THE business community in Davao City condemned the deadly explosion that ripped through the Roxas Night Market, but assured that it is still “business as usual” in the city.
Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) released its official statement Monday, September 5, underscoring that Davao City, despite the explosion, will remain unfazed and will continue to be a great place “to live in, raise a family, do business and invest.”
“Our deepest sympathy goes to the bereaved families and let us continue to pray for the fast recovery of those who are hospitalized. Let their healing transcend beyond physical but most importantly in their emotional state of being,” read the Chamber’s statement.
“The Dabawenyos will definitely rise above this as we have always had, and we enjoin everyone to continue to believe in Davao CIty as a great place to live in and raise a family, to do business and invest,” it added.
DCCCII also said that there is no other way but to “move forward with confidence that our local and National Government is more than capable in ensuring security in our lands.”
A Dabawenyo business leader, Joji Ilagan-Bian, for her part, expressed deep condolences to the innocent victims.
“We are so sad and at same time angry with the perpetrators of this violence. We need to rise up above all of these to show them that we are one and united Davao and remains confident in our president's leadership to ensure sustainable peace,” she said in text message sent to VoxPop Davao.
Amid the President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration (State of lawless violence), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) honorary chairman Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said in a report that existing businesses in the country remain as it is.
He said that no negative impacts are expected on the existing businesses here. The business leader also does not think that the unfortunate incident in Davao City will affect the country's business climate in the long term.
However, the DCCCII president also said that “it will immediately affect tourism related industry like transportation, hotel and restaurant, other related business.”
He added that foreign prospected investors may also delay their visit and investment plan here due travel advisory.
“Wait and see attitude might be observed,” Tan said.
Davao City tourism operations officer, Gene Rose Tecson, said that though the terror attack last September 2, Friday night may have affected the tourism sector in the city, still, the tourism stakeholders showed confidence that they can still hit their target of a 15 percent increase in visitors this year.
“Yes it has because even on our, Dabawenyos part we experience fear of going out, what more people coming from outside Davao. That’s why we must heed the call of our Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to rise and show the perpetrators that we will not be cowed. Let us be realistic with our situation & be vigilant and at the same time highlight what’s positive,” she said in a text message.
She also reminded everyone to stop spreading rumors of more threats as it will do no good to the city and its people. She also encouraged the Davaoenos to “post in their social media accounts what’s nice and good in Davao” to show the world that indeed in Davao, life is here.
