Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives

‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
4839
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Francisco Jose F. Matugas II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Tourism is one of the drivers of economic growth in the country.
According to the 2018 Report of the World Travel and Tourism Council, the
direct contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP was Php1,377.7 Billion or 8.7
% of total GDP for 2017. According to the Department of Tourism, the
tourism industry has generated some Php245 Billion in receipts from
international visitors during the first six months of the year 2019 alone. As in
most countries in the world, tourism is an important economic activity in the
Philippines.

This is probably the reason why the government, in recent years, has
focused on developing, promoting and marketing various tourist destinations
in the country. While we continue to attract tourists to come into the country,
we must make sure that their experience is pleasant, memorable, safe and
secure.

This bill seeks to address the common misapprehension of tourists
visiting or intending to visit the country — lack of reliable telecommunications
facilities, the perception that the country is not safe for tourists, and locals
are out to profit from them. It also addresses the concern that tourist
destinations are not ready to address medical emergencies which may befall
visitors.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earpestly sought.
FRANCISCO E F. MATUGAS II

Surigao del/Norte, First District
(Siargao Island)


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Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4839

_ Introduced by Representative Francisco Jose F.MatugasII___

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE PROTECTION OF AND ENHANCED
SERVICES TO TOURISTS AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Tourist
Protection and Enhanced Services Act of 2019.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes tourism as a
major contributor to the country’s economic growth. Towards this end, the
State shall protect tourists, both domestic and foreign, during their travel
around the country. Among, others, it shall ensure their safety and well-being
by providing health facilities that can attend to emergency and health-related
crises.

SEC. 3. Tourist Protection and Assistance Task Force. — Within nine (9)
months after the approval of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of
Tourism shall establish an intergovernmental task force to be known as the
“Tourist Protection and Enhanced Services Task Force”, hereinafter referred
to as the “Task Force”.

SEC. 4. Composition of the Task Force. - The Task Force shall be
composed of the following:


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a) Secretary of the Department of Tourism (“DOT”), or the duly
designated representative, as Chairperson;

b) Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government,
or the duly designated representative, as Vice Chairperson;

c) Secretary of the Department of Transportation or the duly
designated representative;

d) Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways or
the duly designated representative;

e) Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications
Technology;

f) Secretary of Health;

g) Director General of the Philippine National Police or the duly
designated representative; and

h) Such other representatives of other government agencies and
private sector entities as may be determined to be appropriate to the mission
of the Task Force by the Chairperson, as members.

SEC. 5. Functions of the Task Force. — It shall be the duty of the Task
Force to facilitate, through the concerned national government agencies and
local government units (LGUs), the following:

(a) Adoption of uniform standards on signage for use throughout the
Philippines in order to facilitate travel in the country;

(b) Provision of directional signage in tourism facilities and
destinations, including airports, seaports, land border crossings, highways,
and bus, train, and other public transit locations;

(©) Preparation and dissemination of multilingual travel and
tourism information and promotional materials;

(d) Establishment of a toll-free telephone assistance system run by
multilingual operators to provide assistance to domestic and foreign tourists;

(e) Coordination with LGUs for the establishment of tourist help
desks in identified tourist destinations, Provided That, said help desks shall

provide free internet services to tourists;


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(f) Institution of measures to prevent unlawful acts or harassment
committed on tourists including making illicit profits from tourists,
scrambling for customers, and insisting on or forcing customers to purchase
goods or services;

(g) Establishment of a system where tourists can file their
complaints against illegal and unlawful activities of tourism enterprises;

(h) Reinforcement of measures undertaken to prevent the use of
dangerous drugs in tourist destinations; and

(i) Establishment of health facilities in tourism destinations as
provided in Section 6 of this Act.

SEC. 6. Establishment of Health Facilities in Tourism Destinations. —
The Task Force, led by the Department of Health, shall identify tourist
destinations for the construction of tourism health facilities which shall have
the minimum capability to respond to emergency cases that are typical to
their respective sites and treat common illnesses and injuries: Provided,
That, said tourism health facilities shall be serviced by land and sea
ambulances or airlift helicopters, if necessary, to enable the transport of
patients needing advanced care or treatment to other health facilities.

In the construction of health facilities, priority shall be given to:

(a) prime tourist destinations;

(b) tourist destination with no existing health facilities within a five
(5)-kilometer radius; and

(©) _ tourist destinations with dilapidated health facilities.

The Task Force shall ensure that health personnel deployed in all
tourism health facilities shall be well-trained to respond to emergencies and
common illnesses and injuries, taking into consideration the peculiarities of
each tourist destination. In this regard, security forces, tour guides and other
tourism front liners shall also be trained in the basic knowledge and skills on
emergency preparedness and response.

SEC. 7. Efficient and Reliable Communications Infrastructure. — The

Task Force, led by the Department of Information and Communications


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Technology, shall ensure the development of information and communications
technology (ICT) infrastructure that meets the high standards of speed and
reliability in each tourist destination. It shall ensure that affordable ICT
networks are available in said destinations.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. -Funds for the implementation of Section 6 of
this Act, including funds needed for the maintenance and operation of all
tourism health facilities shall be included in the appropriation of the
Department of Health while funds for the implementation of Section 7 of this
Act shall be included in the appropriations of the Department of Information
and Communications Technology.

Funds for the implementation of the other programs and projects
approved and adopted by the Task Force shall be included in the
appropriation of the implementing agency concerned.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not
otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees or
issuances, executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules
or regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,