Tourism Policy Act More info on thrusts, restructuring sought

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Board expresses deep interest to be appraised on Republic Act 9593 or the National Tourism Policy Act of 2009 which was signed by President Gloria Arroyo here last month.

This as Board members Victor Maambong and Agnes Magpale, in a proposed resolution, are inviting Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo and regional director Patricia Aurora Roa to appear in a session of the PB to “articulate before them [PB members] the law that declares it a national policy for tourism to be one of the country’s engines of investment and employment, and of growth and national development.”

Maambong and Magpale would want to “delve into the new and broader policy thrusts and administrative restructuring of some DOT agencies” as mandated by RA 9593.

The said Act declares a national policy for “tourism as an engine of investment, employment, growth and national development, and strengthens the Department of Tourism and its attached agencies to effectively and efficiently implement that policy, and appropriates funds therefore.”

The new law is expected to be fully implemented by the end of this year with its implementing rules and regulations seen to ensure the “smooth transfer of functions” with regards to the reorganization of certain agencies.

Under the said law, the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation will become the Tourism Promotions Board; the Philippine Tourism Authority will become the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority; while the Duty Free Philippines will be reorganized and renamed into the Duty Free Philippines Corp.

TPB will be a corporate body responsible for marketing and promoting the country as a global tourism destination. TIEZA, on the other hand, is another corporate body mandated to designate, regulate and supervise tourism enterprise zones or TEZ and to develop, manage and supervise tourism projects in the country. TPB and TIEZA will be provided each with a P250-million capitalization fund and will be subscribed to the national government.

Aside from here in Cebu, tourism enterprise zones will also be established in Davao, Bohol, Laguna, Cavite, Boracay, Palawan and Iloilo. — Garry B. Lao/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)