The Department of Tourism (DOT) has initiated a training program for vendors and service providers in Virgin Island in Panglao, Bohol after the alleged overpricing of seafood on the island went viral recently.

“As committed by Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, the DOT on Wednesday commenced training on the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) to vendors and service providers in Virgin Island in Panglao, Bohol through the Region 7 (Central Visayas) Office, in coordination with the Bohol Tourism Office and the municipality of Panglao,” the department said Thursday.

A total of 34 participants consisting of food stall owners and their staff, as well as representatives of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Panglao Island Protected Seascape (PIPS), attended the training course.

The modular course focused on the foundations of Filipino values – Makamay-likha, Makatao, Makakalikasan, Makabansa, Masayahin, May Bayanihan, and May Pag-asa – that was translated into the local dialect spoken in Bohol.

Its main topics included service excellence and understanding guest needs and service recovery.

“These are basic values that we, Filipinos, live in our daily lives. By bringing it into our encounters with clients, we help enable respect for the Creator, environment-awareness, cordiality, helpfulness and politeness, love of country, and hopefulness,” Frasco said.

The participants acknowledged the need to improve service delivery and thanked the DOT for the training.

The seminar was capped off by the participants’ recitation of a pledge signifying their commitment to upholding FBSE as they carry out their duties.

A group of travelers to Virgin Island took to social media and posted a list of seafood dishes they ordered showing expensive prices for each. The post went viral, prompting the DOT to look into the incident.

Recently, Frasco announced plans to facilitate an inter-agency technical working group to strengthen the capacity of micro-entrepreneurs to provide quality tourism services.

The FBSE training has been conducted for individuals, small and medium enterprises, and world-recognized establishments serving the tourist market. (PNA)