Frasco cites tourism’s workforce impact at Post-SONA Forum

Tourism continues to serve as a major contributor to employment and economic growth, a government official said Tuesday during the Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) Forum held in San Juan City, according to a report by Philippine News Agency.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco emphasized the sector’s contribution to livelihoods and skills development during the forum’s “Food Security and Economic Progress” session, held at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center.

Frasco said tourism has created direct employment for 6.75 million Filipinos and indirectly benefits around 10 million more. According to data cited from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the sector now contributes 8.9 percent to the national economy, with total tourism expenditures reaching %u20B13.86 trillion.

“Pinapasalamatan natin si Presidente Marcos, dahil sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga pahayag ay napapakita natin kung gaano kaimportante ‘yung turismo sa ating ekonomiya, dahil nakakapagbigay po ito ng trabaho sa ating mga kababayan,” she said.

The official also outlined the Department of Tourism’s efforts to expand training and upskilling through the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) program, which has reached over 322,000 individuals. She said these initiatives are part of the agency’s support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s goal of expanding job opportunities.

Frasco cited ongoing collaborations with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to deliver diploma and vocational courses to students, out-of-school youth, career shifters, and current tourism workers. Training areas include tour guiding, front office operations, culinary services, lifeguarding, and food and beverage service.

“That is why tourism remains a dynamic and very exciting industry,” she said. “Dahil kahit ano pong mangyari—whether there is a climate crisis or emergency, whether there are geopolitical tensions, whether there are challenges in terms of anything that has to do with our economy—tourism continues to be a stabilizing force that provides livelihood and employment to our fellow Filipinos.”

Other officials present at the forum included representatives from the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, as well as the departments of Agrarian Reform, Agriculture, Budget and Management, Economy Planning and Development, Finance, Trade and Industry, and the National Irrigation Administration.

The discussion, hosted by the Presidential Communications Office and Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, was attended by members of the media, Sangguniang Kabataan leaders, and senior high school students from San Juan.