LAUREL, Batangas (PIA) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) IV-A was recognized as the top contributor for the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) Training program for 2023.

Described by DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, the FBSE program is envisioned to enhance and uplift the quality of tourism services in the country, aimed at providing excellent service to tourists as part of the Filipino brand of hospitality.

The department has set a target of 100,000 individuals nationwide to be trained last year. Based on the data, DOT Calabarzon has recorded a total of 12,483 trained tourism frontline stakeholders, which doubled the given target of 6,250 individuals. 

Several tourism workers from hoteliers, front desk officers, tour guides, tricycle drivers, up to students from various universities in the region were tapped by the department for the training program.

During the Calabarzon Tourism Excellence Appreciation of DOT IV-A held in Laurel, Batangas on January 29, DOT Assistant Secretary Maria Rica Bueno lauded the efforts and contributions of its Calabarzon regional office for the successful implementation of DOT’s training program.

She said: “Calabarzon I’d like to repeat was the highest contributor with 12,483 trained stakeholders and that’s 99% more than its regional target of 6,250 because last year we divided the 100,000 target into all of our regions and each region is required to train 6,250 tourism frontliners but your region top it all and I’m proud to share this hard work paid off.”

Bueno also expressed her appreciation highlighting the brilliance and dedication of various stakeholders and partners of the region which contributes to the growth of the tourism industry of Calabarzon.