DOH to hold OT licensing exam in Cebu

About 30 members of the Spa & Wellness Association of Cebu (SWAC) will soon get an occupational therapist license as the Department of Health (DOH) will be holding the examination in Cebu.

SWAC president Johnie Lim said a two-week review will be held sometime this month to assure 100 percent passing rate especially for the SWAC members.

"Having a professional and occupational therapist license is very important for us, as we are trying to uplift the Spa and wellness industry in Cebu that will be at par with the world" Lim said in an interview.

Upon the passing of the licensing examination, Lim said the spa industry will automatically get a Department of Tourism (DOT) accreditation certificate, which is very important for every establishment.

There will be at least one licensed occupational therapist in every Spa outlet. This is the minimum requirement of the government, especially the DOT, Lim said.

Currently, there are only four licensed occupational therapists left in Cebu, others have already got jobs in other areas, mostly overseas.

"Our problem is how to keep the professional therapists, we invest for the training and licensing exam, once they get it, they are in demand elsewhere, especially in other countries," Lim said.

Like any other skills, brain-drain problem has also hit the budding Spa and wellness industry in Cebu. Lim said one of the strategies that will be adopted by the SWAC members is for the owners themselves to get the professional license, rather than giving it to employees.

SWAC had asked the DOH to hold the review and examination for licensing in Cebu as this has been done in Manila for many years.

Convincing the DOH to have the review and examination be held in Cebu is already a big thing for the spa operators as they stand to save a lot of money, Lim said.

"What is good now with the organization, is we are working as a group, to elevate the Spa and wellness service in Cebu," Lim added.

The Therapeutic Massage and Licensure Exam for Masseurs was pushed by SWAC in preparation for the Cebu's hosting of International Health and Wellness events to be held this year, and early next year.

According to Lim Cebu should have a professional Spa and Wellness practitioners especially that the province is bidding to be the center of Spa and Wellness in the Philippines.

As soon as members of the organization can get this professional license, SWAC will have to initiate different projects, such as creating a Spa and Wellness directory that will be included in the DOT promotions both here and abroad.

SWAC was established with the support of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) as a result of last year's grand-year event organized by the chamber called the Beauty, Health & Wellness Show 2005 (BHW 2005) last November, which aimed to let the community know and appreciate the wellness industry in Cebu.

The creation of the SWAC organization was pushed by the chamber with the province bid to elevate the Spa industry's competency towards making Cebu as the Spa and Wellness capital in the country.

Prior to the creation of SWAC, industry players expressed several set backs such as lack of standardization, and updated regulations from concerned government agencies.