Yeah the areas around Davao City were/are dangerous, but Davao City itself was super safe. Before he become president, Duterte was mayor there and he placed it under martial law. When I first went there, there were military police guarding the airport and soldiers deployed in certain parts of the city. There were military check points surrounding the city.
Bear in mind, I’ve not been there since 2019 so not sure how it is now.
But before, I’d only see the occasional boomer in Davao so received rockstar treatment. Hardly any foreigners at the time. It was even embarrassing having school girls in big dowdy dresses openly flirting on the jeepney. Once in the People's Park a group of school girls asked if they could interview me for a school project while my gf at the time looked on jealously.
It will be interesting to go back, and hear from those currently living there.
Samal island is just a few minutes on the ferry and worth visiting as well if in Davao.