Department of Tourism Surpasses Halfway Mark in Filipino Brand of Service Excellence Training Program
The Department of Tourism (DOT) proudly announces the successful training of 43,813 individuals across the nation as part of its Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) initiative, a significant stride towards achieving the target of 100,000 trained individuals by the end of 2023.
In a bid to enhance the overall tourist experience and strategically position the Philippines as a center for hospitality excellence in Asia, DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco initiated an aggressive tourism education and training campaign last year. Secretary Frasco expressed delight at the progress made, emphasizing the importance of Filipino hospitality as a key strength of Philippine tourism.
“We are well on our way in achieving our goal of providing FBSE trainings to 100,000 workers. With this, we are able to banner Filipino hospitality excellence to both our domestic and international tourists,” stated Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
Region 4A (CALABARZON) led the way, delivering the highest number of FBSE trainees with 6,376, followed by Region 11 with 5,788, Region 3 with 5,783, Region 4B (MIMAROPA) with 3,920, and the National Capital Region (NCR) with 3,742.
The diverse pool of training recipients encompasses various sectors of the tourism workforce, including professionals, members of Community-based Sustainable Tourism Organizations (CBTOs), representatives from the academe, government personnel, Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOPs), and individuals engaged in tourism-related enterprises such as restaurants, retail, ticketing, transportation, and pasalubong centers.
Ensuring inclusivity in its training programs, the DOT designs initiatives to accommodate all tourism frontliners, including persons with disabilities (PWDs). A special FBSE for Deaf Tourism Workers was conducted in Puerto Princesa City, primarily benefiting employees of Ka Inato Restaurant, which employs deaf individuals as food servers and kitchen staff.
Mr. Eric John Yayen, Ka Inato Restaurant Owner, expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to the deaf community, stating, “Parang nabuhayan kasi sila, matagal silang [nawala] at the pandemic. So nung magkaroon ng training parang bumukas yung opportunity sa kanila, so nagpapasalamat talaga kami sa DOT.”
In response to the oil spill incident in the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, the DOT extended its support by commencing alternative livelihood training programs for affected tourism workers. Approximately 270 individuals have undergone training in topics such as Farm Tourism, Tourism Micro Retail, Food Tourism, Health & Wellness Tourism, and Basic Haircutting. The FBSE component is integrated into all DOT training offerings for the oil spill-affected tourism workers.
The DOT remains committed to its goal of reaching 100,000 trained individuals, contributing to the elevation of Filipino hospitality and the promotion of the Philippines as a top-tier destination for tourists worldwide.