67 displaced tourism workers in Agusan Sur receive assistance from DSWD, DOT
By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan
del Sur -- Some 67 displaced frontliners from the tourism industry in the
municipalities of Prosperidad, Rosario, Esperanza, and Loreto received the
emergency cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga.
Also, the
Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga, in collaboration with the DSWD Caraga and
in coordination with the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) of Agusan del Sur,
organized the turnover of DOT training starter kits and certificates recently
held at the Provincial Learning Center in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del
Sur.
Provincial Governor
Santiago B. Cane, Jr. of Agusan del Sur, together with DOT Caraga Director
Ivonnie Dumadag, personnel from the DSWD Caraga, and Provincial Tourism Officer
Dannah Rufalyn Buquir, led the turnover of cash assistance to the beneficiaries.
“The province of
Agusan del Sur is very much grateful to the Bayanihan sa Bukas na may Pag-asa
para sa Turismo. These 67 beneficiaries from the municipalities of Esperanza,
Prosperidad, Rosario, and Loreto received cash assistance as they were affected
by the severe flooding on February of 2024,” Gov. Cane said.
“We are very much
grateful to DOT Caraga for looking after the welfare of the tourism
workers in times of calamities,” he added.
They also provided
livelihood start-up kits to the beneficiaries, enabling them to pursue
alternative livelihoods following their training in various vocational skills.
“During that time,
we really had no operations, and our tourism was affected. On behalf of the
tourism staff at Mabuhay Bega Falls, we expressed our gratitude for the help.
We thank the DOT and the DSWD, as well as the training for the livelihood
program,” said Luisito Sabado, Bega Falls local tourism supervisor.
The joint program of DSWD and DOT will help the tourism frontliners to move forward after the devastating experience and gather new skills and learnings in serving the tourists who will visit their different local tourist spots. (KKG, PIA-Agusan del Sur with reports from PTO-Agusan del Sur/ DOT Caraga/DSWD Caraga)
