THE Department of Tourism (DOT), in partnership with the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), has implemented the Tourism Legacy and Livelihood Program to train and accredit senior citizens as community tour guides in Intramuros, Manila. The initiative aligns with the government’s inclusive tourism agenda by creating opportunities for senior citizens to join community-based, elderly-friendly tourism programs. Under the program, qualified senior citizens undergo interviews and complete a week-long training, lectures and mock tours before receiving DOT accreditation. As of Feb. 23, the DOT has accredited 15 senior citizen tour guides, including four former overseas Filipino workers who have found renewed purpose in guiding after retirement. Among them is 68-year-old Edgardo “Tatay Ed” Satira, a retired broadcaster who now shares his passion for history and storytelling with visitors exploring the historic walled city. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco personally met with the newly accredited guides to hear their experiences and gather insights to enhance the training program. “I’m so impressed by the variety of professions and backgrounds of those that have successfully passed our senior citizens community tour guide training, but even more impressed by the overarching purpose that drives you to be here, not just for leisure, not to address boredom perhaps, but more importantly, to serve our country,” Frasco said. She emphasized that the department’s priority is to create more livelihood and advancement opportunities while recognizing the vital role of tourism workers as keepers of the nation’s stories. “Our priority has been to provide opportunity for advancement, opportunity for livelihood, and to imprint in both our stakeholders as well as our tourists and the Filipino populace in general that our tourism workers matter, for you are the ones who are the repositories of our stories,” she added. The program is part of the DOT’s broader effort to professionalize tour guiding nationwide through accreditation standards and continuous training under the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence initiative.