The Department of Tourism is asking Local Government Units in Cebu to require tourism-related businesses in their localities to secure DOT accreditation./CDN File Photo
CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7) has asked local government units to help make sure that tourism enterprises in their localities get accreditation from their agency.
DOT-7 Senior Operations Head Marlon Barrientos said that so far only 20 percent or the more than 800 local tourism enterprises the region have been accredited by their agency. Tourism enterprises include travel agencies, hotels, restaurants and tourist transport businesses.
Barrientos said that since LGUs issue permits to local businesses, it is part of their responsibility to also see to it that tourism enterprises operating within their jurisdiction are accredited by the DOT to ensure that the services that they offer are of the maximum quality.
“Although it’s under RA 9593 (Tourism Act of 2009) that it is mandatory for the tourism enterprises to be accredited by the DOT, mao na ang sort of lapse in the implementation sa LGU,” Barrientos said.
Tourism establishments that seek DOT accreditation are required to secure all the necessary permits relevant to their operations. Most of these permits, he said, are related to environmental conservation and protection like the requirement of solid waste and septage waste management compliance.
In a seminar held in Oslob town on Monday, April 15, Barrientos explained to tourism business operators that while the processing of their DOT accreditation would take time, this was necessary to ensure a sustainable tourism environment in their locality and prevent their tourism destination from degradation.
Barrientos said that if local destinations and not cared for, this could also suffer the same fate as Boracay Island which President Rodrigo Duterte ordered closed for rehabilitation for six months.
“Dako kaayo ang (There is a big) difference because we are ensuring the safety, comfortability and the convenience of the tourists if they engage with DOT-accredited establishment,” Barrientos said.
“For example, if they engage in non-accredited travel agencies, daghan na kaayo ta og nadawat nga complaints nga bogus mao na nga mas maayo gyud na nga accredited. On the part of the accommodation, we are sure that the facilities really went through inspections and that they heed to the standards,” he added.\dcb