BACOLOD CITY, Sept. 25 (PNA) — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is urging owners of accommodation facilities here to seek accreditation from the agency.
A team from the DOT national and regional offices is currently conducting a saturation drive in Bacolod.
Ma. Elma Gerasmo, chief tourism operations officer of the City Tourism Office, said that of the 69 accommodation facilities in Bacolod comprised of 24 hotels, 15 tourist inns, 21 pension houses, six resorts, and three apartelles, only about 10 percent is accredited by the DOT.
The percentage is low because previously, seeking accreditation was just voluntary, she said.
“But with the new policy and guidelines, their license will not be renewed without a DOT accreditation,” Gerasmo added.
Moreover, the DOT accreditation is necessary for the conduct of regulation among accommodation facilities in the country.
“With the ASEAN integration, where economic competition is stiff, regulation is vital in ensuring standards especially in providing services among these business establishments,” Gerasmo said.
Accredited establishments are also covered by the development and promotion programs of the DOT like inclusion in the accommodation list for tourists’ priority preference.
The tourism department has set documentary requirements for various tourism enterprises for accreditation.
For accommodation facilities, it mainly include valid mayor’s permit and license from the local government unit, valid comprehensive general liability insurance to cover bodily injury and property losses of guests due to aimed robbery or through irresistible force, management contract if applicable, and memorandum of agreement with the Protected Area Management Board if the establishment is located in a protected area. (PNA)