Tour guide nabbed in Boracay not accredited, DOT-6 says

THE Department of Tourism Region VI disclaimed any affiliation or connection with the tour guide who was reported caught selling suspected marijuana in Barangay Manoc-Manoc in Boracay Island on September 9, 2019.

DOT-6 Regional Director Atty. Helen J. Catalbas said that the suspect, Silvino Sauz Jr. of Aslum, Ibajay, Aklan, is neither a DOT-accredited tour guide nor underwent DOT tour guiding seminar.

“DOT-accredited tour guides undergo trainings conducted by the DOT VI. We do not tolerate this kind of act because we want our tourism frontliners to be the role model for tourists to engage only in clean fun which means no drugs,” Catalbas stressed.

Tour guiding training run for 30 days for regional tour guides and 7 days for community-based tour guides.

At the end of the training, participants will have to take an examination composed of written, oral reporting and graded mock tour. Every participant in the training will receive a Certificate of Attendance and those who will pass the examination will have another certificate which is the Certificate of Training.

DOT accreditation for regional tour guides requires the Certificate of Training from DOT, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance, health certificate and mayor’s permit, while community-based tour guides requirements include Certificate of Training, police clearance, health certificate and mayor’s permit.

DOT-6 encouraged the public to deal only with DOT-accredited tour guides to ensure that local and foreign tourists can experience quality service while visiting tourist destinations in Western Visayas.

Complete list of DOT-accredited regional and community-based tour guides is available at www.tourism.gov.ph, visit the DOT Region VI office at Ground Floor, Casa Real de Iloilo (Old Provincial Capitol), General Luna St., Iloilo City or through contact numbers 503-2705/ 335-0245. (MDO)