Davao City posts improved business despite martial law

DAVAO CITY — Despite the declaration of martial law in Mindanao last May, business registrations in this city increased by 118 percent for the second quarter of 2017, an investment official of the city government said.

Davao City Investment Promotions Center (DCIPIC) head Lemuel Ortonio said, in an interview Tuesday, that the city recorded more than 4,600 business registrations for the second quarter, more than twice compared to the same period last year when 2,110 business establishments registered and renewed.

Citing the latest figures, Ortonio said the impact of the martial law on economy of Davao, the hometown of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, was almost negligible, claiming that his office has been continuously receiving quite a number of inquiries from interested investors.

The investment official attributed such increase to the “ease of doing business” here in the city.

“There is ease of doing business in the city, many measures to make it easier to open business here. And then with martial law comes with heightened security and it’s possible our investors have seen their investments are safe here,” he said.

Last July 18, City Tourism Office head Generose Tecson said the extension of martial law unti December 31, 2017 will certainly have an effect on the tourism sector here but security is more important.

She said the embassies will keep their travel advisories against Mindanao.

But she security is a “primordial concern” of the City Government in light of the threat of terrorism and extremism in Mindanao.

She said the city’s security forces are part of the executive committee tasked to prepare for the Kadayawan Festival next month.