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REVISITING DAVAO AS A LIVABLE CITY: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

SAIDAMIN P. BAGOLONG

ABSTRACT

Over time, the effect of urbanization has given rise to a number of developments making city a
better place to live in. With this, economic growth and social change may lead to people’s
understanding of their socio-economic status which is sometimes can be attributed to income,
wealth and prestige. This study aimed to revisit Davao as a livable city based on the responses
of people’s experiences as well as their understanding on the concept of livability. This study
used descriptive-phenomenological design using mixed methods. The respondents were
categorized based on their length of stay as well as those who were transient residence and
visitors of this city employing content analysis. Findings showed that the awards, distinctions
and attributes are valuable assets of the City as these can be a proof that the city is doing its
best to attain its goals in improving people’s economic and social conditions. With the
leadership qualities of the leader through the Mayor, ordinances and policies are strictly
followed and implemented without creating a negative image of his character. Public safety is a
must so that quality of life is achieved and people may be assured of their life-satisfaction. Like
any other city, satisfaction on the availability of facilities, amenities and visual and aesthetics
attractions are necessary in tourism as it is like a crowning glory of the city because it gives
people a total experience. Thus, making a city a livable place to live in depends upon the
satisfaction of people they get from it. But quality of life still relies on the subjective interpretation
and appreciation of people because condition of people is a subjective reality. And to be
objective, one must see quality of life or life-satisfaction as normal human and social processes.

Keywords: Public Administration, Livability, Livable City, descriptive-phenomenological study,

Davao City, Philippines

INTRODUCTION

Over the last few decades, the rapid urbanization has transformed the world's

development patterns through a combination of economic growth and social change (Tilaki, et.

al., 2014). This economic growth and social change may lead to people’s understanding of their

socio-economic status which is attributed to income, wealth and prestige. Over time, the effect

of urbanization has given rise to a number of developments making city a better place to live. If

we examine how people view city, we may mean a city worth living because of so many things it

offers to the people.

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Perhaps the city most famous for livability-driven economic development is Portland in

the United States. It is America’s amenity apex, and a recent study showed it attracts the young

by the boatload due to a certain leisure-lifestyle it affords. Making a city livable these days

largely means appealing to a select group of folks so as to form an attractive economic place.

This notion of livability really came on in the late 1980’s, and was done under the presumption

that certain cities offered higher quality of life (Piiparinen, 2012). This is the reason why cities

are increasingly expected to provide impetus to the growth and development of their

surrounding areas as well as to compete for economic activity with other cities. (Saitluanga,

2014). Livability is defined as a collection of characteristics that explain the attractive elements

of a place for people to live and rest. Regarding the concept of livability, the environment is the

basic aspect of the community to increase livability as it assembles other aspects of the

community and affects people's behavior (Linden, 1996 as cited by Tilaki, 2014).

In the Philippines, cities are typically centers of consumption, resource use, and waste.

But they are also key growth drivers of regional economies, particularly when a number of cities

and municipalities are clustered. Traditionally, our economy has been viewed as mainly

agricultural, with much of the business and investment focus on three key cities: Metro Manila,

Cebu and Davao (Luz, 2014). Locally, Davao City has been recognized as the most livable city

in the Philippines. The city also prides as the 87th fastest growing city in the world by the City

Mayors Foundation and 10th Asian City of the Future by the FDI Magazine (Uy, 2013). In the

annual survey made by Asiaweek on the 40 Best Cities in Asia, Davao City has unfailingly made

it to the Top 20 for four consecutive years from 1996 to 1999. Davao City rated high on the

survey of livability in the following categories: 2nd in the least number of criminal cases per

10,000 at 0.8; 5th in lesser vehicles per kilometer of city road at 46 vehicles/km; 6th in the ratio

of house price to income at 6.18; 14th in lesser volume of suspended particles in the air at

98g/m³; and 14th in value of state education spending per capita/$ at 410.80 It earned high

points for measure when it comes to matters of peace and order, a reasonable standard of

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living, cleanliness and welfare of its residents. In the same survey in year 1999, Davao garnered

56 points and ranked 18th. Cebu acquired 54 points and ranked 19th while Manila plummeted

from a previous 56 points down to 49, moving down from no. 14 to 25. If the independent survey

by Asiaweek is the basis for such recognition, clearly Davao sustains its quality of livability as a

thriving city and is in fact improving on it (davaotourism website).

