From the islands to the highlands
By Carlos Isagani Zarate
Inquirer

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DAVAO CITY, HOST TO THE 25th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), and its environs have been in a festive atmosphere since Friday. The regional forum, which kicked off last Friday with a meeting of tourism ministers at the world-renowned Pearl Farm Beach Resort in nearby Island Garden City of Samal, is expected to gather until Jan. 21 more than 2,000 foreign and local participants, not only from the 10-country Asean bloc but also from Japan, China, the United States and Europe.

While the main objective of the nine-day trade and travel event is to promote Asean as one of the world's major tourism destinations, local organizers touted the hosting of ATF as a "coming-out party" for Mindanao; but especially for Davao City, which in 2003 fell into a "state of lawless violence" after the city's main airport and seaport were bombed. Hosting an international event like the ATF, organizers say, gives Davao a fitting but rare opportunity to once again assert its eminent position not only as the political center of the South but also as Mindanao's economic and tourism hub.

To "wow" the ATF participants, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's administration, in tandem with the private sector, poured millions of pesos to make Davao "a city in bloom." Probably the city's most visible makeover is the 600 decorative street lampposts that feature the purple-colored rare orchid waling-waling, giving the city's nocturnal landscape a welcoming glow. Thousands of newly acquired trash bins have also been installed all around the city, with Duterte warning to run after garbage violators and throw them at the city's dump. An extensive beautification drive has led many downtown barangays and private establishments to refurbish and tidy up their premises, even ridding government lots of illegal structures erected by informal settlers.

To connect the participants to Davao's past, there is the renovated Davao Museum of History and Ethnography, which was opened last Saturday. In addition, there are the Mindanao Trade Expo (showcasing the island's artworks, crafts and products) and the Travel Exchange Exhibit (held in different venues), which also feature other areas of Mindanao. Tomorrow, a mini-festival show, complete with the street-dancing and pomp that attend the annual Kadayawan Festival, will be opened at the Central Bank.

But, probably, the most elaborate preparation made by the city was in the area of security. Hundreds of regular and auxiliary police and military personnel have been deployed throughout the city to the look out for potential saboteurs. Even the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has offered to help prevent possible terrorist attacks. The tough-talking Duterte has also ordered a "preemptive strike" on suspected terrorists, saying a "terror threat" has become "very imminent," that is why "we have increased [the number] of security forces and we are trying our best to control the situation. With or without the threat, the ATF will go on," Duterte said.

Aside from the expected immediate economic bonanza-organizers expect the local autonomy to generate P85 million from the forum-local tourism stakeholders also want to woo potential foreign investors to cash-in on the region's largely untapped eco-tourism potential. "We will highlight the diversity of Davao through our island-to-highland campaign," said Art Boncato, vice chair of the ATF local host committee and chair of the Davao Tourism Association (Data). Included in the "highlights" are Igacos, whose beaches rival those of Boracay's; the highland resorts of Davao City, like the Eden Garden Resort; the Mt. Apo National Park; and the Philippine Eagle Reservation in Malagos.
On the side, it is hoped that, through the ATF, foreign investors will be lured to revive the mothballed $300-million Samal Casino Hotel, one of the flagship projects of former President Fidel Ramos, and previously operated by Ekrand Berhad Holdings, a Malaysian conglomerate. Its grand and lavish opening several years ago notwithstanding, the 300-room casino hotel has been losing millions of pesos since-leaving in limbo the fate of hundreds of agrarian reform beneficiaries who were persuaded to lease their CARP-awarded lands for the promise of big income that never materialized.

From all indications, the holding of the ATF in Davao definitely has given the tourism industry (particularly in Davao and Mindanao) a big boost and, for that matter, might even help ease the country's economy. But it could also turn out to be just a panacea.

As the latest SWS survey showed, Mindanao remains one area of the country where the incidence of poverty is among the highest.

"We have to be cautious in looking at tourism as the be-all and end-all of our economic problems," commented lawyer Angela Librado-Trinidad, chair of the Davao City Council's Committee on Women and Children.

For one, she said, a tourism-induced economic development, in most cases, also gives rise to social problems, like the proliferation of sex-trade. On the other hand, since the tourism industry is largely cornered by big business, like the airline and hotel owners, its economic benefits hardly benefit the many poor Filipinos, added Trinidad. "At most it can provide temporary economic relief for the people but not in the long run. What we need are industries that provide permanent, not temporary jobs, and adequate compensation for the people."

Indeed, our people "from the islands to the highlands" need more than just momentary pomp.

Comments at kar_laws@yahoo.com or karlos_z23@hotmail.com

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