PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur — Some 67 displaced frontliners from the tourism industry in the municipalities of Prosperidad, Rosario, Esperanza, and Loreto received the emergency cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga.
Also, the Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga, in collaboration with the DSWD Caraga and in coordination with the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) of Agusan del Sur, organized the turnover of DOT training starter kits and certificates recently held at the Provincial Learning Center in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
Provincial Governor Santiago B. Cane, Jr. of Agusan del Sur, together with DOT Caraga Director Ivonnie Dumadag, personnel from the DSWD Caraga, and Provincial Tourism Officer Dannah Rufalyn Buquir, led the turnover of cash assistance to the beneficiaries.
“The province of Agusan del Sur is very much grateful to the Bayanihan sa Bukas na may Pag-asa para sa Turismo. These 67 beneficiaries from the municipalities of Esperanza, Prosperidad, Rosario, and Loreto received cash assistance as they were affected by the severe flooding on February of 2024,” Gov. Cane said.
“We are very much grateful to DOT Caraga for looking after the welfare of the tourism workers in times of calamities,” he added.
They also provided livelihood start-up kits to the beneficiaries, enabling them to pursue alternative livelihoods following their training in various vocational skills.
“During that time, we really had no operations, and our tourism was affected. On behalf of the tourism staff at Mabuhay Bega Falls, we expressed our gratitude for the help. We thank the DOT and the DSWD, as well as the training for the livelihood program,” said Luisito Sabado, Bega Falls local tourism supervisor.
The joint program of DSWD and DOT will help the tourism frontliners to move forward after the devastating experience and gather new skills and learnings in serving the tourists who will visit their different local tourist spots. (KKG, PIA-Agusan del Sur with reports from PTO-Agusan del Sur/ DOT Caraga/DSWD Caraga)
