Davao City: President-Elect Rodrigo Duterte’s “Exhibit A”

Davao. Life is Here.

Davao City is one of the most beautiful and largest Philippine cities. Located in the island of Mindanao, this progressive city has developed into a sprawling urban metropolis of 1.44M residents, and it has attracted a large number of economic migrants from all over Mindanao and elsewhere in the Philippines. ^{1, 2}

But has Davao City always been this clean, safe, and progressive? Short answer: no.

Davao Before Mayor Duterte

In the 1970s and 1980s, Davao City was known as the “murder capital” of the Philippines. Gangs, bandits, kidnappers and drug dealers used to operate with impunity in the city. ^{3, 4}

So the question is: How was the city transformed from being a crime capital to being a hub of commerce and industry in the Southern Mindanao region?

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte

The now Presumptive President-Elect Duterte was first elected mayor in 1988 on a campaign to reinstate peace and order in Davao City. Prior to that, the tough-talking mayor had already built his reputation as a city prosecutor by targeting military and rebel abuses with equal fervor. Duterte said that his father, a former provincial governor, taught him that elected officials must serve the greater good no matter what it takes, like a father protecting and disciplining his family.

Duterte’s rise as a prominent political figure coincided with a significant change in the dynamic between local officials and the police in the Philippines. Two laws enacted in 1990-91 provided city mayors and provincial governors greater operational control over their police forces. ⁴

According to the official website of Davao City, crime rates in the city dropped to among the lowest in the country under Duterte’s rule. The 3-digit crime rate per 10,000 people in 1985 was lowered to a monthly crime volume of 0.8 cases per 10,000 persons from 1999 up to 2005. About 90% of these cases reported are petty crimes that do not in any way threaten the overall peace and order condition of the city.

Mayor Duterte’s Exhibit A

To answer critics and doubters who ask him what he can show to prove his readiness to serve in the highest office of the land, the country’s longest-serving city mayor considers Davao City as his “Exhibit A”.

What really makes Davao City stand out from the other cities in the Philippines and in the Asia-Pacific Region that would make it ideal for tourism and investment?

One of its strengths is its strong, dynamic local government, much admired not just nationally but also internationally. The city has led in crafting landmark pieces of legislation, pioneering innovations in local governance, strong political will in implementing policies and programs, and a high level of self-sufficiency.

Davao City has had quite a few landmark legislations and innovations in local governance, proving that the city is a trailblazer among all local government units in the Philippines:

Davao City Investment Incentive Code (2269-94)
Amendments to the Guidelines in the Registration of Business Establishment with Foreign Nationals (029-07)
Comprehensive Anti-smoking Ordinance of Davao City (042-02)
Watershed Code (310-07)
Aerial Spraying Ordinance (309-07)
Signage Ordinance (92-00)
Other local ordinances in Davao include One-Stop Shop Center, Mobile Tower Ordinance, Ordinance Regulating Tourism Industry in the City, Solid Waste Management, Internet Café Ordinance, Organic Agriculture Ordinance, and Women Development Code.

If the city’s achievements and recognitions reflect Duterte’s leadership, then Davao City is indeed the best “exhibit A” Duterte can have.

Here are some of the city’s notable achievements and recognitions:

Most Competitive Metro City in the Philippines, 2001, 2003, 2005
Most Livable City in the Philippines, 1996-1999
Destination of the Year, 1997 Kalakbay Awards
Most Child-friendly City in the Philippines, 1999, 2000
Most Outstanding Regional Peace and Order Council, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005
Most Peaceful City in East and Southeast Asia, 1998-2005
Best Police Office in the Country, 1999-2005
2nd place, LGU Literacy Award in the Philippines, 1999
2nd Best City Health Office in the Philippines, 1999
The Cleanest and Greenest City in the Philippines, 1999-2005
Most Outstanding Water Utility in Asia, 1996, 1997, 1998

The city has come a long way, transformed from being a crime capital to being a hub of commerce and industry in the Southern Mindanao region. If what he has done in Davao City is an indication of what Duterte can do for the country, his leadership would be capable of effectively dealing with the problems we are facing.