Vice President Sara Duterte has urged each municipal executive to be prudent in their programs to achieve short- to long-term development.

She made the statement during her speech before local leaders at the general assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Tuesday.

Duterte, who served as a mayor in Davao for nine years, shared several ways to ensure that the local programs will continue even beyond a leader’s term in office.

“As a former mayor, I am aware of the amount of responsibility that comes with the opportunity to lead and direct our localities to the path of growth and sustainable development,” she said.

Duterte cited tourism and peace and order as two of Davao’s strengths during her administration.

“Sa turismo ay kailangan ninyo ng pag-aaral. Hindi po pwede na kung ano ‘yung gusto ninyo na maging tourism program ng inyong lugar ay pwede na siyang i-roll out (In tourism, you need research. You cannot simply roll out your desired tourism program in your area),” she said.

Duterte said a feasibility study is vital to identify a locality’s strength, including the capabilities of the community, its available resources, as well as the execution of the plan and multi-sectoral collaboration.

She cited as an example Davao City which has been strengthened to be a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination in the country.

“Napakahalaga po ng continuity ng isang local government unit (LGU) para po hindi nasasayang ang inyong mga investments sa inyong tourism programs (Continuity is very important for a local government unit to ensure that its investment will not be put to waste),” Duterte said.

“I am optimistic that you will steadfastly work with other local chief executives in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, in tackling salient concerns faced by LGUs across the areas of peace and order, public health, environmental protection and local tourism, among others,” she added.

Meanwhile, Davao City is set to host the MICE Conference (MICECON) 2023, the biggest gathering of the MICE industry in the country, on March 1 to 3.

The conference sets the platform to discuss the rise of the “Bleisure” industry, or the fusion of business and leisure travel experiences.

At least 600 attendees are expected at the MICECON, which will be opened alongside the start of Araw ng Davao.

The Davao City LGU will conduct the MICECON 2023 in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and Tourism Board of the Philippines. (PNA)