Ang Pahayagan

PAMPANGA– A total of 51 tour guides from the provinces of Pampanga, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, and Tarlac received free personal accident insurance coverage worth P2.55 million from the Department of Tourism (DOT).
 
Aside from the insurance, they also received DOT tour guiding kits containing electronic lapels, hats, sunblock, sunglasses, tumblers and other tour guiding essentials.
 
The recipients were chosen to symbolize the 51st founding anniversary of the DOT.
 
These include 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.
 
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the initiative aims to recognize the indispensable role of local community guides in the tourism industry, who are being considered as frontliners in championing the country’s local destinations and upholding the rich Filipino culture, heritage, and history.
 
“I know that in our line of work, there are accidents or unexpected events. But 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 for our frontliners. So as a personal and humble gift to all of you, we have an offer of free accident insurance for our frontliners,” she said while addressing tour guides based in Central Luzon.
 
She also highlighted that the role of tour guides is crucial especially now that the Department is aiming to improve Clark as an alternate gateway for tourist markets to and from the Philippines.
 
“Your role is very important. What you are doing is very difficult but you really love Philippine tourism. So, consider this as a humble token of gratitude so that you can further enhance your work everyday, and that you can continue to tell the Filipino story with love,” she added.
 
For his part, DOT 3 Regional Director Richard Daenos said that as of May 10, 2024, 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 local government units.
 
Aside from the aid given to the tour guides, Daenos added that DOT has been actively engaged in consultations with inbound tour operators and other stakeholders in the value of chain to calibrate and update tour products and packages to ensure that they provide immersive and unforgettable experiences to the growing number of tourists.

Early this year, Clark International Airport (CRK) won the Routes Asia Marketing Awards 2024 under the five million passenger airport category after it handled nearly two million passengers in 2023, or a 160 percent increase from the previous year. (Marie Joy Carbungco, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)

📸 A total of 51 tour guides from the provinces of Pampanga, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, and Tarlac received free personal accident insurance coverage worth P2.55 million from the Department of Tourism. (DOT)