Tutuban Center bags DOT accreditation

MANILA, Philippines - Tutuban Center, the premier community mall located at the historic district of Tutuban in Manila, was recently proclaimed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as a DOT-accredited department store.

Under Accreditation No. TRE-NCR-008415-11-01 issued and signed by DOT Undersecretary Atty. Ma. Victoria Jasmin, Tutuban Center is now a DOT-accredited department store as it was able to comply with all requirements prescribed by the department, which grants the accreditation pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order 120 as amended by Republic Act 9593 and the rules and regulations promulgated by the agency.

With the accreditation, Tutuban Center thus becomes an official tourism establishment and a tourist attraction in the country, in line with the DOT’s efforts to promote the Philippines as one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

Recently, an inspection team from the DOT’s Office of Tourism Standards and Regulations headed by Maria Rica Bueno affirmed that Tutuban Center was able to “meet the minimum standards set by the DOT for a department store in accordance with the rules and regulations to govern the accreditation of tourism-related establishments” through a letter dated Aug. 26, 2011 that was sent to the general manager of Tutuban Center.

In the findings submitted by the inspection team led by Jose Tolentino, chief of the DOT’s Inspection Division, and noted by Socorro Caraig, officer-in-charge of the Accreditation Division, goods at Tutuban were found to be sold at “economical” prices, while “goods displayed are properly manned by uniformed and courteous sales attendants,” there are enough restrooms for both male and female customers, and the “other sections of the establishment are properly kept and well-maintained.”

As a result, the team recommended that Tutuban be granted DOT accreditation as a department store after having complied with all necessary requirements.

Tutuban Center is a shopping destination located along C.M. Recto Avenue in Manila.

The three-building shopping center houses top-quality goods, from fashion apparel like clothes, shoes and bags, to home accessories, hard-to-find novelty items, toys, jewelry, electronic gadgets and home appliances, all at affordable prices.

Other amenities at Tutuban Center include a seven-level parking building, centralized air-conditioning system, CCTV cameras, and uniformed security personnel roving around the establishment on 24-hour basis to ensure the protection and worry-free shopping of its customers.