LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) --The Department of Tourism (DOT) has trained a total of 1,807 tourism industry’s frontline workers on the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) to enhance the overall tourist experience in the Bicol region.
“The FBSE brand must be well-known to Filipinos. This is the attitude we must adopt towards foreigners and uplift our hospitable spirit,” DOT Regional Director Herbie Aguas said.
Aguas said the FBSE is designed to promote service excellence in all tourism establishments by capacitating the country’s tourism workforce with a unique way of delivering customer service founded on the 7Ms or the Filipino Core Values of Maka-Maylikha, Makatao, Maka-kalikasan, Makabansa, Masayahin, May Bayanihan, at May Pag-asa.
The tourism industry's frontline workers were trained in proper communication skills, Filipino gestures, and appropriate representation of Filipino values, to ensure that tourists have a memorable experience, encouraging return visits, he added.
Tourism industry workers from the Happy Island of Catanduanes participate in the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence training on March 5 in the capital town of Virac. (Photo courtesy of DOT V Facebook Page)
“We must handle tourists well to ensure they return to our beautiful destinations,” Aguas said.
Aguas reported that the 1,807 individuals who received training were from the provinces of Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes.
Mayor Jojo Bengua of Pasacao, Camarines Sur expressed his gratitude to the government for supporting beach resort owners and other tourism stakeholders in their town.
He particularly mentioned the conduct of the FSBE training in February, which empowered the tourism labor force in their community.
"The tourism sector plays an essential role in achieving sustainable development and economic growth in our community, and it is crucial to empower individuals to reach their full potential," Bengua said.
Bengua also thanked the government for its support to beach resort owners and tourism stakeholders in their town, as the FSBE training was conducted in their town in February.
Donsol Tourism Officer Dondon Llagas (second from left) attends the FSBE training on March 1. With him are tourism and hospitality students. (Photo courtesy of DOT V Facebook Page)
"The tourism labor force in our community plays a big role in our goal to achieve sustainable development and economic growth, so it is highly important that human potentials are being empowered,” the mayor said.
Bobby Gigantone, the provincial tourism officer of Sorsogon, announced on Facebook that the provincial government is collaborating with DOT and tourism industry stakeholders to improve the quality of tourism services in the province.
The community-based tourism organizations, including those in the indigenous communities, boat associations, and food entrepreneurs, participated in the FSBE training held in Matnog, Sorsogon last month.
Rejem Perdigon, a business owner in Manito, Albay who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community, said that the FBSE training helped him with basic advertising principles and the right attitude towards tourists and visitors.
Aguas announced that the DOT plans to provide training to at least 6,000 more workers in the tourism industry in Bicol within the year. (PIA5)
