The Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT), in partnership with the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), has launched the Tourism Legacy and Livelihood Program, enabling senior citizens to take active roles in community-based and elderly-friendly tourism initiatives.

Under the programme, seniors may serve as community tour guides after completing interviews and a week-long training course consisting of lectures and mock tours.

Among the participants is 68-year-old Edgardo Satira, a retired broadcaster with four decades of experience, who is now a DoT-accredited tour guide. He said the programme restored his sense of dignity and confidence as a senior citizen, proving that he still has valuable skills and opportunities despite his age.

As of February 23, the DoT had accredited 15 senior citizen tour guides under the initiative, including four former overseas Filipino workers who have taken up tour guiding after retirement.

Satira said tour guiding has become a dependable source of retirement income, providing regular earnings and occasional tips from satisfied visitors, and giving him the opportunity to continue earning in later life.

Tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco recently met the newly accredited guides to hear their experiences and gather feedback on strengthening the programme. She said she was impressed by the diverse professional backgrounds of the participants and by their shared motivation to serve the country through tourism.

She added that the department’s priority is to create opportunities for advancement and livelihood while reinforcing the importance of tourism workers as custodians of the country’s stories. Christina also distributed essential kits to the senior guides, including a portable microphone, sunblock, hat, journal, tumbler and sunglasses, along with accident insurance coverage.

From 2023 to February 2026, the DoT has distributed essential kits to nearly 1,300 tour guides, around half of whom also received insurance coverage.

Before accreditation, the senior guides completed a seven-day community tour guiding seminar held from September 24 to October 3, 2025 in partnership with the Intramuros Administration. The programme combined lectures, site-based exercises and mock tours.

Participants said the training was both engaging and demanding, involving assigned locations for storytelling exercises and sessions led by subject matter experts. They added that accreditation ensures guides undergo proper training and follow established standards, providing legitimacy and accountability in conducting tours.

As of February 2026, the Philippines has 4,994 DoT-accredited tour guides nationwide, excluding specialists.

The DoT continues to strengthen professional standards through its Filipino Brand of Service Excellence training programme. Between 2022 and January 2026, 412,640 individuals completed the training, including 12,786 tour guides.

Christina said that investing in the professional development of tour guides helps ensure quality visitor experiences, supports tourism growth and sustains livelihoods in communities across the country.