The Department of Tourism (DOT) is set to provide qualified Filipino senior citizens with training and job opportunities in the field of tourism.

This program will form part of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between DOT and the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) in Makati City on Wednesday.

Through this partnership, the DOT will activate its regional offices to include senior citizens in its training for tourism stakeholders.

“They simply have to approach our regional offices or the NCSC and we can definitely include them in our training modules,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said.

The commission is currently conducting a “needs assessment” to tailor-fit the training program for beneficiaries.

Once formally rolled out, NCSC officer-in-charge Chairperson Mary Jean Loreche said a senior citizen needs only to be physically and mentally fit to qualify for the training program.

“Sa bawat region may sari-sarili ‘yang tourism destinations. So, if it’s going to be cultural heritage sites so be it, if they want to be in tour guiding so be it, if they want to be in the resorts and hotels and be part of the personnel puwede rin, so marami talagang puwede rin,” she said.

On top of training, the MOU would help the DOT craft more inclusive policies that are sensitive to the needs of traveling senior citizens.

It would also facilitate the development of infrastructure and tourism products that cater to the sector.

“We will make a conscious effort that in the tourism programs and circuits that we’re launching in our destinations, that there are opportunities for seniors to enjoy, not just discounts, perhaps from our tourism stakeholders, but also expanded opportunities to enjoy different kinds of tourism products,” Frasco said.

The MOU, she said, institutionalizes the existing engagement between DOT and NCSC to ensure it is not seasonal. (PNA)