DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 20 January) – Officials and other stakeholders have expressed dismay at and disagreement with the travel advisory issued by the Canadian Embassy warning its citizens against traveling to several provinces in Mindanao.
The advisory cited “serious threat of terrorism, kidnapping, high levels of crime, and violent clashes between the security forces and rebel groups” as the basis for warning Canadians against travel to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao; Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat in Soccsksargen; and Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay in Zamboanga Peninsula.
The embassy also advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, excluding Siargao Island, and Surigao del Sur in Caraga; and Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, excluding Davao City, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental in Davao Region.
Cotabato City, which is now part of BARMM and borders Maguindanao, was not included in the advisory but neither was it explicitly excluded like Davao City.
Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Maria Belen S. Acosta called the advisory “disheartening”.
In a statement released on Saturday, Acosta said that facts and conditions cited by the embassy for the issuance of travel advisories do not reflect the real Mindanao, which has enjoyed a promising growth rate of 7.2 percent and low crime rate of 14 percent.
“We are disheartened to know of uncomplimentary travel advisories to Mindanao such as the one from the Canadian embassy. The facts and conditions of the travel advisory do not reflect the real Mindanao,” she said.
She said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. lifted in July 2023 the declaration of state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao, citing the “improved peace and order situation in the region.”
She added that Mindanawons posted a trust and safety rating of 88% and 86%, respectively, owing to the “concerted efforts of all stakeholders who reside or regularly conduct business in the island.”
She said they will continue to bring development closer to the communities through a whole of government approach.
“This inadvertent incident stands as a challenge, and we will work for closer partnerships with our international partners and the diplomatic community in communicating the island as safe, peaceful, beautiful, and bountiful,” she added.
For his part, Bruce Augusto Colao, Provincial Director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Lanao del Norte said, “We feel slighted by the recent Travel Advisory issued by the Canadian Government to her citizens not to travel or travel with caution in the 17 provinces of Mindanao identified in the said Advisory.
Colao said that while Canada’s concern for its citizens is understandable [the advisory] was “farfetched and is not reflective of the real and actual peace and order condition or security threat situations on the ground.”
He suggested to the Canadian Government to “recalibrate its options for its sources of information, intelligence or otherwise.”
He said Kyle Douglas Jennermann, popularly known in the Philippines as “Kulas” and who maintains the “BecomingFilipino” social media account, could be a good source of validation.
Jennermann, a travel vlogger who has traveled across the country, was granted Filipino citizenship last year.
South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., in an interview Friday with state-run Radyo Pilipinas said there are no longer active New People’s Army (NPA) fronts in Mindanao, and that terrorists and other groups that were causing trouble had already surrendered.
The latest major operation against the NPA in Mindanao occurred on Christmas Day last year in the hinterlands of Malaybalay City in Bukidnon where 10 rebels were reported killed.
Stephen Antig, executive director of the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association said, “Mindanao is still a land of promise despite all the negative publicity. With proper and purposive investment in agriculture it can achieve the status of being the food basket of the country.” (Antonio L. Colina IV with reports from H. Marcos C. Mordeno/MindaNews)
