Senior citizens trained as community tour guides in Intramuros

MANILA — The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) have trained a group of senior citizens to serve as accredited community tour guides in Intramuros, aiming to expand participation in elderly-friendly and community-based tourism initiatives.

The program, part of the Tourism Legacy and Livelihood initiative, provides seniors with a week-long training program that includes lectures, site-based exercises, and mock tours. Participants must also undergo interviews before accreditation.

Among the first accredited senior guides is 68-year-old Edgardo “Tatay Ed” Satira, a retired broadcaster with 40 years of experience. He said the program allowed him to continue sharing his knowledge of history while supplementing his retirement income.

As of 23 February 2026, 15 senior citizens had been accredited under the program, including four former overseas Filipino workers. Retired teacher Fe Rojas, 72, also completed the training, which she said strengthened her confidence and sense of responsibility as a cultural storyteller.

The training program was conducted from 24 September 2025 to 03 October 2025, in partnership with the Intramuros Administration. DOT accreditation provides tour guides with legitimacy and accountability, according to participants.

The initiative is part of the DOT’s broader effort to professionalize tour guiding nationwide. As of February 2026, there are 4,994 DOT-accredited tour guides across the Philippines, excluding specialist guides.

The training aligns with the DOT’s Filipino Brand of Service Excellence program, which has trained more than 412,000 tourism workers nationwide, including over 12,700 tour guides, from 2022 to January 2026.