In their efforts toward creating better experiences for the incoming tourists of the province, the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region II through the Provincial Tourism and Culture Office (PTCO) with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region II, conducted two simultaneous three-day seminars from December 2 to December 4, 2025, at the Disadeco Hotel, Resort, and Event Center in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

The second of these activities is the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Seminar, with guest speakers from the OCD R2, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Bayombong. The participants numbered among them tourism establishment staff, municipal tourism officers, and municipal DRRM officers. These tourism frontliners were then educated and re-educated on such relevant topics as basic fire safety, search and rescue protocol, basic cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), etc.

According to DOT Regional Director Troy Alexander G. Miano, the conduct of such a seminar had become a necessity in recent years. “We have collaborated extensively… to make sure we give you the proper training to be able to face the challenges of Mother Nature, and man-made catastrophes and disasters.” Director Miano also expressed his gratitude to the attendees for their presence, acknowledging that it would be difficult to take time away from their tourism establishments.

The continued partnership between the DOT and PTCO ensures seminars such as these that prepare tourism frontliners for both broad and specific tasks such as taking tourist photos to life-saving measures in emergency situations. This continued knowledge-building may yield better experiences for the future tourists of Nueva Vizcaya. /igmb

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