Cebu is one of the more popular islands in the Visayas region of the Philippines. It is a popular destination for many international visitors due to the vibrant culture and natural beauty that can be found around the island. Its many waterfalls such as Kawasan Falls, the whale sharks of Oslob. Also, the many beautiful islands surrounding the province such as Malapascua and Kalanggaman Island.

Due to many highly publicised murder cases being covered by the media through out the Philippines, a lot of tourists are now beginning to question how safe it is to be a tourist travelling through places like Cebu?

The legitimate dangers within Cebu

I’ll try and assess the question by drawing from my personal experience. I have spent quite a lot of time travelling all across the island. So, I now feel I have a few experiences to draw from.

My assumption would be the biggest concern for tourists is the high profile murders across the Philippines. For me this should be the least of your concerns. A lot of the murders are targeted killings, such as rival gang members, political opponents, business opposition. It is rare for a foreign national to be involved in such incidents.

This is not to say it doesn’t happen. Although it is rare, but foreign nationals have been killed in the Philippines. The common factor in these cases are tourists venturing into known danger zones. This is seen in several high profile cases involving foreign nationals venturing through the southern region of the Philippines. This region is known to be full of bandits looking to hold foreigners for ransom.

For this reason, tourists are strongly advised to avoid the southern region of Mindanao if possible. For Cebu, this is a non-issue, kidnappings of tourists is almost unheard of.

So what should I look out for?

Due to being perceived as being much wealthier than locals. Tourists may face legitimate issues such as being a target of scams, harassment and excessive begging.

Tourists are often scammed when using taxis to tour the city. This can be due to the meter being tampered with, or the driver setting a significantly inflated fixed price.

 

Here are some helpful tips to avoid being scammed while using public transport.

• Know roughly what the fare should be. These rates can be found on the LTFRB website.
• Note the details of the taxi, including the plate number and the details of the driver, which should be on display in the car.
• Try to use ride sharing services such as Grab, this offers you a fixed price for your journey, which means the drivers can not negotiate the price with you. You can then tip the driver if you feel it is appropriate at the end of the journey.
• Be ready to say no to drivers if they seem too pushy or generally suspicious, there are plenty of other taxis in Cebu.

Dealing with beggars can also be an issue for tourists.

Cebu has a large homeless population, almost everywhere you go in the city, you will see the less fortunate sleeping out on the street. This often comes with a lot of begging, especially if you stand out as a tourist.

Although it is not a nice sight to see the children out begging on the street, it can be an issue if you decide to give them money. If you are seen doing this by other children, you’ll attract more beggars, who will not take no for an answer. You can quickly have groups of children following you around the streets, persistently asking you for money.

This is why the best course of action is to simply refuse and ignore them, or if you must give money try to do it in a fast and discreet manner.

What about riding the infamous Jeepney?

Throughout my time visiting Cebu, I have spent a lot of time in Jeepneys and have had very few issues with them. They are a popular, cheap means to travel around Cebu City.

My only issue with them relates to comfort, as they can be quite small and cramped when they are full of passengers. On top of this, it can be quite hot inside, as well as smelly due to the passenger area being exposed to the fumes from other vehicles.

Although it is tempting for tourists to ride the iconic means of transport, I would prioritize using other means such as ride-sharing services over Jeepneys. I have heard stories of phones and jewelry being snatched from passengers, as a tourist you may become more of a target, so riding a Jeepney may not be worth the risk.

If you must use the Jeepneys, avoid drawing attention to yourself with flashy clothing and jewelry. Also avoid using devices such as your phone out in the open as these are common targets for thieves who will snatch it directly from your hands.

Unpredictable weather in the Philippines

Another issue often overlooked is the weather in the Philippines. More often than not, the weather is hot, and humid. This may become an issue for tourists walking through Cebu’s famous sites such as the Basilica del Santo Niño or Colon street.

This is why it is important to pack for the climate. Prioritize light, comfortable clothing. As you will be spending a significant amount of time out in hot, humid weather. Water isn’t so much of an issue because it is widely available at tourist attractions across the island.

Cebu is also subject to typhoons between June to November, although typhoons do occur outside of these months. The heavy downpours during this season can bring about another set of risks.

As a lot of the infrastructure around Cebu City is not well maintained, it can be quite dangerous in wet weather. So take caution when walking downstairs, and along footpaths in the wet weather. Also, some of the malls have a tendency to use gloss tiles on their footpaths – which do look nice – but are extremely slippery when they are wet.

So, what are my final thoughts on visiting Cebu?

Cebu is a very beautiful island, which I would not hesitate to recommend tourists to visit. Although, I feel people should be aware that the island does have the potential to be dangerous, though it is nowhere near as dangerous as some other areas of the Visayas.

Tourists should always exercise caution when they are commuting around the island, and be aware of their surroundings and the people they are dealing with.

I know a lot of people like to “stray off the beaten path” when it comes to seeing different cultures. But when it comes to places like Cebu, you can’t go wrong just sticking with visiting the popular tourist spots. The popular spots are generally very safe, enjoyable, and easy to commute to, and from.