DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) -- More than 800 tricycle drivers in the province underwent the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) training for them to help improve the tourists’ experience in Negros Oriental. 

Provincial Tourism Board executive director Woodrow Maquiling, Jr. said the drivers serve as frontliners in the tourism industry. 

“Since they are the first touch point of the tourists, it is important that they are equipped with not only the knowledge of our place but also the warmth of a Negrense as community ambassadors,” said Maquiling. 

The training, held in batches, included lectures and demonstrations on the proper way of receiving visitors, use of “Mabuhay” gesture as a common greeting, proper way of customer handling, how to recover a bad service, how to give service excellence, among others. 

The trainees were composed of 490 pedicab drivers from the local government units in the second district, 317 snorkeling/diving guides, boat crews, and Bantay Dagat officers. 

Quality service for tourists

Rolly Anadon, president of Metro Dumaguete Motorcab Operators and Drivers Association (MEDUMODA), emphasized the importance of their members learning how to handle visitors or passengers and delivering good service.

MEDUMODA is composed of 74 tricycle drivers as members. 

“Nakatabang ug dako namo labi na sa the way we handle sa mga bisita o tourists kay panerbisyo man ning atu, and personally regardless may subsistence allowance o wala mo attend ko niining mga trainings kay makatabang man namo ug sa serbisyo labi na sa proper handling of visitors,” said Anadon. 

(This helped us a lot especially in the handling of tourists, for this is really our work. Personally, regardless of whether there is subsistence allowance or not, I have to attend this kind of training to help improve my service or work in proper handling of visitors.)

Anadon said they were encouraged to greet the passengers with excellence, show politeness, and provide quality service to tourists.

For Ronaldo Calidguid, president of Alliance of Disciplined Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (ADTODA) in Barangay Isugan, Bacong, the training helped them understand how important it is for them to be able to interact properly with guests. 

“Among pasalamat sa nag mugna sa maong bansay-bansay, kay sa among pagka driver importante ni na maong training pag-abi-abi sa mga pasahero, malipay ang bisita sa among serbisyo kon honest ka ilabi na kabahin sa tinuod na pletehan,” said Calidguid. 

(We are thankful to those who initiated the trainings. It is important for us drivers to be hospitable and the visitors will be happy with our service if we are honest, especially with the actual fare rates.)

Calidguid said the training emphasized honesty and not taking advantage of passengers for the benefit of making money from the tourists.

Subsistence allowance

The Office of 2nd District Rep. Manuel Sagarbarria and the provincial government provided the participants with subsistence allowance to compensate for their lost income while they underwent training.

Each participant received P1,000 in subsistence allowance to cover their daily needs while attending the eight-hour training.

The training was held after the Provincial Tourism Office collaborated with DOT7 to capacitate the tourism frontliners in the province with the skills they need to provide the best service they can to foreign and local tourists. 

Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria said tourism is critical in local economic growth. 

“Tourism, along with health, are at the forefront of my governance as this would help provide more livelihood opportunities for our constituents,” he said. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)