PIA Press Release
Monday, July 25, 2011
DOT looks over establishments, homes for homestay accreditation
by Dan B. Codamon
KIANGAN, Ifugao, July 25 (PIA) – – Two representatives of the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) recently conducted an ocular inspection of homes and establishments in this municipality for possible accreditation as accommodation or home stay places for tourists and guests coming to the area.
Marie Armi Legazpi and Jaime Munar of the DOT-CAR Accreditation Division said that they already inspected some homes and listed at least 10 to be qualified for accreditation.
Legazpi also gave Mayor Joselito Guyguyon the rules and guidelines for accreditation so that more homes can come up with the basic desired requirements and comply with the law for accreditation and also to produce some brochures or information about their services for the guidance of anybody seeking to stay in such establishments.
The search for homestay lodging houses to be accredited is beng done to solve the lack or absence of hotel or lodging inns in the municipality needed to cater to the needs of tourists or visitors.
Executive assistant to the mayor’s office and tourism officer-designate Eulalie Dulnuan said that this is part of the development effort and activity of the municipal government with the assistance of the DOT to improve the tourism industry of the community.
She also requested the DOT to assist them in the conduct of training for the proper management and operation of these accredited lodging houses in order to comply to the standards required by the government.
Legazpi described homestay or pension houses as private or family-operated tourist boarding houses, tourist guest houses or tourist lodging houses employing non-professional domestic helpers regularly catering to tourists and travelers containing several lettable rooms, providing common facilities such as toilets, bathrooms, living and dining rooms/ or kitchen and where a combination of board and lodging may be provided.
The accreditation, on the other hand, is a certification issued by the DOT that the holder is recognized as having complied with its minimum standards in the operation of the establishment concerned which shall ensure the safety, comfort, and convenience of the tourists.
The minimum requirements are that the home should at least have five rooms that could be rented/leased with sufficient number of comfortable beds commensurate with the size of the room, adequate natural and artificial light and ventilation, electric fan, writing table, a closet, water jug with glasses, clean and presentable, and reasonably furnished to depict the atmosphere of a Filipino home.
There must at least be one toilet and one bathroom for every five guests and adequate supply of linen, towels, soap and tissue, the living room should be reasonably furnished and commensurate with the size of the house where the guest may receive visitors and the dining room available for the common use of the guests.
The establishments must secure a Mayor’s Permit or Municipal License, a business name certification and list of officials and employees, Legazpi stressed. *(JDP/DBC-PIA CAR,Ifugao)