A DAVAO City councilor is pushing for an ordinance requiring all establishments in Davao Chinatown area to have a Chinese-themed façade.
Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, committee head on tourism and beautification, authored this proposed ordinance which was passed on first reading. The councilor’s proposed ordinance was adopted from former councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, who previously headed Ortiz’s current committee.
Ortiz said the proposal was based on the resolution from the Davao City Chinatown Development Council (DCCDC).
According to the resolution, Susan Isabel Reta, a DCCDC member and former councilor, said most establishments in the city’s Chinatown area don’t have Chinese-themed façade.
The Chinatown area covers the whole stretch of Ramon Magsaysay Avenue (formerly known as Uyanguren). The area is also bordered by Sta. Ana Avenue, Monteverde Avenue, and Leon Garcia Street.
Ortiz said the committee will be having a committee hearing this month.
“We will be tackling in the committee hearing not only the structures but also, in a way, to strengthen further the relationship between China and Davao City,” she said adding the ordinance also aims to promote and preserve Chinatown.
Councilor Javi Campos, who chairs the committee on international relations, said the Consul General Office of China is willing to help in crafting the proposed ordinance.
“They also mentioned our Filipino Chinese Community is willing to support the project of the city government. (Actually), there are already interested parties,” Campos said.
DCCDC officer Steve Arquiza said they are eyeing to make Chinatown and its adjacent roads to be an area wherein Chinese food and products will be highlighted in the area to attract more tourists to the city.
“We wanted to promote the night market in Chinatown, considering the area is considered dead once it reaches night time,” Arquiza said.
Although he clarified that the proposal is still on the technical working committee, they are also planning to allocate open spaces for Chinese hawker restaurants similar to Singapore and Malaysia.