE Executive Committee is encouraged when organizing a business conference, meetings, and other related activities in the city.
24. Coordinate with the barangay when conducting site inspections as part of due diligence activities, especially outside the city proper area. The DCIPC can make the necessary assistance in coordinating with the barangay.
25. It is highly encouraged that you follow your schedule itinerary.
Businesses Operating at Night or Graveyard Shift
26. Companies are encouraged to issue a work schedule duly signed by the authorized officer. This includes contact details of the company and authorized officer for verification.
27. No curfew has been set for Davao City. But, employees working on graveyard shift are advised to travel on buddy system to and from work.
28. Employees should bring with them their company IDs at all times and present them when security personnel ask for identification.
29. Companies are encouraged to organize carpooling system for graveyard shift workers.
30. Employees are best advised to bring their own food or order food delivery instead of eating outside during graveyard shift.
