During her visit to Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the distribution of Certificate of Training Grants to leaders of Community-based Sustainable Tourism Organizations (CBSTOs).
The certificate entitles the organization to tourism training interventions with starter kits for alternative livelihoods while they cannot engage in their present occupation due to the oil spill.
The organizations included: San Teodoro’s KAMI; Calapan City’s SMARTT, KAKAMBAL, and SNPS; Pinamalayan’s SAMBA, SNR, and Wawa Womens; and Gloria’s Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Agsalin and Sta. Theresa Fishermen Association.
“There are now at least 64 tourist attractions in Mindoro that are affected and no less than 1, 400 tourism workers affected by the oil spill.”
“Based on the reports that we have received, there are now at least 64 tourist attractions in Mindoro that are affected and no less than 1,400 tourism workers affected by the oil spill,” Frasco said.
“Kaya naman po nandito po tayo para magbigay ng Certificate of Training Grants sa ating mga frontline tourism workers to be able to offer alternative livelihood sa kanila that is not necessarily related to their present occupation but may offer work in the tourism industry nevertheless. And that includes agri-tourism as well as other skills related to tourism offerings, the point being that we continue to push for livelihood and employment under the Marcos Administration through tourism,” the tourism chief explained.
“The DOT will provide training programs to affected tourism workers in municipalities of Gloria, Pinamalayan, Naujan, San Teodoro, Pola, Bulalacao, Mansalay and Calapan City.”
According to the tourism head, the DOT will provide training programs to affected tourism workers in municipalities of Gloria, Pinamalayan, Naujan, San Teodoro, Pola, Bulalacao, Mansalay and Calapan City; with training topics ranging from Farm tourism: Urban Farming; Tourism Micro Retail: Beadwork and Lei making; Food Tourism; Kulinarya Training; Health and Wellness Tourism: Hilot Training; and Basic Haircutting Training, among others.
To the delight of the tourism workers present, she committed funding for qualified tourism-related projects through the Tourism Infrastructure and Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA) for each of the affected municipalities.
“Magbibigay po tayo ng 2 million pesos for each affected LGU for any tourism-related project that will fall under the guidelines of the financial assistance of TIEZA,” Frasco announced.
