DOT provides aid to workers affected by oil spill in Oriental Mindoro

Tourism Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina Garcia Frasco. Senate PRIB file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco distributed Certificate of Tourism Grants to frontline tourism workers affected by the oil spill in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, the agency said Thursday.

The DOT said in a statement that the agency will also host training programs that would allow affected workers to have alternative jobs in line with the industry, which the agency also assured last March.

“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 Tourism said in a statement.

“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 is that we continue to push for livelihood and employment under the Marcos Administration through tourism,” Frasco said.

(That is why we are here to give Certificate of Training Grants to our frontline tourism workers to be able to offer alternative livelihood to them 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 is that we continue to push for livelihood under the Marcos Administration through tourism.)

Frasco also noted that the municipalities entitled to this training program were the affected workers from Gloria, Pinamalayan, Naujan, San Teodoro, Pola, Bulalacao, Mansalay, and Calapan City.

The topics will cover 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.

Moreover, DOT will also grant funds amounting to P2 million for qualified tourism-related projects for each of the affected municipalities.

“Magbibigay po tayo ng two million pesos for each affected LGU for any tourism-related project that will fall under the guidelines of the financial assistance of TIEZA,” said Frasco.

(We will provide P2 million for each affected LGU for any tourism-related project that will fall under the guidelines of the financial assistance of TIEZA.) —Maria Liezl Projella, Inquirer.net trainee

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