MANILA – Tour guides from Central Luzon collectively received over PHP 2.55 million worth of free personal accident insurance coverage as tokens of appreciation personally funded by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, as well as DOT tour guiding kits containing electronic lapels, hats, sunblock, sunglasses, tumblers and other tour guiding essentials.
According to the Department of Tourism (DOT), the turnover of personal insurance and tour guiding kits to local community guides is a recognition of their “indispensable role” in the tourism industry, being considered as frontliners in championing the country’s local destinations and upholding the rich Filipino culture, heritage and history.
“Batid ko po na sa linya ng ating trabaho, may mga aksidente o di inaasahang pangyayari. Pero in my research of the government programs that we have at present (in the DOT) and our budget as well, it does not allow accident insurance coverage para sa ating mga frontliners. Kaya po as a personal and humble gift to all of you, meron po tayong handog na libreng accident insurance para sa ating mga frontliners,” Secretary Frasco said while addressing tour guides based in Central Luzon.
This is also in line with the aim of the DOT to improve Clark as an alternate gateway for tourist markets to and from the Philippines.
Early this year, Clark International Airport (CRK) won the Routes Asia Marketing Awards 2024 under the 5 million Passenger airport category after handling nearly two million passengers in 2023, or a 160 percent increase from the previous year.
The recipients were tour guides from the Porac Tour Guides Association, Guides Alliance Bulacan at Your Service (GABAY), Bataan Peninsula Tour Guides Association, Eco Tour Guides Association of San Luis Aurora, City of San Fernando, Pampanga Tour Guides, Accredited Guides Association of Pampanga, Bulacan Tour Guides, and Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan Tour Guides.
Courtesy of Department of Tourism (DOT)
Filipino Brand of Service Excellence at MICE Conference 2024 in Clark
Secretary Frasco is in Clark to witness the formal signing of agreements with eight sectoral partners to incorporate the world-renowned Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) in the operations of the hospitality industry and become a holistic brand for the Philippines.
The DOT added this is to prepare Central Luzon’s industrial and business district for hosting the anticipated MICE Conference on July 10 to 12 this year.
The agreement also institutionalized the DOT’s partnership with Clark stakeholders. Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD) Corporation, Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Clark, Philippine National Police (PNP)-Aviation Security Unit III, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 3, Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-Region 3, Commission on Higher EducationRegion 3, and the Department of Education (DepEd)-Region 3 have individually signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DOT to further pursue the Department’s goal to train more tourism frontliners.
MICECON is the largest gathering of meetings, incentive travel, conventions, and exhibitions professionals in the country, and has become a sought-after event as it strengthens all sectors involved in the MICE industry into one cohesive and comprehensive educational program. Thousands of delegates are expected to attend the event, thus, the move to equip tourism frontliners with the necessary know-how to welcome and handle guests.
Earlier, Frasco set an ambitious goal in 2023 to train 100,000 tourism workers. The DOT, through the Office of Industry Manpower Development (OIMD), managed to surpass the goal by training over 127,000 workers so the mission is continuously carried out for 2024 as the Department's regional training champions aim to hit the bigger goal of 150,000 workers trained this year.
The program is designed to train stakeholders from tourism enterprises to academic institutions and community-based organizations, according to the DOT.
The ceremonial signing of the MOUs was led by Secretary Frasco, DOT Central Luzon Regional Director Richard Daenos, with industry partners CDC President Atty. Agnes Devanadera, LIPAD President and CEO Noel Manankil, CRK Vice President Nancy Paglinawan, BOC – Port of Clark District Collector Erastus Sandino Austria, CHED Regional Director Lora Landayan Yusi, DILG Regional Director Anthony Nuyda, and Chief of PNP - Aviation Security Clark Col. Gary Reyes.
As of May 10, 2024, the DOT Central Luzon has around 5,500 tourism frontliners, with 2,152 from the accommodation sector; 1,506 from the academe, and 1,204 from the local government units.
Photo courtesy of Department of Tourism (DOT)
