2 taxi drivers honored for honesty

MANILA -- Two taxi drivers were honored for their honest and praiseworthy service as they gave flesh on the Department of Tourism's (DOT) campaign of "It's more fun in the Philippines."

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said Wednesday that Edralin Mañalas and Joan Dacullo, drivers of airport coupon taxi of the Manila International Airport Transport Service and Multi Purpose Cooperative (MIATSMPC), were awarded certificates of appreciation and commendation letters for their gestures.

Mañalas returned a black wallet, which contained three bank cards and cash in different currencies amounting close to P50,000 last May 26, while Dacullo turned over two laptop computers and cash in different currencies with an estimated amount of P100,000 last May 22.

Jimenez stressed the importance of having honest and competent tourism front liners to uphold the promise of a more fun Philippines.

"Our current tourism campaign centers on the Filipino as the main component in ensuring a fun experience, whether it be for business or leisure. We take this concept of fun to a deeper level to mean easy and seamless travel made possible by efficient service personnel who go the extra mile to make the experience more memorable," he said.

"Each one of us can contribute in building this fun environment by excelling at what we do and doing our own share of good. We need more Edralins and Joans to complete the fun picture of Philippine tourism," he added.

"For our part, we encourage our drivers to check their taxis as soon as passengers disembark and watch out for small items such as wallets and mobile phones," said MIATSMPC Operations manager Oscar Gatdula.

The DOT regularly conducts trainings and seminars for front liners, which include taxi drivers with the goal of professionalizing services and promoting good values that are innate in the Filipino service worker. Incidentally, both drivers have been participants of said seminars.

"Our seminars are not only pre-requisite to accreditation. More importantly, the whole program is geared towards raising competitiveness and establishing a Filipino brand of service that is efficiently extended with genuine warmth," Tourism Undersecretary Ma. Victoria Jimenez said.

The DOT's Office of Tourism Standards and Regulation is also exploring the possibility of awarding special tokens of recognition to honor the exemplary service of other Tourism front liners. (SDR/Sunnex)