DoT, DoLE launch tourism job fair

TOURISM Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco. Photo from Department of Tourism 

By Moises Cruz, Manila Times

September 20, 2022

TOURISM Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco announced on Monday that the pre-registration for the first three legs of the Trabaho, Turismo, Asenso! The Philippine Tourism Job Fair, the flagship employment initiative of the Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), is now accessible to job seekers.

"To further assist our kababayan, the DoT and DoLE have opened the pre-registration for all three legs of the fair, covering one step of the application process," Garcia-Frasco said.

"This enables the job seekers to focus instead on the core of the event: getting to know the participating establishments and companies, and determining the career openings," she added.

Applicants for the Manila leg, which will take place from September 22 to 24 at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City, can register at https://bit.ly/philtourismjobfair .

Job searchers for the Cebu leg, which will be held at SM City Cebu from September 22 to 23, may pre-register at https://bit.ly/cebuphiltourismjobfair.

Job seekers may register in advance for the Davao leg, which will take place from September 22 to 23 at Abreeza Mall Davao, at https://bit.ly/davaophiltourismjobfair.

There are 7,510 job openings in 147 establishments across three major locations in accommodation establishments, travel and tour services, meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) facilities and organizers, tourist transport operators, health and wellness services, restaurant and food service, and other tourism-related establishments.

"While the DoT continues to work toward President Marcos' vision for tourism to contribute greatly to our country's economic resurgence, we understand the need for this to be met with efforts to fortify the tourism and allied industry workforce," Garcia-Frasco said.

"We could not be more grateful enough to the DoLE, the local government units, and all our partners in the private sector who have supported us in this important endeavor to bring back lost jobs and to present new opportunities for employment in the tourism industry to our fellow Filipinos," she added.

EMPLOYMENT IN THE TOURISM SECTOR

The Trabaho, Turismo, and Asenso! Philippine Tourism Job Fair will begin at 8 a.m. on September 22, with simultaneous opening ceremonies beginning at 10 a.m. in all three venues.

DOT chief overwhelmed by lawmakers’ proposal to enhance budget for tourism

by Jun Marcos Tadios, Manila Bulletin

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco was elated by the proposal of lawmakers to extend an additional budget for the Department of Tourism (DOT) for the Fiscal Year 2023.

Frasco unveiled new projects and convergence programs of the DOT on Wednesday, Aug. 31, during the briefing with the House Committee on Appropriations on the proposed 2023 budget.

The secretary rallied for the favorable decision of the House of Representatives on the P3.573 billion proposed budget for next year in able to attain the DOT’s plans and programs.

The attached agency under the DOT was the Intramuros Administration (IA), National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), and the Philippine Commission on Sports SCUBA Diving – PCSSD.

“The plans (for 2023) will include the establishment of tourist service rest areas and information counters across the country; the development of a Tourist lifecycle app for tourists; a Tourist Assistance Call Center, and the launching of a guest incentive system, among others,” said Frasco.

Several lawmakers, however, noted the necessity of increasing the DOT’s proposed budget, underscoring the tourism industry’s significant contribution to the Philippine economy.

Frasco thanked the members of the House Committee on Appropriations that shows support for the proposed budget of DOT including Minority Leader Rep. Marcelino Libanan; Albay 1st District Congressman Edcel Lagman; Rep. Jefferson Khonghun from the 1st District of Zambales; and Congressman Wilter Palma from the 1st District of Zamboanga Sibugay.

“While I could have just stayed in my beloved town of Liloan, I accepted the tourism portfolio with high hopes because the President has identified the tourism industry as one of the top priorities of his administration,” Frasco uttered.

To fulfill the visions and programs of the present administration, Frasco uttered that they should have a commanding budget needed to fulfill all the visions and programs of the President.

DoT chief kicks off listening tour

By Tricia Antido, Manila Times

On her first day in the office, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco personally visited the offices and greeted the employees of the Department of Tourism (DOT). Photo from Facebook page of the Philippines Department of Tourism. 

On her first day in the office, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco personally visited the offices and greeted the employees of the Department of Tourism (DOT). Photo from Facebook page of the Philippines Department of Tourism.

TOURISM Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco will start her "listening tour" this week to see and hear the concerns and challenges faced by regional offices of the Department of Tourism (DoT) and stakeholders.

She emphasized that the goal of the Department of Tourism is to help the economy rise and recover.

Garcia-Frasco thanked DoT personnel for their warm welcome and gave assurances that all stakeholders will be given equal opportunities through the tourism program that will be made available nationwide.

Speaking before undersecretaries, directors, division chiefs and employees on Monday, July 4, 2022, Garcia-Frasco vowed to address the tourism issues brought on by the pandemic, noting that the sector was one of the hardest-hit industries in the Philippines. She said that under her term, the department will give attention to tourism sites, promotion of local products as well as Filipinos. The Tourism department will also prioritize reaching all regional offices and their partners in local government units.

"I have full trust in the workforce of the Department of Tourism because you have been forged in the fire of the pandemic. We've been through it, we have survived, and we have thrived. There is no other challenge that we could not possibly surmount. And so, I ask for your support, I ask for your unity, I ask for your commitment to the Filipino people, that our brothers and sisters may be given equal economic opportunities through tourism programs that are made available in sites, provinces, cities, municipalities nationwide," she said.