The Philippines' Department of Tourism (DoT) and Rakuten Viber have entered a partnership that will equip local tourism operators with verified Viber Business accounts, placing provincial micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in key travel destinations at the center of the pilot initiative.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the program will first roll out in major tourist destinations including Siargao, Siquijor, and Bohol before expanding to other provinces. The effort is designed to protect travelers from digital booking scams while widening the market reach of local tourism businesses. For travelers, the arrangement offers a way to check an operator's accreditation status inside the app before making contact; for provincial operators, it adds a verified digital presence alongside the mobile channels many already rely on.

DoT Assistant Secretary Ren Sapitan said at the signing on Tuesday that the onboarding phase will specifically prioritize small and provincial tourism providers.

The initiative targets the country's more than 13,000 accredited tourism establishments, covering hotels, accommodation facilities, tour operators, restaurants, and transport providers. To support these businesses, the DoT and Rakuten Viber plan to conduct joint MSME caravans that will guide local enterprises through setting up and optimizing their Viber Business accounts.

DoT Secretary Maria Bernardita Angara-Mathay underscored the growing reliance of tourists and local businesses on mobile messaging platforms.

“Today's travelers use messaging platforms, not just the community, but to discover places, make inquiries, arrange meetings, and stay connected,” Ms. Angara-Mathay said. “For many of these enterprises, one mobile phone serves as their reception desk, research agents at offices, and customer service center. Giving them better digital tools can make a real difference in how they reach customers and grow their businesses.”

She added that verified messaging channels will help address traveler concerns regarding fraudulent bookings.

Domestic Travel

The collaboration addresses security in the domestic travel sector, where nearly 63 million Filipinos traveled within the country in 2025, representing almost 75% of the target population, based on Philippine Statistics Authority figures. The numbers illustrate the scale of the domestic segment the verification program is built to address.

Rakuten Viber Senior Director for Asia-Pacific David Tse pointed out that online travel scams inflict broader reputational damage on the tourism industry.

“It is a disappointed traveler's damage reputation and confidence that must be repaired. This is why we strongly support the Department of Tourism initiative to strengthen the identification and recognition of accredited domestic tour operators,” Mr. Tse said.

“Our vision with Department of Tourism is simple. Connect trusted operators with travelers through Viber that is seamless, reliable, and most importantly, assuring. Before, during, and after every journey.”

He noted that verified Viber Business accounts will enable travelers to confirm legitimate operators, make inquiries with confidence, and receive timely updates throughout their trips.

On real-time verification and account monitoring, Mr. Tse explained that Viber will maintain interface updates based on official accreditation data provided by the DoT. If an operator's accreditation status changes or is revoked, the messaging platform will reflect those updates, he said, adding that internal defense mechanisms will continue detecting and addressing fraudulent activity.

Mr. Tse also highlighted that rolling out the program will require dedicated educational campaigns for local entrepreneurs at the regional level. The initial deployments in Siargao, Siquijor, and Bohol, the joint MSME caravans, and the planned expansion to other provinces will serve as the program's first observable milestones.

This article was reported by Juliana Chloe A. Gonzales and originally published by BusinessWorld on Nov. 3, 2026.