However, the concept of livability does not only mean measuring all these indicators

based on survey. Though, there have been studies quantitatively on the livability of people in

city measuring people’s satisfaction on the quality of life based on physical, natural and

aesthetics aspects. But the concept of livability may differ relatively on how people perceive

quality of life. Feelings and perceptions are something to be subjective while objective uses

survey to quantify people’s responses on the indicators of livability. This is the reason why this

study was conducted in order to revisit Davao as a livable city through people’s responses on

their impression about quality of life or life-satisfaction as settler or transient resident.

THEORETICAL LENS

This study is anchored on three major theories related to the concept of happiness or

life-satisfaction where one person judges the degree of his/her condition based on the quality of

one’s life favorably (Veenhoven, 1984 as cited by Veenhoven, 1995). Theories of happiness or

life-satisfaction differ in assumptions about the sources of information used in the evaluation of

life. The first theory refers to concept of livability by Veenhoven (1993B) as cited by Veenhoven,

(1995). This theory is a subjective appreciation of life which depends in the first place on the

objective quality of life; the better the living-conditions in a country, the happier its inhabitants

will be. People are presumed to be happy in good living-conditions even if they know that others

enjoy even better conditions. The livability of one’s society is the degree to which collective

provisions and demands fit with individual needs and capacities. It is closely connected to the

idea that there are universal human needs, and it sees human societies as collective

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arrangements to gratify these needs, and assumes that societies can be more or less effective

in that respect (Veenhoven, 1995).

Second theory is the comparison by Brickman and Campbell (1971) as cited by

Veenhoven (1995), Easterlin (1974) as cited by Veenhoven (1995) and Veenhoven (1991), as

cited by Veenhoven (1995), which assumes that the evaluation of life is based on a mental

calculus, in which perceptions of life-as-it-is are weighted against standards of how-life-should-

be. Standards of comparison are presumed to be variable rather than fixed, and to follow

perceptions of possibilities. In other words, we would judge life by what we think it can

realistically be. What life could possibly be is either inferred from observation of other people, or

by our own experiences. Therefore, improvement of living conditions in a country would

inevitably involve a raising of standards. Conversely, deterioration of living conditions would

lower standards of comparison. Because standards follow success, the difference between

standard and reality remains the same in the long run. As a result, subjective appreciation of life

would be unrelated to the objective quality of it (Veenhoven, 1995).

Lastly is the Folklore Theory by Veenhoven (1993B and 1994) as cited by Veenhoven

(1995). This theory does not see happiness as an individual evaluation of life, but as the

reflection of a body of widely held notions about life, that is part of the national character. These

notions are seen to root in tradition, rather than in current realities of life. Consequently,

subjective appreciation of life in a country is expected to be largely unrelated to the present

quality of life in that country. Say, if hardship in earlier generations has brought on a pessimistic

outlook on life in a country, that outlook may persist for quite some time, and will discourage a

positive judgment of life in later generations. As a result a later generation can be largely

dissatisfied with life, even if living conditions have in fact become quite favorable (Veenhoven,

1995). Thus, in public administration, happiness is a highly valued goal in social policy. It is

generally agreed that we should try to reduce human suffering and make life more satisfying for

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a greater number. As such, happiness is a current output-indicator of policy success

(Veenhoven, 1993A as cited by Veenhoven, 1995).

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to revisit Davao as a livable city based on the responses of people’s

experiences as well as their understanding on the concept of livability. This study will also

discuss about the city’s awards, distinctions and attributes, Duterte’s leadership on ordinances,

public safety, and tourists’ satisfaction. This is delimited on other factors not covered in this

study which is quantifiable in nature.

METHODOLOGY

This study used descriptive-phenomenological design using mixed methods. The

respondents were categorized based on their length of stay as well as those who were transient

residence and visitors of this city. They were asked to describe their experiences while they

were in Davao City. The researcher examined and synthesized their responses employing

content analysis. Also, the researcher provided each of the respondents a code name to keep

their identity.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The presentation, analysis and interpretation of data gathered regarding the responses

of people’s experiences in Davao city as a livable place to live in was categorized based on the

objectives posed earlier.

