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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider We must not neglect our tourist workers—Marcos

We must not neglect our tourist workers—Marcos

Published Sep 1, 2025 03:27 pm
President Marcos said the government must not neglect tourist workers in times of disasters, stressing that the impact of calamities often force tourism businesses to close down.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Marcos cited that tourist workers are among the most affected communities when typhoons hit the country. Thus, the government must always be there to help them get back on their feet.
He also stressed that Philippine tourism has a huge potential, especially having hospitality as the "selling point." This fact, he said, calls for consistent effort to help the sector.
"Kaya hindi natin dapat pabayaan ang ating tourist workers na pagka tinamaan ng bagyo o kung kahit na ano pang disaster ay basta't mapapabayaan, magsasara na ang kanilang negosyo, mahirap makapagbukas ulit. Kaya nandito po kami upang tutulong (That’s why we must not neglect our tourist workers — when they are struck by a typhoon or any other disaster, we can’t just leave them behind, let their businesses close, and make it hard for them to reopen. That’s why we are here — to help)," Marcos said in his speech.
The President was in Baler, Aurora on Monday, Sept. 1, to lead the ceremonial distribution of training and financial assistance to over 1,000 calamity-hit tourism workers under the Bayanihan sa Bukas na May Pag-asa Para sa Turismo (BBMT) program.
At present, more than 2,800 Filipinos have benefited from training and financial assistance through the BBMT program.  
In 2024, the program supported nearly 1,400 beneficiaries in the Davao Region and more than 70 in Agusan del Sur.  In 2023, it also helped more than 1,300 people in Oriental Mindoro.
According to Marcos, under the program, the Department of Tourism (DOT) will conduct training for those interested in starting a new livelihood. Training includes beadwork, artwork training, pastry making, fun farm tour product development, tourist reception seminars, and other different skills and training needed for the tourism industry.
This will continue to be implemented around the country, he added. 

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