ILOILO City – The Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 6 disclaimed any connection to a tour guide who was arrested by policemen for marijuana in Barangay Manoc-manoc, Boracay Island on Sept. 9.
Regional Director Helen Catalbas said the suspect, Silvino Sauz Jr. of Barangay Aslum, Ibajay, Aklan, was not a DOT-accredited tour guide and had not undergone DOT tour guiding seminar.
“DOT-accredited tour guides undergo trainings. We do not tolerate this kind of act because we want our tourism frontliners to be role models for tourists to engage only in clean fun, which means no drugs,” Catalbas stressed.
Antidrug police operatives of Malay, Aklan arrested Sauz after an undercover cop bought from him marijuana.
Sauz, however, denied selling marijuana.
“Hindi sa akin ang mga droga. Galing ako sa isang bar, pauwi na ako sakay ng motorsiklo mga 2 a.m. nang may humarang sa akin. Sinabihan ako na sumunod sa kanila,” the suspect said after his arrest.
Meanwhile, tour guiding training runs for 30 days for regional tour guides and seven days for community-based tour guides, said Catalbas.
At the end of the training participants 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 – the Certificate of Training.
DOT accreditation for regional tour guides requires the following:
* Certificate of Training from DOT
* National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
* health certificate
* mayor’s permit
On the other hand, community-based tour guides’ requirements include Certificate of Training, police clearance, health certificate and mayor’s permit.
Catalbas said DOT-6 encourages everyone to deal only with accredited tour guides.
This is to ensure that local and foreign tourists can experience quality service while visiting tourist destinations in Western Visayas, she said.
The complete list of DOT-accredited regional and community-based tour guides is available at www.tourism.gov.ph, or visit the DOT-6 office at the ground floor of Casa Real de Iloilo (Old Provincial Capitol), General Luna Street, Iloilo City./PN
