Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Friday, April 30, announced that 23,293 displaced tourism workers from Central Visayas (CV) are qualified to receive cash assistance under the Department of Tourism-Department of Labor and Employment(DOT-DOLE) Cash Assistance Program from the Bayanihan 2 law. This is according to information from the DOT.
The total amount released to the more than 23,000 displaced tourism workers is pegged at the total amount of P116,465,000, the same report adds.
Bohol has 8,513 workers who are identified as beneficiaries of the said cash assistance program.
Moreover, 11,327 beneficiaries are from Cebu province; about 1,564 workers from Negros Oriental will be getting the cash assistance, as 1,889 workers who are approved to avail of the cash aid are from Siquijor.
Each displaced tourism worker received P5,000.
In Friday’s virtual awarding of certificates, 1,594 beneficiaries from 16 Bohol-based establishments were acknowledged, with workers coming from tourism support services, resorts, restaurants, community-based tourism organizations (CBTO), and transportation, among others.
“These are but a few of the many programs the DOT has taken part or initiated to help the tourism industry of Bohol recover. We are counting on the continued support of our LGUs and the private sector to spur recovery forward,” said Puyat in her opening message.
Gov. Arthur Yap who also attended the virtual ceremony said that the province continues to prepare for an eventual total reopening of its tourism
industry.
“We also did our best in trying to give support as well to tourism operators and tourism transport operators. All the DOT guidelines, certifications, and rules were all included in the provincial ordinance when we crafted our own Ultimate Bohol Experience (UBE) seal for the guidance of all our operators.”
The UBE seal is the Bohol provincial government’s seal of good housekeeping for all tourism establishments.
The tourism chief also disclosed the DOT’s programs and products to jumpstart the revival of tourism in the province of Bohol such as the development of “Farm, Fork, and Fitness: A Mountain to Sea Circuit to Wellness,” the Bohol Province Run featuring outdoor adventure trails, and the Bohol Culinary Circuit underscoring the gastronomic traditions of Panglao, Loon, Jagna, Loay, and Baclayon.
“At each of our destinations, we are collaborating with local government units, stakeholders and tourism workers, and the local communities to develop tourism destination products that will jumpstart the revival of tourism,” Puyat said.
As of April 15, 2021, there are 1,045 DOT-accredited accommodation establishments in CV, an increase of 541.10 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the data released by the DOT. About264 accredited accommodation establishments are in Bohol, the DOT added.