Mindanao leaders strongly condemn the US travel advisory as unfounded and discriminatory.
U.S. Travel Advisory Sparks Outcry in Mindanao as Leaders Claim Unfair Portrayal
Business magnates and public officials across Mindanao are pressing for a reevaluation of the U.S. government's recent travel advisory, urging American citizens to reconsider visiting most areas of the region. The advisory, published by the U.S. State Department on May 8, places the majority of Mindanao (excluding Davao City, Davao del Norte Province, Siargao Island, and the Dinagat Islands) under a Level 3: Reconsider Travel alert, citing concerns of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.
Local leaders claim the advisory provides an outdated and unjust portrayal of the current situation in Mindanao, overlooking its significant progress in peace, security, and economic growth. The advisory warns of elevated risks in Marawi City and the Sulu Archipelago, including heightened threats of terrorism, kidnappings, and active armed conflict. According to the advisory, terrorist and armed groups have historically targeted public spaces, foreign nationals, local government facilities, and have been involved in violent crimes such as robberies and assaults, as well as civil protests with the potential for escalating violence.
However, regional leaders contend that this broad assessment does not correlate with the actual situation on the ground. Tony Peralta, head of the Southern Mindanao Business Council under the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, denounced the advisory as “unjustifiable and unfair.” Peralta emphasized that numerous parts of Mindanao are now secure and are actively drawing investment and tourists.
During a media forum on May 28, Jennifer Romero, officer-in-charge of the City Tourism Operations Office in Davao City, confirmed that the city's exclusion from the advisory has minimal impact on its tourism sector, as the majority of its visitors are locals. However, Romero stated that the advisory presents a challenge for the Department of Tourism (DOT) as they continue to address global misperceptions of Mindanao.
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) recently reported a significant enhancement in the region's safety perception, with a Mindanao Safety Rating survey for 2024 registering 89.69%, up from 88% in 2023. Conducted quarterly among over 7,200 respondents, including local and foreign travelers, the survey suggests increasing public confidence, specifically in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm).
"When people envision Mindanao, they frequently picture conflict," said Dr. Adrian Tamayo, MinDA's Policy Formulation Division officer-in-charge, in an interview with Davao during a Business Forum in February. "However, today, communities are secure, businesses are thriving, and residents themselves report feeling safe. This is a result of sustained peace-building and governance reforms."
The DOT has staunchly supported Mindanao, emphasizing measures taken to ensure the safety of travelers, such as the Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (Topcop), which boosts police presence in tourism zones, and the establishment of tourist courts for swift legal assistance. The DOT's Philippine Experience Program (PEP), designed to promote cultural and community-based tourism, has garnered positive responses from both locals and the diplomatic corps.
Lawmakers in Mindanao have also expressed their disapproval of the U.S. advisory, with Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez terming it a "shotgun warning" and "particularly biased" against Mindanao. Rodriguez requested a meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to discuss the U.S. ambassador's reasoning behind the advisory and asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to obtain updates from the DFA, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, and the DOT on actions taken in response to the advisory.
While the U.S. advisory acknowledges the relative safety of Davao City, Davao del Norte, Siargao Island, and the Dinagat Islands, Mindanao's proponents emphasize that other areas of the region are equally secure and wish for the international community to recognize this reality.
- Government officials and business magnates from various parts of Mindanao are advocating for a reassessment of the U.S. government's recent travel advisory, contending that it provides an unjust portrayal of Mindanao's current situation.
- Tony Peralta, head of the Southern Mindanao Business Council, condemned the advisory as "unjustifiable and unfair," emphasizing that numerous parts of Mindanao are now secure, attractive to investment, and attracting tourists.
- Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez criticized the U.S. advisory, calling it a "shotgun warning" and "particularly biased" against Mindanao, and requested a meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs to discuss the matter.
- Lawmakers in Mindanao, such as the Mindanao Development Authority, have highlighted the region's significant progress in peace, safety, and economic growth, emphasizing that many parts of Mindanao are secure and should be recognized as such by the international community.
