The Department of Tourism (DOT) said it is working to ensure the safety of travelers and tourism businesses as storms Emong and Dante continue to affect weather conditions across the Philippines.
DOT Secretary Christina Frasco reported that over 1,000 tourists, primarily in Regions 8 and 10, were affected or stranded due to flight and ferry cancellations. No injuries or fatalities among tourists have been reported.
Frasco convened a tourism emergency response operations meeting to gather updates from the DOT’s regional offices and attached agencies.
“Our industry, normally, does not engage in crisis or disaster response related to weather disruptions, but it is of absolute importance that we act now rather than later to anticipate the needs of our stakeholders and provide the necessary support in the short and medium term,” she said.
Regional offices and attached agencies reported varying degrees of impact on local tourism operations.
In Intramuros, floodwaters have receded and all roads are accessible. However, the Intramuros Administration (IA) reported that key heritage sites, including Fort Santiago, Puerta Real Gardens, Baluarte San Diego and the ASEAN Garden, sustained damage from flooding and heavy rains.
To support restoration efforts, Frasco instructed the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to assist the IA in surveying affected areas.
In the CALABARZON region, the DOT Regional Office reported damage to infrastructure and tourism-related facilities in Montalban, Rizal. Preliminary estimates indicate trail and facility destruction, disrupted livelihoods, and potential income losses amounting to P2.8 million Philippine pesos.
In MIMAROPA, the DOT-4B office cited damage to accommodations and travel agencies in El Nido valued at over 264,400 pesos, while tourist boats in Coron sustained damages worth around P550,000. Additional revenue losses were reported due to canceled tours.
Frasco directed all DOT regional offices to maintain close coordination with local government units (LGUs), national agencies, and tourism stakeholders to ensure immediate assistance is provided.
The DOT assured the public that the Tourist Assistance Call Center (TACC) remains fully operational round-the-clock. The center is ready to assist tourists and tourism-related businesses affected by the extreme weather and is equipped with English, Korean and Mandarin-speaking agents, it said.
