Editorial: Win-win solution

IT IS a reality that in today’s time, travel has become a trend for most people - foreign or local tourists. And social media has been a player in setting this momentum. More people especially millennials post their #travelgoals photos online sparking interests for others to do the same.

Take a look some 10 years back, such is not the case.

In Davao City, a rise of local tourists can be noted going to some far-flung areas of the city particularly in Marilog and Paquibato districts. But last year, Dabawenyos were surprised by news on the closure of some 30 resort establishments in these areas because of failure to secure permits from Business Bureau and National Commission on Indigenous People (NICP) as these areas are considered as ancestral domains.

This incident has led the Davao City Council to form Task Force Marilog to oversee the issue.

After a year of series of consultations and meeting of all parties involved, Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, committee on tourism head, hopes that the ban on inland resort operations in Marilog and Paquibato districts will be lifted in time for the summer season.

But the amendments to the comprehensive zoning ordinance of the city to provide a win-win solution for both affected business establishments and the city government of Davao have yet to be settled and signed.

In the amended ordinance, inland resorts in Marilog and Paquibato districts will be allowed to use only two percent of their total land area for tourists and will be required to conserve the remaining portion.

The proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance will outline areas for eco-tourism and agro-tourism activities.

Alejandre said excess areas will be used as reforestation sites and non-compliance would lead to revocation of the establishments’ licenses.

The city’s act of calling out the attention of these establishments is commendable, but hopefully the goal of this act – push sustainable tourism – will be fully achieved by ensuring all guidelines set will be settled first before lifting the ban, not rush just because it’s summer season.

We hope that the win-win solution, which the city is eyeing, is anchored on developing the city’s tourism industry while preserving sustainably the city's natural and ancestral gifts.