by Robert “Boyet” Quinto
DAVAO City’s private and public sectors should first assess its assets or its strengths and capitalize on these.
Davao is a place that is blessed with a cool 19 degC mountain area and sunny beaches which are within less than an hour’s drive from downtown.
Davao is typhoon-free, a place where rainfall is practically even throughout the year with some exceptions.
Davao City is obviously a place for agriculture, tourism, a haven for retirement and simply a very ideal place to live in.
Agriculture is already here. By all means, let us all support it. Let us protect it from people who, in the guise of being environmentalists, are out to kill our strength that has been feeding us since we were born. All of us should show our concern by being prudent in knowing who are our allies in progress and who are not. Let’s learn from the more developed countries’ experiences, both good and bad. It has to be sustainable. After bananas then coconut, coffee, cacao, vegetables, fruits, flowers, etc.
Tourism. This is more of our people’s attitude. It has to blend with our natural endowment. The city government has to continue to have the political will, at least maintain, if not improve much more in what is commonly known as good manners and right conduct. In littering, in traffic enforcement, obeying the city ordinances that we are famous of (smoking ban, fire cracker ban, petty crimes, clean, etc.) Every taxi driver should be the first to follow the traffic laws and should be the most courteous person in Davao because they are our frontlines in tourism.
I remember the time when even the wife of then Land Transportation Office regional director Tonying Llamas had to attend a seminar for traffic violation in Almendras Gym. It has to be in the gym because thousands were caught including doctors, lawyers, professionals etc. With this, even by word of mouth, Davao has been a favourite tourist destination especially of domestic visitors.
Other opportunities will follow like conventions, conferences, etc. One important thing that i think we should take care of in tourism is to cater to family-oriented and family-friendly tourism. Taking from the policy of SM of not showing R18 movies, the other reason aside from moral values is that, movies like Harry Potter, StarWars, Disney movies etc, get a horde of people, families by families watching the movie. Look at R18 movies. Do you see same hordes of people? On the contrary, people going there are very discreet. They go inside one by one so as not to attract attention and on the wee hours of the day. They are never a box-office hit. The same with tourism. We want families and families to come and enjoy. It will be wholesome. We should frown on the flesh trade type of tourism. By doing this, we shield ourselves from a lot of short and long term problems like breakdown in family values, infidelity, promisciusness, sexually transmitted deceases etc. It is only then when we can be assured of a sustainable tourism business. Good and healthy living begets good and healthy people.
Real Estate and Retirement havens. I was told by our friend Joey Lim that real estate will continue to boom. He said, just consider the Filipinos who went abroad in the 50’s and 60’s and on. They will be coming back to retire here. Not to mention the retired foreigners marrying Filipinas, OFWs buying homes for their love ones etc. This could easily result to more entrepreneurs coming to Davao and Davaoenos themselves will have more opportunities.
Services. Having mentioned the above sectors, The Services sector will be in demand. Medical, health, Information Technology and communication, and education.
The idea of dealing with our economy should be market or demand and opportunity driven. We should always be alert in knowing what our customer wants, we should know their level of satisfaction with our products and services. And we should always be some steps ahead of our competitors (other cities). Let’s be good in the domestic market as well as in the foreign market. This will lessen the impact of foreign economic shocks and crises.
