DOT Region 2 Elevates Local Tourism with Eco-Tour Guiding Training in Kayapa
The Department of Tourism (DOT), Region 2 successfully concluded the seven-day Eco-Tour Guides Training held from July 24 to 31, 2026, at the Barangay Hall of Alang-Salacsac, Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya, equipping local tourism frontliners with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to deliver quality visitor experiences while promoting environmental stewardship.
A total of 23 eco-tour guides successfully completed the training, while an additional 12 participants from Barangay Alang-Salacsac attended the one-day Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) Seminar, which instilled the distinct Filipino culture of service that is warm, genuine, and deeply rooted in local values.
In his message, Regional Director Troy Alexander G. Miano encouraged the participants to actively engage throughout the training, emphasizing that continuous learning and active participation are essential in developing competent and effective tour guides. He also reminded them of their shared responsibility to protect and preserve their tourism site by keeping it clean, sustainable, and well-maintained for future generations.
Provincial Tourism Officer Marichelle Costales highlighted that Barangay Alang-Salacsac is one of Nueva Vizcaya’s recognized tourism destinations. She emphasized that the participants, as local tour guides, play a vital role in enhancing visitor experiences and elevating service standards to keep pace with other tourism destinations. She likewise underscored that the training, made possible through the partnership between DOT Region 2 and the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya, was designed to strengthen their capabilities and support the continued growth of community-based tourism. She concluded by encouraging the participants to remain committed to promoting and developing tourism in their barangay.
The training featured lectures and practical exercises facilitated by experts in their respective fields:
- Antonio Felipe Arbias – Flora and Fauna
- Adrian Constantino – Avian Fauna (Birds)
- Larry T. Andres, Derick I. Gonzales, Lyon Miguel Z. Jubay, John Mar Z. Alvendia, and Johndel Mendoza – Standard First Aid, Basic Life Support, and Basic Mountaineering Course with Bamboo Cooking
- Romano Del Rosario – Filipino Brand of Service Excellence Seminar and Tour Guiding
Designed to be highly experiential, the training combined classroom discussions with extensive outdoor and hands-on activities, allowing participants to immediately apply their learnings in actual field settings.
In her closing message, Mayor Elizabeth D. Balasya encouraged the participants to continue supporting one another and to put into practice the knowledge and skills they had gained throughout the training. She reminded them to make the most of the opportunity provided and to honor the efforts of the trainers and officials who made the program possible. She concluded by congratulating the graduates for their dedication, perseverance, and successful completion of the training.
Through capacity-building initiatives such as the Eco-Tour Guides Training, the Department of Tourism, Region 2 remains committed to empowering local communities, enhancing tourism service quality, and advancing sustainable and community-based tourism development across the Cagayan Valley Region.