Awards, Distinctions and Attributes

Table 1 presents the summary of the awards, distinctions and attributes of Davao City as

one of the indicators considered in this study. As shown, from 1997 to 2005, Davao City has

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achieved various accolades from different sectors of the society. These awards, distinctions and

attributes are proofs of city’s developments.

Davao City is one of only three areas in world, after the United States and Canada, to

have the Integrated Emergency Response System 911, a fully integrated, computerized

response system linking the people of Davao City to the emergency resources of the

government. It is patterned after the emergency dispatch system of the U.S. and Canada that

enables people in need of emergency assistance to summon necessary aid and emergency

services from public safety agencies by simply dialing 911.

Davao City also received an award of excellence from the Office of the President as the

1st Runner-up in the Cleanest and Greenest Highly-Urbanized City in the Philippines - Gawad

Pangulo sa Kapaligiran Awards 2004, and the 2nd Runner-up for three consecutive years in

2001–2003. It recognizes exemplary commitment, awe-inspiring discipline and unparalleled

unity in the cause of healthy environment.

Davao City came out the runaway choice for the coveted spot in the first-ever selection

of the Most Child-Friendly City in the Philippines in 1988 and 1999 due to its initiative to pass

landmark legislation - the Davao City Children’s Welfare Code of 1994, the first of its kind the

entire country, specifically geared towards addressing the rights, services and protection of

children, therefore upholding their welfare and interests in high regard.

In 2002, Davao City was recognized as the Most Competitive City to Do Business in the

Philippines by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center and the Department of

Trade and Industry in their assessment of Philippine Cities Competitiveness. Davao obtained

the highest average competitiveness ratings among metro cities based on the cost of doing

business, infrastructure, human resource, linkages, quality of life, local governance, and

dynamism of local economy. In 2003, Davao was also chosen 3rd Most Competitive Metro City

in the Philippine Cities Competitiveness ranking.

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Table 1: Summary of Awards, Distinctions and Attributes Received by City of Davao

Awards and Distinctions Organization Year
Integrated Emergency Response System 911 League of Cities in the 2003
Philippines
Cleanest and Greenest Highly-Urbanized City Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran 2001
Awards 2003- 2004,
Most Child-Friendly City Country Program for Children of 2004
UNICEF
Most Competitive City to Do Business Asian Institute of Management 2002
(AIM) Policy Center and the
Department of Trade and
Industry
Most Gender-Responsive LGU in the Philippines Galing Pook Awards 2004

Peace and Order Council in the Philippines National Peace and Order 2004
Council of the National Police
Commission
Best Food Fortification Program Neophyte on Food Fortification ----
Program
(R.A. 8976) of the Department
of Health
Best City Police Office in the Country Annual Inspection/Operational 1997, 1999,
Readiness, Security Inspection, 2002-2003
Test and Evaluation (AGI-
ORSITE) conducted by the
National Headquarters.
Most Outstanding Local Government Unit Department of Education 2005

Regional Green Banner Awardee National Nutrition Council of the 2004

Department of Agriculture
Most Outstanding City Library in the Philippines National Library 2000
st
1 in Overall Tax Payments Department of Finance 2003
Revenue Region No. 19
Top Government Withholding Agent Department of Finance 2005
Revenue Region No. 19
Top Tourist Destination in the Philippines Kalakbay Awards 1997

Most Outstanding Chamber of Commerce in the Philippine Business Conference 2005

Philippines and in the Asia Pacific Region

Most Outstanding KBP Chapter in the Philippines Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster 2004
ng Pilipinas (KBP)
Cleanest Air in the World - Member of the Clean U.S. Department of Energy 2005
Cities Coalition (USDOE) and the U.S. Agency
for International Development
(USAID).
Fruit Basket of the Philippines
Most Culturally-Diverse City
Most Liberal Political Climate in the Philippines
Lowest Crime Rate in the Country
Most Prepared Emergency Response System in the Country
Source: http://www.davaotourism.com/home/thedavaolife/viewAll/0&subPage=davaoFacts

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The Gender Mainstreaming Program of the Davao City Government was chosen as one

of the Top 10 Most Outstanding Programs in the Galing Pook Awards in 2004. Davao was also

recognized by the National Commission on the Rights For Women (NCRFW) for its good

practices on gender and development (GAD), specifically for being the first local government to

legislate a Women Development Code and create a permanent Gender and Development

(GAD) Office in the City Government, and creating other GAD mechanisms such as the

Mindanao Commission for Women, Women Correctional Institute in Mindanao, and measures to

address violence against women.

