NCSC eyes tour guide jobs for seniors in Intramuros

The National Commission of Senior Citizens Chairperson (NCSC) is looking to employ senior citizens as tour guides in Intramuros this August.

NCSC chairperson Mary Jean Lorech made the announcement in PTV’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Wednesday.

“We’re looking at August for the launching of, maybe here in Intramuros, for the tour guiding and cultural heritage sites. And hopefully before the year ends, we will have that in hotels and resorts,” Lorech said.

“We’ll take it one small step at a time, but kailangan continuous siya, and the guidelines will be very, very clear kasi hindi naman ito na ilalagak mo ng ganyan lang. Kailangan mag usap lahat ng mga ahensiya na kasama, including the private sector,” she added.

(We’ll take it one small step at a time, but it needs to be continuous, and guidelines will be very, very clear because you cannot just put it out there. All concerned agencies and the private sector should engage in a meeting.)

Lorech described the tour guide role as a “his and her story” of senior citizens.

“Nakapaganda at napakagaling naman nila mag kwento (They are good storytellers). So now, it brings back the love and passion for our culture and trying to tell both the local and foreign kung anong ang napakasaya at napakakulay na kultura ng Pilipinas (the colorful and joyful culture of the Philippines),” she said.

The tour guide jobs are part of NCSC’s initiative to expand inclusive and sustainable livelihood and training programs for senior citizens, in partnership with government agencies, such as the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the private sector.

The initiative aims to provide Filipino senior citizens with practical, income-generating skills while promoting their continued participation in community and economic activities.

Lorech said those who are interested in joining the program may reach out to the DOT or the NCSC.

She also shared that NCSC will meet with the Department of Agriculture to help senior citizens put up their agribusiness.—RF, GMA Integrated News