ANGELES CITY – More than 700 tricycle drivers plying the Barangay Balibago route close to Clark Freeport’s main gate will soon be tapped as tour guides.

“Tricycle drivers are in the best position to be trained on tour guiding because they are the ones providing customer service to our tourists and travelers,” said Mayor Ed Pamintuan in a statement.

The speech was read by his Executive Assistant Ed Mayrina during a meeting with the presidents of seven major tricycle groups here.
He said the move aims to improve the quality of service in the local tourism and travel industry by training tricycle drivers as tour guides. This is due to the growing number of local and foreign tourists disembarking via Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

The Department of Tourism – Region III headed Ronaldo Tiotuico will hold a 10-day seminar on effective customer service from June 27 to July 8 at Marlim Mansions Hotel in Balibago.

“The trike drivers can make or break the industry. If they do well in accommodating passengers, then it augurs well for the local travel industry,” Pamintuan said. ““If they don’t, then the city’s image as a tourist destination is damaged.”

The mayor also said that “people will eventually shy away from visiting the area for fear of being rudely received by discourteous drivers.”

He also asked heads of trike associations to help in reporting erring drivers who are overcharging passengers, overloading, reckless driving and shabby looks.

Pamintuan said the seminar will also enhance the quality of service in the public transport sector and “help equip tricycle drivers with substantial skills and know-how in providing service to their customers.”

For his part, Tiotuico said that “tourism frontline service program” has been the priority of the department of tourism. “Key players like drivers, waiters and waitresses, front desk clerks, and even street vendors are vital to the promotion of a local tourism hub. If they perform well as service providers, then everything else will follow,” he said in a statement.

Tiotuico also disclosed that they are pushing for the “adopt-a-terminal project” where various groups and agencies will help provide the needed materials and technical know how in upgrading the facilities inside the transport terminal.

These include repainting jobs, trash bins, proper ventilation, waiting lounges and billboards for published rates.
“Hopefully, these terminals would be more convenient places for passengers to wait for their turn,” he said.
He said they are planning to award trike terminals and their drivers for keeping their areas clean. Other drivers will also receive awards like Cleanest Terminal and Well Groomed driver.

The DOT-III also partnered with the Angeles City Tourism Office, Clark Development Corporation, Global Gateway, Hotels and Restaurants of Pampanga, Pampanga Agents Travel Society Alliance of Travel & Tour Agencies of Pampanga, Clark Investors and Locators Association, Subic Clark Alliance for Development Council, Greater Clark Visitors Bureau, Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Balibago Barangay Council, and Philippine National Police