More than 800 tourist-oriented drivers and frontliners who participated in the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence trainings last week were each given P1,000 ‘subsistence allowance’ by the office of 2nd District Cong. Chiquiting Sagarbarria to help cover their daily needs after having “lost income” while attending the whole-day training.
A total of 490 pedicab drivers from the different cities and municipalities in the Second District trooped to the Negros Oriental Convention Center from March 18 to 20 for the FBSE trainings; while 317 snorkel/dive guides, boat crew, and Bantay Dagay members in the Third District participated in the same training on March 21 and 22 at the conference hall of Dauin Mega Market.
The Provincial Tourism Office, in collaboration with the Tourism Industry Skills Program of the Department of Tourism-Central Visayas, continued its thrust to boost the tourism industry by arming the Province’s frontliners with the necessary skills to provide the best service to foreign and local tourists.
According to Woodrow Maquiling Jr., executive director of the Provincial Tourism Board, since pedicab drivers, dive guides, and boat crew are the “first touch point of tourists”, it is “important they are equipped with not only the knowledge of our place but also the warmth of a NegOrense as community ambassadors”.
The distribution of the P1,000 subsistence allowances was led by Gov. Chaco Sagarbarria, and assisted by Maitet Base-Yoldi, Political Affairs officer of the 2nd District congressional office. Also present were Board Member Woodrow Maquiling Sr., Dumaguete City Vice Mayor Maisa Longa-Sagarbarria, and Brgy. Calindagan Councilor Chessa Sagarbarria.
Last year, a total of 473 tourist-oriented drivers servicing the airport and pier terminals of Dumaguete and Sibulan also participated in FBSE trainings, and received vests, and subsistence allowances. (PR)
