The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Health (DOH) met recently at the DOT Central Office in Makati City to discuss a collaboration on the establishment of a joint flagship project, the Tourist First Aid Centers, in popular tourist destinations with high density of foot traffic in the country.
The meeting was presided by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, together with other key officials of the agencies.
“On behalf of the Department of Tourism, we extend our warmest Filipino welcome to our beloved Department of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, accompanied by his entire team whom we view with such great importance especially that under our President’s directive, the interest really is to enhance the overall tourist experience,” Frasco said.
“We view prioritizing the health and safety of our tourists as a critical endeavor that needs to be addressed if we are to ensure that our tourists that come to the Philippines, whether international or those who go around the Philippines as domestic tourists, enjoy their stay, and when in need of emergency care, they are able to avail of the same,” the tourism chief stressed.
“As the numbers grow for the Philippines, so does the need for emergency care for our tourists when needed.”
“It is the Department of Tourism’s intention to forge a collaboration with the Department of Health, recognizing that as the numbers grow for the Philippines, so does the need for emergency care for our tourists when needed,” the tourism head added.
Identified as one of the key objectives in the approved National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) for 2023 to 2028, the tourism industry’s blueprint, is the enhancement of the overall tourist experience where health and safety of tourists is a priority.
“The collaboration with the DOH aims to elevate the tourism competitiveness of the Philippines where health, safety, security and hygiene form part of the global index for travel and tourism competitiveness.”
According to the tourism chief, the collaboration with the DOH aims to elevate the tourism competitiveness of the Philippines where health, safety, security and hygiene form part of the global index for travel and tourism competitiveness.
The criteria set for the destinations where the facilities will be constructed include topography, the density of its tourist population, and the healthcare referral system within a 50-kilometer radius. The project initially targets the islands of Boracay in Aklan, Panglao in Bohol, and Siargao in Surigao del Norte, as well as El Nido, Coron, Puerto Galera, and La Union as the priority areas.
Herbosa warmly welcomed the proposition and also conveyed some important recommendations for the project.
In another matter, the health chief offered the department’s help in training medical personnel as the DOT and TIEZA begin the establishment of additional hyperbaric chambers around the country as a move to bolster the country’s local dive industry.
Through the DOT’s infrastructure arm, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), it has provided hyperbaric chambers in strategic local dive sites to ensure that scuba divers will have access to affordable treatment for decompression sickness.
The four operational hyperbaric chambers can be found in Mabini, Batangas; Panglao, Bohol; Mandaue, Cebu; and Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Additional hyperbaric chambers will be placed in Boracay, Puerto Galera, and Daanbantayan Island in Cebu.
