Second district councilor Al Ryan Alejandre (File photo/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre proposed on Tuesday, January 30, to regulate the use of home-sharing services in Davao City.
Alejandre aims to do that through a local legislation which would ensure those spaces that are registered to home-sharing apps like Airbnb comply with local laws.
The councilor made such suggestion during the Council’s regular session on Tuesday.
In a privilege speech, Alejandre, stressed that getting an accommodation would be easier for tourists since people are hooked to mobile phones and have the access internet.
However, he mentioned that there are concerns that come with the convenience: unfair competition, safety and security, lack of housing opportunities in some neighborhoods, among others.
Alejandre, who chairs the council’s committee on tourism and beautification, said 300 houses and rooms in Davao City are listed in Airbnb alone.
If left unregulated, this could be detrimental to the city’s hotel and inn industry, he said.
“The hotel and inn industry for one is claiming about unfair competition since they would basically pay taxes and be subjected to many regulations, while those enlisted in Airbnb are not,” he explained.
Having no existing regulation imposed, Alejandre said some would have substandard facilities and poor customer services.
“Other tourism sectors also said that the lack of laws for online rental services can put tourists in danger,” he added.
The city’s Amended Tourism Code passed in 2015 provides the standardization of primary and secondary tourism industries in the city, in accordance with Republic Act No. 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009.
Under the said ordinance, facilities, services and attractions that are directly related or involved to tourism, such as the hotels, homestays, inns and accommodation establishments are regulated.
Regulations include registration and mayor’s permit, their compliance with the basic minimum requirements as accommodation establishments, mandatory submission of occupancy report, periodic spot check or inspection of their establishment and sanctions in case of violations. (davaotoday.com)
