DAVAO CITY—The Department of Tourism (DOT) here will establish a world-class Davao Region Arts and Culture Hub through a public-private partnership (PPP) to promote Filipino culture and boost a culture-based creative economy.

In an information released by the Regional Development Council (RDC)-Davao, the tourism agency has proposed the construction of the hub that will feature a cultural village, museums, amphitheater, hotel, convention centers and meeting rooms, heritage park, library, and cultural training institute. 

The RDC-Davao supported the master plan of the DOT-Davao in the establishment of the cultural hub, eyed to commence in 2022, to promote Filipino values, sustain social cohesion, and build the people’s trust and confidence to enable a “whole of society response to and recovery from the (coronavirus disease) pandemic.”

Once completed, the hub will be expected to draw domestic and foreign tourists to the region that will help the industry recover from the impact of the pandemic and a venue for locals to stay connected to their culture by fostering deeper appreciation, understanding, and respect for Davao Region’s diverse cultural legacy, according to the council.

Last year, the DOT-Davao received a fund worth P10 million from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for the drafting of the master plan of the cultural hub.

Under the Philippine Development Plan, the government plans to build regional cultural hubs to “foster access, exchange, and development of the Philippine culture, as well as to expand and promote tourism sites.”