⌛ How safe is the Dumaguete City

I am considering retiring in Dumaguete City in couple of years. Lately I came across few articles that mention of foreign nationals being stubbed in that city. I am concerned about safety in that area.
How safe is the City?
Any area of the city worth considering moving to?
Anton

 

there was a spait of killing over a week a few months back. pretty much everything seems feud based although we will never know. there were a few rape-murders in the last year. but people of all ages have no problem wandering around at night in groups.

if u are the paranoid type or easily aggravated type the phillippines is probably not for u, just too many people hanging around with nothing better to do than watch people, lacks gun laws (14% household ownership) and much lower services quality.

i feel safer here than is a mid sized city in the west, others build huge walls, employ 24 hour security. so it is a matter of perspective. there will always be a huge amount in the society, that u will not understand, that could make u very paranoid

take 2-3 months to see if u like the place. if u stay, don't buy anything that will restrict your mobility for 18-24 month, if u can spend a few months a year in your home town. there are already enough westerners here/in asia that feel trapped. there is a big world out there.

 

Welcome on this forum Toni,
Baramac gave you a good hint. If you will retire in a few years from now, then take that time to first look around here and stay some time before deciding.
You will have the time to smell the different area in Dumaguete and their safety/unsafety.
So many people you can talk with here (e.g. from this forum). You'll get much more insight and make your own conclusions.
"Safety" has been discussed at many occasions on this forum. Just use the search function.
Personally I don't feel unsafe here; certainly not more than in my country of origin.
But I have to admit that it's becoming more frequent that I read about people (including foreigners, yes) who are being stubbed or shot with terrible consequences.
Succes !

 

Of more pertinent concern should be determining if you can survive the culture and climate. While first appearances tell you its affordable, costs of things you consider important may escalate beyond your reach. Do more research and definately some soul searching, its not Kansas anymore, nor Arizona neither.

 

Probably not so much violent crime

Toni,

You'll probably more likely get run over by trikes or get electrocuted by a broken power line in Dumaguete than being murdered or getting robbed. Just be smart and maintain a very low profile of any priced possessions you may have or wanted to keep....another words don't let people think/know you are rich.

 

It all sounds like good advice to me.....just be as careful as you would at home and enjoy your time looking around before coming to any major decisions......JB

 

OP.

This thread is just making too much sense. All that and we're still on page one!

I'll be a dissident just for the sake of stirring the excrement.

Don't come! Stay away! It is all true! You will be murdered! If you are really lucky, you'll be raped first. How did I miss out on that one?

There are just too many foreigners who are saying good things about our little corner of paradise. Heck, we'll soon be awash in people who both look and talk funny.

So, I say stay away! Tell your friends too! That way, we'll have Dumaguete all to ourselves for a bit longer.

 

I wouldn't feel any safer than this place although there had been a number of disturbing incidents which also happen in other places. Dumaguete is still the safest city in the Philippines, relatively speaking.

 

We don't live directly IN, or even very close by Duma.....I am 22 km north and then 1.5 km up a road going into the mountans. However, we go to Duma regularly to buy most all of our "Gotta have" groceries/products.
My asawa (wife) and I feel absolutely "safe" in town. We've never had one unsettling experience, or even cheated on a tricycle fare!
Not to say that there isn't crime here....just as crime is now everywhere else in the world.Of course, plain old common sence applies! You have plenty of time to explore/learn more about the area....we love it here on Negros. We love our particular area (Amlan) even more..."no robbers" in my slice of paradise...no cement , glass covered 10 ft walls....not needed here!

 

True ?

I wouldn't be too sure about that although I hope it's true.
I know it was once stated in the newspaper (local, I believe) as being said by GMA when she was here to 'inaugurate' the start of the Robinson Mall.
"Relatively" is however a very relative word .
Maybe you're wright related to the number of motorbikes or tricycles here :D
I have not yet seen reliable statistical data. I even remember that a forum member (I think it was Tubigboy) in the past tried to convince us of the opposite via refering to a list of sources.

If the statistics however should 'prove' it's here less safe for especially foreigners, then there will be soon (in some years from now) a much lower percentage of foreigners.
That percentage seems(true ?) to be higher than in most other cities having a population of 120K to 140 K.
A good one Dafvitz