The National Peace and Order Council of the National Police Commission placed Davao

City in the “Hall of Fame” in 2004 for winning “Best Peace and Order Council” in Region XI for

three consecutive years (1999–2002.

Davao City was proclaimed “Best City to Implement a Food Fortification Program” in

Region XI in the Neophyte on Food Fortification Program (R.A. 8976) of the Department of

Health. Davao was also declared as Region XI’s pride for successful implementation of the

Food Fortification Program by the Nutrition Division of the City Health Office. It was also chosen

as the Best City – The “Melting Pot of the Philippines” - the Food Fortification Program

Implementor in Region XI.

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) was recognized as the Best City Police Office

nationwide for the years 1997, 1999, and 2002. In 2003, DCPO was adjudged as “Best Police

Unit” in the Police Regional Office Category during the Annual Inspection/Operational

Readiness, Security Inspection, Test and Evaluation (AGI-ORSITE) conducted by the National

Headquarters. Its special desk for women and children was also cited as “Best Women’s and

Children’s Protection Desk in the Philippines” for 2003.

The Department of Education hailed Davao City as the “Most Outstanding Local

Government Unit” in the 2005 Regional Literacy Awards, and “2nd Place in the 2005 National

Literacy Awards”, all under the Highly Urbanized City Category.

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The National Nutrition Council of the Department of Agriculture awarded Davao City the

“2004 Regional Green Banner” in recognition of the City Nutrition Committee’s exemplary

performance in managing the nutrition program of the city, thereby contributing to the

improvement of the nutritional status of its constituents.

Davao City received its 14th consecutive award in 2000 for having the country’s Best City

Library within the administration of the City Government, making it the “Most Outstanding City

Library in the Philippines.”

The Department of Finance Revenue Region No. 19 in Davao City recognized the City

Government of Davao for its invaluable support and cooperation towards the tax collection

endeavor of this revenue region by ranking “1st in the overall Tax Payments” for the year 2002.

The Department of Finance, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Revenue Region No. 19,

Revenue District No. 113, Davao City recognized the City Government of Davao for its

invaluable support and contribution to RDO 113 as the “Top Government Withholding Agent” by

making substantial tax payment in 2004 and in the first semester of 2005 - an act of patriotism

worthy of recognition and commendation.

Davao City was chosen “Destination of the Year” by the Kalakbay Awards in 1997, and

two of its tourism amenities, Annie’s Restaurant and Hotel Margarita, were acclaimed with the

highest honors as “Restaurant of the Year” and “Hotel of the Year”, respectively.

The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) was bestowed the

“Most Outstanding Chamber Award for 2005” during the 31st Philippine Business Conference

last October 13, 2005, at the Manila Hotel. The award was handed by no less than Her

Excellency, Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Aside from this national recognition, DCCCII also

bagged the Most Outstanding Chamber in Mindanao Award for the seventh time.

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) acknowledged its Davao City local

chapter as the “Best KBP Chapter for 2004.” During the 8th National Chapter Leadership

Conference last October 8, 2005, at Tagaytay City, the Davao City Chapter was once again

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given recognition for winning “2nd Place for the Best Local Chapter Report.” Both awards were

bagged under the leadership of Mr. Giovanni “Bong” Aportadera.

On August 22, 2005, Davao City was launched as the second pilot area of the Clean

Cities Program (CCP) implemented by the Sustainable Energy Development Program (SEDP),

in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) and the U.S. Agency for

International Development (USAID). The City Government of Davao initiated the formation of

the Clean Cities Davao Coalition (CCDC) to focus on and coordinate the plans of the CCP in the

local arena. Davao City envisions itself in the future as pollution-free, its people working

collectively to protect its environment to ensure that the city’s air is one of the cleanest in the

world. In support of this vision, the City Mayor approved Executive Order No. 19, “…declaring

August 22-29, 2005, and every third week of August of each year thereafter, as the “Alternative

Fuels Week” to promote, develop, and utilize alternative fuels.” The CCDC also launched the

Fuels for Life Movement (F4L) as SEDP’s flagship IEC project.

