In time for the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) 51st founding anniversary, 51 tour guides from the provinces of Pampanga, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, and Tarlac collectively received over P2.55M worth of free personal accident insurance coverage as tokens of appreciation personally funded by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco on Saturday (May 11) at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. The frontliners also received DOT tour guiding kits containing electronic lapels, hats, sunblock, sunglasses, tumblers, and other tour guiding essentials.

The recipients were tour guides from the Porac Tour Guides Association, Guides Alliance Bulacan at Your Service (GABAY), Bataan Peninsula Tour Guides Association, Eco Tour Guides Association of San Luis Aurora, City of San Fernando, Pampanga Tour Guides, Accredited Guides Association of Pampanga, Bulacan Tour Guides, and Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan Tour Guides.

This, as DOT recognizes the indispensable role of local community guides in the tourism industry, being considered as frontliners in championing the country’s local destinations and upholding the rich Filipino culture, heritage, and history, especially now that the Department is aiming to improve Clark as an alternate gateway for tourist markets to and from the Philippines.

“Batid ko po na sa linya ng ating trabaho, may mga aksidente o di inaasahang pangyayari. Pero in my research of the government programs that we have at present (in the DOT) and our budget as well, it does not allow accident insurance coverage para sa ating mga frontliners. Kaya po as a personal and humble gift to all of you, meron po tayong handog na libreng accident insurance para sa ating mga frontliners,” she said while addressing tour guides based in Central Luzon.