‘Paoay Kumakaway!’ program affords working student to explore Ilocos Norte

 

Clyde Rosqueta affirms that his experience as a tourist aide of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte boosted his self-confidence leading to his personal development and growth. (John Michael Mugas)

By John Michael Mugas

PGIN-CMO

In the past five years, Ilocos Norte’s tourism industry reached a growth that translated to more investment and meaningful jobs for Ilocanos; and Clyde Rosqueta, 19, of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte shared how this brought not only financial assistance to him and his family but also gave him a chance explore Ilocos Norte.

Mr. Rosqueta, a working-student taking up BS in Civil Engineering student at Mariano Marcos State University, was hired as a tourist aide of the Paoay Kumakaway! Employment Program of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO) last year.

As the province’s tourism industry continues to grow, INTO hires part-time students, out-of-school youths as well as health practitioners to serve as tourist aides, utility personnel and paramedics across the 42 tourist centers in the province thereby helping the provincial government meet the demands and needs of the visitors.

In the last Holy Week alone, 444,980 day-tourists visited the province, contributing to the 91.24% increase in arrivals compared to the same period last year.

Striving to finish his studies, Mr. Rosqueta noted that the program not only helped his family in defraying the cost of his studies but “actually made him appreciate the innate beauty of Ilocos Norte even more.”

“My experience with the program gave me the chance to explore Ilocos Norte as guiding visitors lead me to see the famous sites here and certainly our province really has a lot to offer,” beamed Mr. Rosqueta in Iluko.

Throughout the years, Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos actively supported the development of the Ilocano youth as their talents and skills can be tapped in the on-going transformation efforts of Ilocos Norte.

“While the quality of our students is undoubted, they lack the work experience and the so-called ‘soft skills’—teamwork, resourcefulness, problem solving,” said Ms. Marcos.

Thus, at the beginning of her administration, Ms. Marcos intensified efforts to employ more young Ilocanos. As a result, more than 3,500 were hired under the Special Program for the Employment of Students since 2012 as compared to the meager 25 in 2009.

Mr. Rosqueta, who re-applied to the program this summer season, affirmed that his self-confidence boosted with his experience last year, admitting that “family problems sometimes hinder him to socialize with other people.”

 He added that aside “from receiving financial assistance being a tourist aide taught me to deal with people from different walks of life.”

Since 2012, the program has employed over 3,200 Ilocanos, adding to the 630 personnel hired this summer season alone. The program is also employing in December as tourist arrivals and activities are in full-swing during the holidays.

In an earlier interview, INTO head Ianree Raquel noted that the cooperation of the hired tourist aides proved to be of great help to the overall performance of the province when visitors surge in Ilocos Norte, most recently during the Holy Week.

“I would like to use this opportunity to thank Governor Imee for her unending support to all of us and I am very lucky and grateful to be a part of Ilocos Norte. Please continue to not only be a great leader but serve as an inspiration to all of us,” highlighted Mr. Rosqueta.