The freshest tropical fruits are always ripe for the picking in Davao. Whatever your

craving might be - mangoes, watermelons, rambutan or those succulent pomelos - you’ll surely

go fruit-crazy with the city’s best-tasting fruits. Orchards, groves, and fruit plantations that

extend to unimaginable horizons continually produce the freshest fruits that contribute more

income to the city and entice our visitors with mouth-watering treats from Mother Earth. Of

course, a trip to Davao would never be complete without tasting the “Fruit of the Gods” or the

“King of Fruits”- the exotic Durian.

Davao is the most culturally-diverse city in the country, finding chemistry in the fusion of

the different cultures and traditions of its numerous ethnic tribes, making it a distinctly unique

destination in the Philippines. Among the ethnic groups found in the City are the Bagobo,

Mandaya, Ata, Manobo, B’laan and Muslim groups.

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In Davao, there is no one group or idea that dominates over the others. The City is

touted to have the most liberal political climate in the Philippines where groups are allowed free

speech and the display of sentiments.

With these accolades, one respondent mentioned that:

“Davao was awarded the most culture-friendly city in the Philippines.

It has diverse culture where many tribes originate here.
Davao also was regarded as the melting pot of culture in the Philippines”

Anent to this, another respondent observed that:

“We may have excelled but we can never deny the fact that
the city needs more jobs in order to suffice the people’s living condition”

According to the study of Tilaki, et. al. (2014), with respect to the new urban planning

concepts, a large body of literature concerning the built environment has focused on the

relationship among people's behavior and their perceptions with urban land use distribution,

public space, and urban spatial patterns (Badoe & Miller, 2000; Hostetler et al., 2003; Lee &

Moudon, 2006; Barton, 2009; Wilhelmi & Hayden, 2010; and Joh et al., 2012). Studies have

revealed that there are considerable connections between people's behavior and the built

environment as well as urban land use (Handy et al., 2002; Lee et al., 2006; and Joh et al.,

2012). The built environment is formed based on the people's decisions whilst the people's

behaviors are influenced by the built environment, especially in cities. The results of several

studies indicated that the distribution of landmark land use (public space, shopping complex,

traffic junction, square) and urban connectivity through a transportation network are effective

elements for shaping people's lifestyle and their perceptions (Krizek, 2003; Boarnet et al., 2011;

and Joh et al., 2012). Thus, people's activities in public spaces largely depend on the

connectivity and distribution of land use in cities, in as much as these elements have an effect

on people's safety and security.

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Duterte’s Leadership on Ordinances

Leadership has been regarded as one of the most important sets of skills in the modern

world. It bridges the gap between the organization's ideal world of vision and reality which it

intends to attain (Gupta, 2004 as cited by Laya and Marquez, 2012).

In a study conducted by Laya and Marquez (2012) about the epitome of Rodrigo Duterte

as Mayor of Davao City, they found out that his political leadership is a combination of

multifaceted styles and characteristics as perceived by the Dabawenyos. With this, his

leadership style evolves depending on the need of the situation.

One respondent observed that:

“What makes Davao City a livable city depends upon the leadership of the Mayor. It is best city
to live because it’s clean, there’s garbage segregation and ban on smoking.”

Another respondent opined that:

“I considered it livable city because of the strong political will of the Mayor to implement laws.
Because of his good governance, citizens religiously follow the ordinances and
policies implemented.”

Similarly, respondent noticed that:

“Because the leaders are people-oriented, governance is one of the many things that define
Davao City.This is the city where the government officials have the will to uphold the law.
The city where landmark legislations were made. This is the city where people
are disciplined. There is no hype in Davao City, Everything is true...”

Thus, we can say that the strong-willed character of Rodrigo R. Duterte made him

famous as an "action man" and a "hands on" leader. He is a leader that focuses on goals and

results, a leader with the ability to accomplish things, and a leader with personality and

charisma. He stands firm with his political principles. He leads by example who makes him

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highly effective in establishing and sustaining a positive influence to the Dabawenyos (Laya and

Marquez, 2012).

