The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional offices here have forged a partnership to boost responsible tourism restart in Eastern Visayas.

Top officials of the two agencies signed a memorandum of agreement late Tuesday as they committed to share the same task to promote safety among communities and guests.

Under the agreement, the BFP will intensify fire safety inspection of tourism enterprises and tourism sites in the region; conduct fire safety-related orientations and training; help promote the region’s tourism destination; conduct regular fire exit drill twice a year in all tourism enterprises; and conduct a regular clean-up drive in shorelines, access roads leading to tourism sites, riverbanks and waterways, and tourism destinations.

“Part of our corporate social responsibility is to strengthen our local tourism industry. It is our duty to see to it that the place where they stay is safe as far as destructive fire is concerned,” said BFP Eastern Visayas regional director Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Denaga.

On the part of the DOT, the agency will prepare the list of tourism enterprises where fire safety inspections and drills will be conducted, incorporate BFP fire safety orientations in DOT training, identify specific sites for the cleanup drive, and prepare digital and printed information materials on fire safety protocols and advocacies.

“The advocacies, skills buildings, joint inspections, fire drills with tourism enterprises, and even clean-up drives and coastal reforestation will definitely boost the responsible tourism restart in Eastern Visayas for safe and fun travels,” said DOT regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes.

The project dubbed “Bumbero, Kakampi nyo sa Turismo” (firemen, your allies in tourism) is the first in the country initiated by the BFP regional office here. (PNA)