Tourism workers who will be affected by disasters will now be classified as a “priority sector” in the government’s financial aid program, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced Thursday.
The development came as the DOT formally sealed a partnership deal with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Jan. 23.
Under this partnership, the DOT would conduct alternative livelihood training to emergency or disaster-hit tourism front-liners while the DSWD would include them in its priority list for cash transfers, cash for work, and training for cash programs.
“The partnership between the DOT and the DSWD under this mechanism will be activated in the wake of calamities and disaster,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said.
“We do not wish for any more disasters to befall the country but should it happen, the DOT and the DSWD partnership will be there to help our tourism workers,” she added.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the classification was made as most of these tourism workers, especially those working in far-flung areas, are themselves part of the marginalized sector.
“Marami tayong tourist destinations sa maliliit na municipalities na kapag tinamaan ng kalamidad ay talagang naaapektuhan— ang mandato talaga ng DSWD is always the marginalized and the poor (We have many tourist destinations in small municipalities that are really affected when a calamity strikes— and the mandate of the DSWD has always been the marginalized and the poor),” he told reporters in an interview.
“Bakit sila priority kasi sa trilyon trilyon na ibinibigay ng turismo sa ating ekonomiya, importante na napapangalagaan natin ang main ingredient sa tourism— ang ating mga hospitality workers (Why are they a priority? Because with the trillions that tourism provides to our economy, it is important that we take care of the main ingredient in tourism—our hospitality workers),” he added.
The memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the partnership, called the Bayanihan sa Bukas na May Pag-Asa sa Turismo (working together for tomorrow with hope in tourism), was signed by Frasco and Gatchalian in a ceremony in Pasay on Thursday.
The DOT and DSWD partnership was originally conceptualized as a response to the catastrophic Oriental Mindoro Oil Spill in 2023, which affected more than a thousand tourism workers after oil slicks reached several coastal destinations in the province.
At that time, about 15 trainings were conducted that benefited some 1,348 individuals.
Among the training DOT offers are beads and artwork training, homestay training; farm tourism training; basic hilot (massage); and community-based kulinarya (culinary). (PNA)
