The Department of Tourism (DOT) has capacitated boatmen in Zambales province with the necessary knowledge and skills on rendering service excellence to tourists.

DOT Regional Director Richard G. Daenos said on Tuesday that 28 boatmen from the towns of Candelaria and Masinloc in Zambales underwent training as tourism frontliners in line with their goal of advocating service excellence in Central Luzon.

He said the boatmen were taught basic life support and first aid as well as water safety search and rescue at Dawal Beach Resort in Candelaria from June 5-11.

“We aimed at equipping them with tourism knowledge, basic tour guiding, and delivering service excellence,” Daenos said in an interview.

He cited the importance of capacitating the boatmen with skills and attitude to perform proper techniques to save lives.

“Land drills and water activities tested the abilities of our boatmen to respond to emergencies,” he said.

The learning course also covered the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence Training to help promote good values and advocate good service.

He thanked the Provincial Tourism Office of Zambales, Municipal Tourism Offices of Candelaria and Masinloc and Dawal Beach Resort for providing support and assistance towards the success of the training.

Last March, 40 boatmen, lifeguards and resort staff in Barangays Dinadiawan and Diabarasin, Dipaculao town, Aurora also underwent the same training.

“As we promote the local tourism, we also equip the industry workers to become effective stewards of Philippine tourism,” the DOT official earlier said. (PNA)