A groundbreaking memorandum of agreement by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was signed today at Sheraton Manila Hotel in Pasay City. This agreement aims to provide financial assistance and livelihood training to tourism workers affected by disasters and calamities. Skills demonstrations were also showcased at the venue as alternative livelihood opportunities for tourism workers.
This was borne from an idea when The Bayanihan sa Bukas Na May Pag-asa Sa Turismo Program (BBMP) was initially implemented, in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Oriental Mindoro, following the oil spill crisis in February 2023. The spill caused significant harm to the marine ecosystem, disrupting the livelihoods of the local fishing community and various tourism-related stakeholders. In response, over 1,348 tourism workers impacted by the crisis were provided with alternative training in culinary arts, beadwork and souvenir making.
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco is grateful for this partnership stating, “This MOA signing today is exactly a demonstration of the priorities, both of the DSWD and DOT, to ensure that we humanize tourism in not only calculating how many visitors have arrived, but also take into consideration the true contributions of tourism to the Philippines.”
Adding that, “What this MOA signing will do is to ensure that our tourism workers will be included as a priority sector for financial intervention and livelihood training, so that even in the wake of disaster, they can be capacitated to continue obtaining gainful livelihood, and most importantly, they can reclaim their lives through the dignity of work.”
The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries, ranking first globally in the World Risk Index. Situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, it is highly susceptible to earthquakes. The country’s geographical location subjects it to frequent typhoons, with an average of 20 occurring annually, as reported by the United Nations.
“Because of the recent disasters that hit the country due to national calamity, natural and man-made, part of these communities were directly affected. Whenever we have disasters, the workers in the tourism center are the ones affected, not just their families, homes and properties, but also their way of life,” stated DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian.
The BBMP aims to provide alternative livelihoods to ensure job continuity and opportunities for tourism workers whose destinations have been severely affected and may require time to fully recover.
DSWD will be there to provide financial assistance, while the DOT will offer training programs. The cash assistance can serve as capital for starting new livelihoods.
During the event, DOT Undersecretary Rica Bueno outlined the various alternative livelihood programs offered through regional offices, including souvenir making, homestay training, urban farm tourism, home-based culinary arts, bread and pastry production, and basic hilot. These programs align with the DOT’s National Tourism Development Plans (NTDP), which envisions inclusive and resilient tourism development aimed at strengthening governance among stakeholders.
Bueno explained that the program’s goal is to retool and reskill members of the impacted tourism community, providing them with alternative sources of income. At the same time, it aims to bolster the confidence of affected tourism workers as they work towards rebuilding and rejuvenating the tourism offerings in their respective destinations.
Secretary Gatchalian also expressed his department’s gratitude to DOT for the synergy created between Secretary Frasco’s vision, which aligns with DSWD’s mandate to support dedicated tourism workers during calamities.
As reported, the BBMP has offered cash assistance, training, and livelihood support to nearly 3,000 disaster-affected tourism workers.