Pier 1 among DOT's pilot projects for enhancement

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City’s Pier 1 is set to have a facelift soon with the Department of Tourism identifying it as one of the pilot projects for its gateway enhancement program together with the Department of Transportation.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco unveiled the new projects and convergence programs of the department during the briefing with the House Committee on Appropriations on the proposed 2023 budget of the agency.

The DOT presented the budget of P3.573 billion for FY 2023 covering the Department’s Office of the Secretary (OSec), Intramuros Administration (IA), National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), and the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD)—which is currently transitioning as an attached agency of the Department.

The DOT’s immediate plans and programs to increase traveler convenience include the introduction of improvements to existing land and sea facilities in the country including Cebu City’s Pier 1 to make these more efficient, aesthetically appealing, and reflective of the Filipino brand.

DOT, according to its latest release, will incorporate distinct Filipino brands in the country’s gateways through design, furniture, and uniform signages that will guide tourists and passengers regarding time and distance to boarding gates, and shall actively push for efficient service and reduction of passenger waiting time.

Other pilot areas identified for this enhancement include the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2, and the Davao International airport.

Cebu will also be one of the areas for the “Trabaho, Turismo, Asenso!” Philippine Tourism Job Fair in Manila, Cebu, and Davao from September 22 to 24.

This is to address the country’s shortage of tourism workforce and the huge demand for tourism employment among workers that got displaced due to the pandemic.

DOT entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) last August 30 to formalize the two agencies’ partnership to generate employment in the tourism sector and allied industries.

DOT also plans to put up a Tourist Assistance Call Center and a One-Stop-Shop where tourists can get information and assistance with their travel-related concerns.

“At the moment if you are a tourist in the Philippines, and you encounter problems or scams, for some reason or the other, you simply do not know who to call or where to go. We plan to change that by providing a Tourist Assistance Call Center to serve as a One-Stop-Shop for our tourists, so that they may be able to obtain the assistance that they need so their experience in the Philippines will be memorable and that they feel safe and secure as they travel across the country,” Frasco said.

Frasco also bares plans for a tourist service rest area, a tourist life cycle app, the health and safety of the travelers, the so-called BBM guest program, and other programs.

The tourist service area will serve travelers in need of accommodation, information, safety, and security, a pasalubong center in ten strategic locations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao this year.

The tourism life cycle app, on the other hand, will provide necessary data and knowledge on how to improve the tourist experience, tourists’ spending and the length of stay in a destination, and a tourist support feature and an e-commerce platform that will showcase Filipino products.

Frasco also looks after the safety of the visitors and they are coordinating with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to continue the presence of tourist police in tourist spots and ensure the health of tourists through the conduct of due diligence of medical facilities in tourism destinations.

The Bisita Be My (BBM) Guest Program, is an exciting guest incentive system for OFWs that the DOT shall launch this year, in collaboration with relevant national government agencies such as the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

“Through the BBM Guest Program, we will be offering raffle prizes to OFWs that bring guests to the Philippines. We will be providing them with a travel passport that they can use to go across key destinations, get stamps, and claim a prize at the airport; this will also give them a privilege card that would provide them with discounts in the accredited establishments across the country,” Frasco said. — GMR (FREEMAN)