Public Safety

Presented in Table 2 are the crime and safety indices in Davao City based on

perceptions of the visitors on this website (numbeo.com) in the past 3 years. Interpretation of

data is based on the value of 0, which is perceived as very low, and the value of 100, as

perceived as very high. As manifested, level of crime in Davao City is 21.04 or low which means

that crime in this City is considered important for the security of its residence and visitors. Apart

from this, results revealed also that people in Davao City do not worry about being insulted or

being a subject of a physical attack due to race or religion with very low rates of 18.47 and

12.95 mean respectively. An over-all crime index of 21.91 or low and safety index of 78.09 or

high. This goes to show that when crime is low, the safety of people is high. In the recent study

conducted by the Ateneo de Davao University Research Center about the city-wide social

survey on Davao City today, forty-seven percent of the respondents felt that the crime rate in

Davao City has been decreasing, as compared to only 20 percent who felt the same trend in all

of Mindanao (Lacorte, 2014). In fact, one of the best features that Davao City has to offer in

terms of public safety is their high-tech Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC)

which was created through Executive Order No. 18 Series of 2012 under the Office of the City

Mayor. Its main purpose is specifically to provide protection, security, safety and risk

management to the people of Davao City. The PSSCC operates through coordinative approach

to address the different issues of safety and security relative to Crime, Terrorism, Security,

Traffic, Health and Social Services, Emergency Services, and Disaster Risk Reduction by using

information, people, technology, and intelligent solutions.

This coordination between, but not limited to, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), the

Task Force Davao (TFD), the Traffic Management Center (TMC), the Central 911, the Davao

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Table 2: Crime and Safety Indices in Davao City

Crime and Safety Indices Mean Interpretation
Level of crime 21.04 Low
Crime increasing in the past 3 years 21.98 Low
Worries home broken and things stolen 27.85 Low
Worries being mugged or robbed 24.56 Low
Worries car stolen 20.09 Low
Worries things from car stolen 22.95 Low
Worries attacked 21.68 Low
Worries being insulted 18.47 Very Low
Worries being subject to a physical attack because of your
12.95 Very Low
skin color, ethnic origin or religion
Problem people using or dealing drugs 26.30 Low
Problem property crimes such as vandalism and theft 27.90 Low
Problem violent crimes such as assault and armed robbery 21.09 Low
Problem corruption and bribery 26.75 Low
Safety walking alone during daylight 85.87 Very High
Safety walking alone during night 78.26 High
Crime Index 21.91 Low
Safety Index 78.09 High
Source: http://www.numbeo.com/crime/city_result.jsp?country=Philippines&city=Davao

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DCDRRMC), the Barangay Officials

and other law enforcement agencies, plays a vital role in the operations of the PSSCC in

furtherance of the peace and order of the city (davaocity.gov.ph).

In this light, safety as a basic human right has been emphasized by developed and

developing countries, and the safety and perception of safety are involved in assessing the

overall health in communities. Usually, safety covers several aspects of people's lives and

activities in communities, such as home, public areas, shopping complexes, and private and

public organizations. Hence, the needs for a safe physical environment have been highlighted

more in urban areas after the cities grow, with the concomitant increase in urban population,

and distance social levels which can influence the sense of the quality of life among many urban

visitors and residents (Tilaki, et. al., 2014).

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One respondent said:

“Davao has a low crime rate about less than 1%. A curfew on minors is also observed in the
city. All business establishments, in particular bars and discos, are mandated by a city
ordinance to refrain from selling alcoholic drinks beyond 2:00 am. Also, motorcycle
drivers with no helmets and motorists with defective lights are not allowed
to enter or drive in the city. Regular checkpoints in key parts of
Davao City and at the city boundaries are conducted
24 hours to ensure the strict implementation
of traffic rules.”

One added that:

“Davao is the most dangerous city among the criminals. At may kasabihan, "Davao life is
here, if you are a criminal, your Life will be no longer here.”

Furthermore:

“Davao is indeed a very safe and very peaceful city. Taxi drivers are trustworthy. The
place is very dangerous for the criminals, absolutely dangerous for them. If you
do bad things in Davao, you will either leave the city horizontally or vertically.”

Based on these observations, one may say that urban public safety has become a

primary concern of urban sustainability due to escalated potential loss if urban public safety is

severely breached (Yu, et. al., 2014). Consequently, the continuous flow of people in and out of

a city poses a longstanding challenge to the property's safety of the people. Given the semi-

public nature of the city, it is difficult to distinguish among guests, legitimate visitors, and people

who are potential threats. Indeed, maintaining the highest possible standards of safety may

stand in conflict with preserving potential negative effects on the people. While the lack of safety

standards can be a liability, security that is too strict (or obtrusive) may also ruin people

experiences. People may say that they prefer city with high standards of safety, but at the same

time they may be irritated when such standards that may cause inconvenience (Enz and Taylor,

2002).

