Revised Tourism Code to force

only DOT-accredited providers

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Over complaints by legitimate Boholano tourism stakeholders against opportunistic and illegal tour agents from outside Bohol offering tours and bringing in their own tour guides, a new policy, when finally approved by the Bohol Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), will stop this practice.

This as the SP in Bohol is set to finally debate and vote on the Bohol Sustainable Tourism Development Code (BSTDC) of 2025, which has just passed the second reading earning the approval “in principle,” by the provincial junta.

The proposed ordinance, authored and sponsored by Board Member Jiselle Rae Villamor seeks to institutionalize and establish a comprehensive legal and policy framework for the inclusive and sustainable tourism development, promotion, regulation and management in Bohol.

In October last year, while the SP Tourism Committee scheduled deliberation and reviewed the old tourism code for its necessary amendments, Bohol Alliance of Travel and Tour Operators (BATTO), an alliance of duly licensed and Bohol-based travel and tour operators composed of legitimate enterprises conducting tourism-related business here asked the SP to include in the revised tourism code provisions that could protect Boholano resources from undue competition.

BATTO noticed that Chinese and Korean tour groups arrive in Bohol in organized tours, bring in their own sets of non-Department of Tourism (DOT) accredited tour guides, tour coordinators, and colorum transport companies, without paying the necessary courtesies, undermining Bohol’s sustainable and responsible tourism efforts.

The requested provision not sits in paragraph c of section 78 which states that “all tourism-related activities of foreign nationals shall be strictly accompanied by a Filipino DOT-accredited tour guide, and foreign tour guide shall only act as interpreter.

BATTO, which claims of possessing more in-depth understanding of Bohol’s history, culture, natural heritage and local communities, are better equipped to provide authentic, responsible and high quality visitor experiences that promote inclusive local development.

In earlier provisions, the revised tourism code, which is set for final reading and approval seeks to implement existing standards like tour operators, guides, and transport providers securing the necessary permits, licenses and DOT accreditations and or concerned government agencies and Local Government Unit (LGUs), permits, prior to their operations.

In addition to national laws, guidelines and issuances, all tour operators and tour guides shall only engage the services of DOT accredited transport providers, tour guides and accommodations, while DOT-accredited community tour guide shall be organized in tourism sites, facilities and LGUs and the need for an accredited local tour guide present in every water tourism-related activity in Bohol.

At this, the policy, when approved would force all tour operators based outside Bohol and who intend to conduct organized tours here, to engage and partner with local tour operators with DOT accreditation.

This partnership shall ensure coordination on itineraries, visitor management, compliance with provincial tourism regulations, and promotion of local participation in tourism activities with the Provincial Tourism Office, in coordination with the DOT and the Bohol Tourism Council, to issue the implementing guidelines for this provision.

This too, as, the Provincial Government is tasked now to regulate and standardize the operation of tour and transport services in order to ensure visitor safety, promote sustainable practices, uphold cultural values, and protect the environment while enhancing the overall experience in the Province, according to the proposed legislation. (PIABohol)

INCLUSIVE TOURISM THAT BENEFITS COMMUNITIES. The SP in Bohol, now expected to back Board Member Jiselle Rae Villamor’s revised tourism code, would be voting to approve or reject a measure to keep locals a stake in tourism activities organized by non Boholanos, to make sure Boholanos can benefit from its operational revenues. (PIABohol)

DepED nurse reiterates: Rice

munggo curls not junk food

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—It may look like it is junk food, but it isn’t, assures Department of Education (DEPeD) School-based Feeding Program (SBFP) focal person Marjorie Ebojo.

Ebojo, a nurse by profession, who takes on the task of coordinating for the government’s supplemental feeding program for nutritionally deficient school kids as evidenced by stunted growth and wasting, came to Kapihan sa PIA to help explain the national feeding program and clarify on the allegations that the government is now allowing junk foods in schools.

Recognizing that school participation by undernourished kids are hampered, the DepED intends to improve learning capacity and classroom performance of learners by getting to the kids who are by common standards, severely wasted (SW), wasted (W) and stunted, while supporting good health and hygiene through the SBFP.

SBFP provides nutritious meals to undernourished learners in public kinder and elementary schools to address malnutrition and hunger that affect learning of undernourished kindergarten to Grade 6 learners from schools in food-insecure and disadvantaged areas, explains Ebojo.

Conducted for at least 120 school days, the program serves meals daily during school days, each meal providing a third of the recommended energy and nutrient intake (RENI) as per existing laws.

Here, the DepEd used to have their approved menus which use iron-rich, protein-rich, and energy-giving foods, milk feeding in fresh and nutritious food to skip from Kindergarten to Grade 6 learners, and the use of hot meals as a feeding modality along with fortified food products and milk.

In some areas, to vary the meals, the DepED also used fortified food products like the Rice Munggo Curls which the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) developed, caused a stir among parents.

Rice-Mongo (Rice-Munggo) Curls which come in barbecue or cheese flavour are nutritious extruded snack foods made from a blend of rice flour and mung bean (mongo) flour using food technology developed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of DOST, Ebojo explains.

According to the FNRI documentation, a 30 gram serving of the curls, which indeed looks like the usual junkfood contains more or less 130 kilo calories of energy and more or less 4 grams of protein.

They’re designed to help meet part of a child’s energy and protein needs as a complementary food item, she stressed.

With modern kids now not really into eating vegetables, an innovative way adapted here is for parents to cook squash noodles instead.

Made from squash starch and turned into noodles, the innovative pancit has smartly reinforced kids nutrition by having them eat vegetables without forcing them. (PIABohol)

FOR THE CHOOSY KIDS. The government’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute has come up with an innovative way to get kids munching nutrient fortified food in the rice munggo curls (RiMO) as part of the National Feeding Program, says nurse Marjorie Ebojo. (PIABohol/ DOST FNRI)