In time for the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) 51st founding anniversary, 51 tour guides from the provinces of Pampanga, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, and Tarlac collectively received over P2.55M worth of free personal accident insurance coverage as tokens of appreciation personally funded by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.
The frontliners also received DOT tourguiding kits containing electronic lapels, hats, sunblock, sunglasses, tumblers and other tourguiding essentials.
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.
This, as DOT recognizes the indispensable role of local community guides in the tourism industry, being considered as frontliners in championing the country’s local destinations and upholding the rich Filipino culture, heritage, and history, especially now that the Department is aiming to improve Clark as an alternate gateway for tourist markets to and from the Philippines.
“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,” Frasco said while addressing tour guides based in Central Luzon.
“Napakahirap ng inyong ginagawa pero mahal na mahal talaga ninyo ang turismo ng Pilipinas.”
“Napaka importante po ng tungkulin ninyong lahat dito sa Pilipinas. Napakahirap ng inyong ginagawa pero mahal na mahal talaga ninyo ang turismo ng Pilipinas,” the tourism chief stressed.
“Consider this as a humble token of gratitude para naman po yung trabaho ninyo everyday can be further enhanced, and that you can continue to tell the Filipino story with love.”
“So, consider this as a humble token of gratitude para naman po yung trabaho ninyo everyday can be further enhanced, and that you can continue to tell the Filipino story with love,” the tourism head added.
Early this year, Clark International Airport (CRK) won the Routes Asia Marketing Awards 2024 under the 5 million Passenger airport category after it handled nearly two million passengers in 2023, or a 160 percent increase from the previous year.
