A lawmaker asked the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to hold free tour guide training nationwide that should be open to tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers, UV express drivers, market vendors, and barangay tanods (village watchmen).
Quezon Rep.-elect Reynan Arrogancia said the training should be offered to the “local people in the neighborhood” with whom tourists have direct contact upon arrival at their destinations.
“Giving first aid for common emergencies should also be included in the training for tour guides, hotel personnel, and resort staff.”
Arrogancia said giving first aid for common emergencies should also be included in the training for tour guides, hotel personnel, and resort staff.
“All too often, people do not know first aid. The only thing they know is to transport patients to the nearest hospital, which can be many minutes or hours away. The patient usually dies onsite or while being transported because first aid was not given in the first place,” the legislator-elect explained.
The incoming lawmaker said trainees should have stipends or allowances and in-kind aid as incentives for them to attend and complete the training.
“They could be doing something else instead of attending training, so the incentives are needed to make them prefer training,” he said.
