A Technical Working Group (TWG) has been constituted to look into unlicensed establishments operating in Marilog District, Davao City.
Marilog District is now being positioned as an emerging tourist destination in Davao City as dining and tourism spots now thriving in the area.
However, Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan of the Department of Tourism 11 (DOT 11) reminded that there are build and no build zones in Marilog.
“May establishments are operating there in Marilog na may license. There are too many there already and we are getting a low number sa mga licensed,” Tan said.
She said DOT 11 is now working closely with the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), the city government of Davao, and the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO).
“Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre is also actively engaging with the different stakeholders on this,” she said.
She also said that this issue has already come to the attention of the Regional Development Council 11 (RDC 11) as well as to the city government of Davao.
“These things will be raised to the RDC and the different agencies and parties involved for the Marilog issues,” she said.
Meanwhile, Cherry Faye Al-ag, president of the Davao Tourism Association (DATA) also called on establishments regarding the building restrictions in Marilog.
“I am excited to see the results of the TWG because we want to promote more tourism establishments that will give truly an enjoyable and memorable experience including the safety of the customers,” she said.
It can be recalled that Datu Rody Mande, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of the City Council, expressed frustrations on the rampant illegal buying and selling of ancestral domains in Marilog District as this displaced several IPs.
Mande urged the tribal leaders not to deal with buyers to eradicate the issue of selling ancestral domains.
Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre has been raising this concern since 2018 because not only that these establishments are operating without government permits including a prior consent from the National Commission on Indigenous People’s (NCIP) over the past years but also these are situated in landslide-prone areas or danger zone.
