SERVSAFE® Certificates
Last March and May, 2007, the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) conducted the first of a series of the SERVSAFE® Food Safety Accreditation Course under the sponsorship of the DOT and the Eminent Persons Group (EPG). Of the 49 F&B managers, supervisors, food handlers and establishment owners who took the certification course, 26 successfully passed the review with a score of 70% and above giving them a 5-year certification recognized internationally.
In a simple ceremony end of August 2007, DOT Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano and Aklan PNP Director Benigno Durana presented the certificates of participation to the participants of the SERVSAFE® Food Safety Accreditation Course and the Customer Service Excellence Seminar at Patio Pacific Resort. The second part of the awarding was for the participants of the first Customer Service Excellence Seminar conducted for the Aklan Philippine National Police and Malay LGU employees. 24 Police Officers including members of the Boracay Special Tourist Police Office (BSTPO) took part in the one day seminar to improve their skills in dealing with visitors and tourists in Boracay.
In his short address, Secretary Durano highlighted the need for courses and trainings to improve the quality of service Boracay provides for the thousands of tourists from all over the world who come to enjoy the island’s beautiful beaches and natural beauty. Secretary Durano stressed that the island’s workforce must keep on improving their skills to enhance the ever-growing tourism industry in the island.
Aklan PNP Director Benigno Durana reiterated the need for the PNP of Aklan, particularly the BSTPO to develop their skills in handling tourists as these are special cases that require diplomacy and tactful approach. As of 2006, Boracay was visited by over 556,000 tourists and this is projected to increase by more than 10% by the end of 2007.
The SERVESAFE® is a 2-day review course on food safety practices based on the standards set by the International Food Safety Council through the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Courses such as the SERVESAFE® aims to heighten the awareness of the importance of food safety education in the restaurant and food service industry, envisioning a future in which foodborne illness no longer exists. Boracay, an internationally famous beach destination is a hot spot for foodborne illness outbreaks and as such, courses like the SERVESAFE® play an important role in raising awareness levels for food safety practices in the more than 300 food establishments and outlets in the island.
