LL of Davao City’s estimated more than 1,000 masseurs and masseuses in more than 100 massage clinics and wellness spas will be required to secure a license as “massage therapists” from the Department of Health (DOH) by 2018, otherwise they would not be allowed to practice their profession while their establishments will be padlocked by the government.
Before they can get a DOH license, massagists have to be trained by any training school accredited by the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), according to Dr. Jeilyn “Jill” O. Savellano, a dentist who is the founding president of the Davao Wellness and Spa Association (DavWell).
Ms Savellano, proprietor of Zhi Ya Spa, said no operator is allowed to open a spa unless he has licensed massage therapists in his employ.
Actually, there is a health law backed by DOH Administrative Order 2010-0034 which governs the operation of health and wellness spas and their massage practitioners , she said.
However, realizing the need for operators to familiarize themselves with the law and the requirements, the DOH declared a moratorium on its implementation until December 2017.
The said moratorium was imposed starting January 2015 in order to give time to those wishing to practice their skills or operate a massage parlor and wellness spa to secure a certificate from (TESDA) and later get a license from DOH in line with Presidential Decree No. 856, Ms Savellano said.
One would be able to get a license after securing a National Certificate in Massage Therapy NC II from TESDA and after passing the massage therapist examination administered by the Committee of Examiners for Massage Therapy every June and December every year.
According to Savellano, out of 120 listed spas in Davao City, only 25 are members of DavWell with only 300 licensed therapists. The remaining some 80 others spas are not DavWell membersm, she said.
“DavWell is very strict with government compliance. Spas that are under DavWell have licensed therapists.”
Savellano said that to date, the Philippines already has 15,000 licensed massage therapists. Last December, 117 licensed therapists from Davao passed the licensure exam.
On May 13, in line with the Travel and Leisure Expo Davao, a Wellness Business Lecture will be held in the SMX Convention Center for interested people who would like to venture into fast-growing massage and spa business.
