Safety Tips in Davao City

Davao City is a smoke free city. Meaning smoking anywhere( public utility vehicles, shopping malls, bars, clubs) is not allowed and you could be fined and end up spending a night in jail. This doesn't mean that you can't smoke completely when you go to the bars and clubs. These places will definitely have smoking areas for those gagging for a fag!

When you step out of the plane be sure you will watch out where to smoke...there are places for smoking and look out for these places before you lit up your cigarette or you will end up being apprehended by a police.

Davao is a smoke free city. Smoking is not allowed in all public buildings, resraurants, discos, etc. There are areas designated for smoking. If you are caught smoking in public areas, you will be jailed and fined.

Be wary of those men standing near the taxi queue - they are watching out of people with loads of luggages and foreigners they can charge extra. The normal taxi fare from the airport to a downtown hotel should be about 100-150 pesos only.

Well, as i said in my earlier tips bout this place is that, this are in southern Mindanao is the most safety city. Though, we can't skip all those little things that happens in our way.

Just be careful to all those beggars, salesmen/women in the street. etc. etc

Always be friendly and to all. Filipinos like to joke and just do the same. If you have 1 peso why not share to them. They (beggars will be so happy with that). Just be careful, huh!

Don't go to the area where even locals don't dare to go. Hang around to where you feel is right.

Right now, i don't have the phone number of Mayor Duterte, but guys, whatever you may encounter in Davao City, just feel free to visit our Mayor at his office at the municipal hall, located at Sn. Pedro.

This cool guy will help you with smiles in his face.

If you go looking to buy a good brochure of guidemap on Davao, don't bother looking at the bookstores. We wasted 3 good hours looking for one but to no avail. All the bookstores have are a series of brochures listing business establishments in Davao and listing of hotels and motels which are totally useless for travellers who have no idea of which places to visit in Davao and the distances between places of interests. A good soul at New World Travel (NWT) advised us to go to the City Hall and visit the Tourism Office there as they might have a copy. :) No dice. We were already in Bajada and the office is in Lanang....

In fairness , NWT sells a brochure on Davao for P150 a copy but the contents of the brochure is not helpful at all. Just a listing of hotels/motels/nightspots and business establishments.

Good thing I downloaded some points of interest from the web before we left for Davao. :)

Anyway i don't actually live in davao city but let me tell you this. If you're fresh from visiting from Davao, avoid going to Quezon Boulevard or San Pedro Sts. Or generally beware of pickpockets and snatchers...

But i guess not all are criminals here eh! (Only a few.) Davao is still a place one must not be afraid of.