Interested in visiting Davao City? Well, you’re in for a few surprises. It’s not your typical “big city.” Read on for a list of things you’ll be happy to know about Davao City.
1: We have a super low crime rate.
Photo by Ace R. Morandante
Here, going home late is not a scary thing. Even for girls. Even unlocked car doors and home backdoors are a common sight.
This is because the crime rate is so low, and the local government pays good money to keep it that way. For years, Davao City has been awarded “Most Child-Friendly” and “Most Peaceful” because of how peace and order has been relentlessly fought for.
There are surprise check points, surprise drug tests for policemen, increased police visibility at night and our favorite: extravagant rewards for criminal intel. Here, the mayor operates with this principle in mind: it’s the criminals that should be afraid of living here, not our honest citizens.
2: A vacation is a mere 15 minutes away.
Photo from Global Drifter
If you’re downtown, you can spend 15 minutes and get to a nearby inland resort with a lavish pool and a café that serves great food. If you’re near the wharf, it only takes 15 minutes to get to the pristine white sands of Samal, Davao del Norte.
Want to get to a city zoo? Visit a premiere mall? Go to the city’s art galleries? Spend the night partying to electronic dance music? All 15 minutes away from downtown.
If you’re up for a mountain resort experience and have a little more time, take 30 minutes on the road and you’re there. Your choice of recreation in Davao City is just a short drive away.
3: It’s the perfect mix of urban development and rural comfort.
Photo by Will Chin
Since we’re located down south, a lot of people may not know just how developed Davao truly is. We are currently home to dozens of BPO companies, hundreds of multinational corporations, several agriculture ventures, import-export transactions and international brands located in our shopping malls and high-end offices. Today, some banks even operate on Sundays!
Despite a lot of urban development, Davao is one of those cities where you can still see patches of greens along roadsides, where traffic doesn’t turn you into a potty mouth on your way to work, and where fruits are sold on almost every corner. Sounds like just the perfect cocktail of cozy and corporate.
4: We have clean air and water.
Photo by Zack Lee
Unlike in other urban cities, a big thing your lungs will quickly notice is how clean the air is.
Smog is something we’re not familiar with and smoke belching is very rare. The city also has a strict public smoking ban which contributes to the cleanliness of the air. Some people even say that in Davao, you don’t have to pick your nose as often!
Aside from clean air, we also have clean water. The water here is safe enough for you to drink it right out of the faucet! When dining at restaurants, you can just request for tap water and not have to spend on drinks. If you’re storing your water in a pail, no dirt or residue will form on the sides. Like most Dabawenyos, when you’re used to drinking safe and clean tap water, you’ll really miss it when you leave.
5: Our taxi service is a fairy tale of its own.
Photo from The Lone Traveller
Stories about honest cab drivers who returned cash, jewelry, and gadgets left inside their cabs? Almost an everyday occurrence in Davao.
Our taxi drivers’ honesty and professionalism are truly worth-sharing. Our local government keeps close eyes on the taxi drivers and operators so that this reputation remains one of our city’s best kept treasures.
Davao cab drivers are also known to give you your exact change instead of rounding off to the nearest ten and keeping the change for themselves. They’re also kinder and more courteous. Ride one and you’ll see. Our cabs even come in bright colors: orange, pink, yellow, sky blue, etc. There are even cabs that let you pay through debit cards, cabs with TVs, Wi-Fi and karaoke!
Indeed, Davao’s tourism slogan lives on: Life is here.
And with these quirky trivia items in mind, we’re looking forward to seeing you soon!
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