Order as Progress: Understanding Davaoeno Loyalty and Davao City's Rise

 Order as Progress: Understanding Davaoeno Loyalty and Davao City's Rise

Davao City and the Dutertes are almost inseparable in modern Philippine history, so the two questions go together.

### Why many Davaoenos have supported the Dutertes for so long

**1. The "from chaos to order" story.** Before 1988, Davao was known as a violent city caught between military forces, insurgents, vigilante groups and other armed groups in the 1970s and 1980s. Rodrigo Duterte became mayor in 1988 and made peace and order his main platform.

Locals analysts note that he reached out to rebels, Muslim insurgents and other parties to stop the violence, with the arrangement described as "I take care of peace and order, you take care of the rest".

That created a durable narrative that Dabawenyos bought into: that Duterte was the savior who brought peace.

**2. Peace and security as everyday experience.** Davao's peace-and-order schemes have been described as efficient, and the city earned a reputation as one of the safest. The association became automatic, that when you say Duterte, he is someone associated with peace and security and order in Davao City.

The disciplined city model helped: progressive policies such as its "no smoking" ordinance, ban on firecrackers, and even the low speed limit for vehicles got public attention.

**3. The "Tatay" brand of leadership.** Duterte served as mayor from 1988 to 1998, 2001 to 2010, and 2013 to 2016. In that time he branded himself as "tatay" or father of his constituents.

The weekly "Gikan sa Masa, para sa Masa" public service program made him personally visible and accessible. He was regarded as the caring "father" whose job was to discipline the city, and many supporters cite personal experiences, favors or direct help.

Anthropologists describe it as a social kinship, the idea that Davao is stable because of "tatay", and that Duterte is still regarded as the harbinger of peace and the city's 'father'.

**4. Continuity and local pride.** After more than 30 years of Duterte family members as mayor, vice mayor and congressman, the family built a strong political machine, a deep barangay network, and a sense of Davao identity versus "Imperial Manila." For many voters, sticking with Dutertes means keeping the system that they feel worked.

### Why Davao City is considered progressive in the Philippine context

In the Philippines, "progressive" does not mean left or right, it means developed, competitive, disciplined and well-governed.

**1. Governance innovation.** Davao was early with things now copied nationally: the first 911 emergency central system in Asia, comprehensive anti-smoking ban, firecracker ban, speed limit ordinance, child protection and women's code. It has earned a reputation for being a "mini-Singapore" with its strict rules and ordinances.

The city has been widely recognized for people development and welfare, economic growth, security, environmental protection, good governance and other legislations that are being emulated.

**2. Competitiveness and business climate.** The Department of Trade and Industry has cited it for economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, resiliency, and innovation. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce cited its commitment to good governance, sound reforms, and progressive initiatives that foster a thriving environment for trade, investments, and sustainable growth.

It is consistently listed as one of the most business-friendly cities and the most competitive highly-urbanized city in Visayas and Mindanao.

**3. Economy and livability.** It is the largest city in the country by land area, the economic hub of Mindanao for agribusiness, logistics, BPOs and now startups. In 2024 it moved from 4th to 3rd Best Startup Ecosystem in the Philippines.

It has also been ranked as one of the safest, most child-friendly, most competitive and most gender-responsive LGUs.

In short, Davaoenos' support is rooted less in national party politics and more in a local experience: a city that went from being called "Nicaragua of Asia" in the 80s to being seen as clean, safe, and investment-ready, with the Dutertes taking credit for that shift.