Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco on Thursday (January 23) ink a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that concretizes the complimentary initiatives of the two agencies aimed at extending comprehensive support to tourism workers affected by disasters and calamities.

Under the partnership, the DSWD will assist in the implementation of the Bayanihan sa Bukas na May Pag-asa sa Turismo (BBMT), a DOT-led program that provides assistance and interventions to tourism workers whose sources of livelihood are affected and disrupted by natural disasters.

The DSWD will tap the agency’s cash-for-work (CFW) and cash-for-training (CFT) mechanisms to extend financial support to disaster-hit tourism workers. For its part, the DOT will lead the provision of training programs and temporary employment to the beneficiaries.

Joining the DSWD and DOT chiefs in the MOA signing held at the Sheraton Hotel in Pasay City were Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) and DOT Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano.

The signing was also witnessed by Philippine Ambassador to Oman Raul S. Hernandez, DSWD-DRMG Director Michael Cristopher Mathay, and DOT Undersecretary Maria Rica Bueno. (LSJ)