Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte bans all bikini contests. DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 17 Jun) – The mayor of Davao City in the southern Philippines has banned all bikini contests after moralists insist that parading women in sexy outfits only exploit them.
"I do not want to see women in bikinis being fantasized by men, especially here in Davao City," Duterte said.
The mayor said he is supporting appeals by women organizations and politicians to prohibit bikini contests in Davao. “Parading women clad in panties and swimsuit is a form of exploitation of women,” he said.
The mayor said bikini contest is only ideal in the United States and other western countries, but not in the Philippines where women are respected and recognized.
But Davao City is hosting in August the famed Kadayawan Festival which is marked with street dancing and beauty pageant called Hiyas, where contestants parade in bikinis and swimwear.
Duterte said the bikini contest will not be included in the Hiyas pageant.(Romy Bwaga)
