Journeys
Banking on the taxi drivers
The seminar for taxi drivers as tourism frontliners has been on again since Tuesday morning this week at the DOT Region VI Conference Room, Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City. For the first week, the seminar goes daily with a different set of participants each morning. The schedule for the coming weeks will have yet to be decided by the organizers. This seminar goes on until most if not all of the almost 3,000 taxi drivers operating in Panay are through with it. This is a skills training under the auspices of the Department of Tourism Region VI led by RD Edwin G. Trompeta, LTFRB Region VI under RD Porfirio Clavel and Association of Taxi Operators of Panay (ATOP) headed by its President Donna Ratilla of GDR Taxi.
What used to be a half day activity last year when the same stakeholders had it for the second time was reduced to half-day as requested by the taxi operators themselves. So topics have to be compressed but lecturers are careful not to miss out on the meat of the training. As the Western Visayans welcome with excitement the new Iloilo airport of international standard, the mentioned sponsoring organizations see to it that the quality of transportation services offered in this part of the Philippines is at least appropriate and at best excellent.
Seminar speakers/trainors are still the same as before for the same topics. RD Edwin G. Trompeta and Atty. Helen J. Camarista take turns to speak on the topic "Tourism and Its Significance". Mr. Willie Genciana, retired Vice President of Rajah Tours and now tourism professor at the Institute of HRM and Tourism, Central Philippine University shares with the taxi drivers the "Basic Tour Guiding Techniques". The topic "The Taxi Driver as Tourism Frontliner: Qualities and Roles" is discussed by Miss Yehlen J. Camarista, Western Visayas’ Best Tour Guide and tourism professor at the College of Arts and Sciences, University of San Agustin.
A certificate cum identification card is issued to the drivers as proof of their successful completion of the seminar. This document is co-signed by RD Trompeta and RD Clavel. It has no expiry provided the driver concerned remains in possession of the skills and attributed taught them during the seminar.
After the seminar, it is expected that Panay taxi drivers are more courteous, better groomed, friendlier, and more honest.