THE Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) reported that there are still a few owners of self-styled lodging facilities in the city who refused to get a business permit.

With the growing number of tourists in Davao City, reaching around 2.4 million tourists in 2018, CTOO head Generose Tecson said they have been talking with self-styled lodging facilities or homeowners who are putting their units on lease. This is in order to address the problem on lack of accommodation while also ensuring safety and security of tourists coming to the city.

“In a meeting held two weeks ago and requested by a condominium homeowners association, there were really homeowners who do not want to get a business permit, hindi naman pwede ‘yun,” Tecson said.

“The business bureau told them that it’s against the law to do business without a permit. When the business bureau and our office conduct an inspection and they are indeed found to be operating, various sanctions can be meted,” she added.

Tecson said they have monitored a lot of condominium units and even apartments in the city that are put on short-term lease. She added that they are still currently consolidating the data to properly monitor these self-styled lodging facilities.

Despite a handful of homeowners who continue to refuse to get permits for their units on lease, the city has gotten support from the heads of association and property managers.

“The self-styled accommodation is by itself a solution. The DCPIC (Davao City Investment and Promotion Center) is stressing the need for more hotels and convention facilities,” she said.

“It’s why we're asking them to get a business permit and tourism license so that we can have an inventory of the number of units available,” she added.