DOT-XI plans Duterte tours

DAVAO CITY May 20 (PIA)-With the electoral victory of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, his hometown has seen a deluge of visitors wanting to meet and get-to-know the presumptive president.

The Department of Tourism- XI is planning to roll out a “get-to-know-your-president” tour where visitors will be taken to places like the Mayor's now famous green house in Doña Luisa Subdivision.

Ever since it was featured in the media, visitors have flocked to the middle-class housing community in the suburb of Matina trying to catch a glimpse of the Mayor or just take a selfie outside his home.

Roberto Alabado, regional director of DOT-XI said there are talks with tour operators on the initial drafts with the plan. He said that the recent elections have created a curiosity and interest about the long-time Davao City Mayor.

Apart from his house part of the tours will include the City Hall of Davao and Mayor Duterte’s flagship project the Public Safety and Security Command Center and the Central 911, one of the most sophisticated emergency response centers in the country.

Even before he became presumptive president, the 911 and PSSCC have become an attraction for many tourists.

Last April DOT-XI  brought Singaporean bloggers to visit the facility which had impressed them. Monggchin Yeoh a prominent Singaporean fashion blogger was impressed by the facilities and likened them those to Singapore.

During the eve of the elections several foreign and Manila-based media were also given a tour of the facilities by the City Tourism Operations Office.

Alabado said that Duterte’s policies in Davao City can become an attraction by itself. The policies which can be replicated in the whole country.

The DOT RD said this is the right time to promote Davao City as a tourist destination. Alabado said with renewed interests they can tell the public that Davao is more than just beaches. (RG Alama/ PIA-XI)