Mindanao is still "undeniably" a safe destination for investment and travel according to foreign business chamber official, Tony Peralta.
As the Honorary Consul for Finland and also the Chairperson of the Southern Mindanao Business Council of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Peralta has stated that it is imperative to convey in a clear and concise manner that the island is secure and sound.
In order to demonstrate that the island is safe and secure, he suggested that the Mindanao Development Authority's (MinDA) research on "Mindanao’s trust, respect, and safety" be extensively circulated.
Mindanao, safe and secure
Peralta was alluding to a 2022 study that examined community perceptions of safety, the police's regard for the community, the public's confidence in the police, and the general contentment with the protection provided by the police.
“It is very unfair to quote Mindanao provinces as dangerous areas to come in. We have been here long enough to know what is safe and unsafe,” Peralta said.
Leo Tereso Magno, the secretary of MinDA, promised to keep using the study for the organization's "Safe Mindanao" campaign.
“We hope the negative travel advisory will end because we know Mindanao is safe. Even the ambassadors also knew it,” Magno said.
Efforts bearing fruit
This year, the United States has downgraded its travel alert for four major travel destinations in Mindanao – Davao City, Davao del Norte, Siargao Island, and the Dinagat Islands
Canada updated its travel advisory, removing the provinces of Camiguin and Dinagat Islands off the list of places to stay away from.
Canada presently advises against "non-essential travel" to the provinces of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, as opposed to its previous "avoid all travel" recommendation.