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Tourists’ Satisfaction

Davao is an anchor tourist destination and one of the 7,107 times more islands that

make up the Philippine archipelago. It is a natural haven for both sedate and daring pursuits,

endowed with variety of picturesque landscapes, fruit plantations and orchid farms coupled with

mantle volcano- fed hills and valleys and with its virgin forests nurture rare wildlife. A city that’s

bustling yet peaceful, modern yet rustic. Davao City is a place like no other. Offering the best of

urban amenities and rural pleasures, it is a place where business and leisure are

interchangeable (davaotourism website).

One respondent said:

“Davao is not as developed as Cebu or Manila. It doesn't have as many tall buildings
or grandiose highway systems. But what makes Davao the best city is its collection of
world-class social services and its offering of modern cosmopolitan living for all.”

Another respondent passionately expressed that:

“Davao City is probably younger than Cebu or Manila. But like a youthful lady, she whispers you
softly with warmth and excitement. She is full of energy and vibrancy and very promising as a
young city. Her lovely white-sand beaches is akin to a young woman's
skin that dazzles like gems when sun-kissed.”

She added that:

“Davao City possesses a very sweet charm that invites a growing number of tourists
and investors alike. Her simple laid-back ways of living invites many people from other
cosmopolitan cities in north of the country to live and settle, and her growing presence
in the country's list of most improved cities provides a gateway for other cities in
Mindanao to also flourish and will economically improve.”

Truly, the number of and the amount of revenue from the tourists reveal how vital the

role of this industry is in development. The idea is only achievable when tourists and residents

have high satisfaction with their quality of life (Tilaki, et. al., 2014). Muller (1996) as cited by

Tilaki et. al. (2014) explained that improving the livability also modifies the level of tourist

satisfaction. Kruger and Petzer (2008) as cited by Tilaki, et. al. (2014) argued that livability can

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 17

influence the level of tourist satisfaction based on four different components: satisfaction with

travel/tourism services, satisfaction with travel/tourism experiences, satisfaction with leisure life,

and satisfaction with life in general. Referring to the aforementioned components, tourism

service is a unique component that is objective and tangible, while the other components are

subjective such as fear of well-being (Tilaki, et. al., 2014). Hersh (2010) mentioned that tourism

is a highly competitive industry, and tourism enterprise sector can no longer compete on the

basis of cost alone. Quality of life is, therefore, a key element for the competitiveness of the

tourism industry. It is also important for the sustainable tourism development of the industry and

for creating and improving jobs. Therefore, promoting quality in tourism and tourist products is a

priority in different tourism activities.

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of the study, the researcher concludes that the people of Davao

City consider their place as a livable city. Livability may be figured out by people as subjective

because quality of life or life-satisfaction can be determined on the City’s growth and

development. But still, it relies on how people understand their current condition based on

economic, social and political. The people may see awards, distinctions and attributes as

valuable assets of the City but at a halt may look at their condition more important than any

others. Leadership plays a vital role in the development of a City especially in the

implementation of the ordinances or policies. People’s idea of leadership is mostly dependent

on the leadership style of the Mayor. With his strong character may mean not just power or

influence but authority to stand firm to lead as a good example. To become livable may be

equated with public safety, and public safety may also mean assurance of people to achieve

quality of life. With the pressing threat of terrorism and violence, livability is at stake. In effect,

may also suffer people’s experiences in the city. Life’s satisfaction can also be attributed in their

satisfaction on the availability of facilities, amenities and visual and aesthetics attractions.

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 18

Tourism is not just for the people to see what the city can offer but also an indicator towards

attainment of a livable city. Tourism is like a crowning glory of the city as it gives people a total

experience. Thus, making a city a livable place to live in still relies on the subjective

interpretation and appreciation of people because condition of people is a subjective reality. And

to be objective on the basis of quality of life or life-satisfaction can either be quantifiable or not

for so long that people see they themselves as contended or happy then it doesn’t matter.

Subjective appreciation of one’ economic condition is not directly a subjective appreciation of

social condition and even a subjective interpretation on political situation. Standard of living

cannot just attain in economic, social and political but can also be through cultural.

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