DOT, DSWD roll out aid for 4,800 calamity-hit tourism workers
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The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have begun distributing relief goods to thousands of tourism workers whose livelihoods were disrupted by a series of tropical storms and the southwest monsoon (habagat) this week.
According to the DOT’s regional offices, some 4,800 tourism workers across the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Region 4A), Mimaropa (Region 4B), Negros Island Region (NIR), and Western Visayas (Region 6) were affected by flooding and inclement weather as of July 26.
Family food packs from the DSWD have been distributed in coordination with the DOT to assist displaced tourism workers and their families.
“The livelihoods of our tourism frontline workers have been deeply affected, resulting in not only a loss of income but also diminished security for their families,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. “The swift actions taken by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, under the leadership of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, have provided vital relief to these individuals.”
Frasco emphasized that supporting tourism workers is essential not only to their survival but also to the long-term recovery and resilience of the industry.
The DOT has also activated its 24/7 Tourist Assistance Call Center (TACC) through 151-TOUR (151-8687) to provide guidance to both locals and travelers during weather disturbances.
Several localities have since lifted the suspension of tourism operations. In Metro Manila, Intramuros-managed sites such as Fort Santiago, Casa Manila Museum, Baluarte de San Diego, Centro de Turismo Intramuros, and Museo de Intramuros have resumed regular operations.
In Mountain Province, the town of Sagada has allowed limited tourism activity, including outdoor tours and site-specific caving and spelunking. In Abra, selected attractions such as Lusuac Spring, Gaco View Deck, and Ponpon Foot Bridge are now open to visitors. In Ifugao, tourism activities in the municipality of Mayoyao are set to resume on Sunday, 27 July.
The DOT said it continues to monitor on-the-ground conditions in close coordination with LGUs and partner agencies to ensure safety and timely assistance for the tourism sector.
