“| Republic of the Philippi
House of Representatives

fl Quezon City, Metro Manila /

/

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill vo. 3735 5 :

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M. AMANTE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This bill seeks to create mandatory positions for tourism officers at
the provincial and city levels and optional positions at the municipal level.

In support of the State's policy of developing responsible and
sustainable tourism that ensures full enjoyment of benefits by host
communities, professional and qualified tourism officers must be appointed
in every LGU to enhance their competence and capacity to plan, manage,
and oversee local tourism development.

Republic Act 9593, otherwise known as The Tourism Act of 2009,
speaks of the creation of a permanent item for a tourism officer in every
province, city, and municipality. However, this is only mandated to areas
described loosely as having a significant tourism industry, as provided in
Section 125(a) of the said Act. This bill shall set a clear directive on the
appointment of tourism officers in LGUs, at least at the provincial and city
levels, with the confidence that tourism must certainly exist in these
jurisdictions — may it be by hosting attractions, sports/medical/wellness
facilities, and venues for meetings, incentives, conventions, and
events/exhibits (MICE) or by being key tourist service centers.

The mandatory accreditation of all primary tourism enterprises, as
stipulated in R.A. 9593, will likewise need the tourism officers for its effective
implementation on the ground.

Taking all these into account, the approval of this bill is thus
earnestly requested.

ERIPE JI ING”/M. AMANTE


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3'735_

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M. AMANTE

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR MANDATORY APPOINTMENT OF TOURISM OFFICERS
IN PROVINCES AND CITIES AND OPTIONAL APPOINTMENT IN
MUNICIPALITIES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 7160,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 AS
AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall provide fora
local government position that will be responsible for and accountable
to the development of the tourism industry whereby it is harnessed as
an engine of sustainable socio-economic growth and cultural
affirmation to generate investment and employment.

SECTION 2. Section 443(b) of Republic Act No. 7160 entitled
“Officials of the Municipal Government” is hereby amended to read as
follows:

(b) In addition thereto, the mayor may appoint a municipal
administrator, a municipal legal officer, a municipal
agriculturist, a municipal environment and natural resources
officer, a municipal social welfare and development officer, a
municipal architect, (and) a municipal information officer(.), and
a municipal tourism officer.

SECTION 3. Section 454(a) of Republic Act No. 7160 entitled
“City Officials in General” is hereby amended to read as follows:


(a) There shall be in each city a mayor, a vice-mayor,
sangguniang panlungsod members, a secretary to the
sangguniang panlungsod, a city treasurer, a city assessor, a
city accountant, a city budget officer, a city planning and
development coordinator, a city engineer, a city health officer,
a city civil registrar, a city administrator, a city legal officer, a
city veterinarian, a city social welfare and development officer,
(and) a city general services officer(.), and a city tourism
officer.

SECTION 4. Section 463(a) of Republic Act No. 7160 entitled
“Officials of the Provincial Government” is hereby amended to read as
follows:

(a) There shall be in each province a governor, a vice-governor,
members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, a secretary to the
sangguniang panlalawigan, a provincial treasurer, a provincial
assessor, a provincial accountant, a provincial engineer, a
provincial budget officer, a provincial planning and
development coordinator, a provincial legal officer, a provincial
administrator, a provincial health officer, a provincial social
welfare and development officer, a provincial general services
officer, a provincial agriculturist, (and) a provincial
veterinarian(.), and a provincial tourism officer.

SECTION 5. There shall be incorporated in Title V entitled “Appointed
Local Officials Common to All Municipalities, Cities, and Provinces” of
the said Code a new article to be known as Article XXI on The Tourism
Officer to read as follows:

“ARTICLE XXI
The Tourism Officer

Section 490-A. Qualifications, Powers, and Duties

(a) No person shall be appointed tourism officer unless he is a
citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local government
unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a college
degree on tourism, business, law, economics, marketing, public
administration or other related fields from a recognized college
or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its
equivalent. He must have at least five (5) years of substantial
work experience and involvement in the tourism industry either
in the private sector or government.



Local Government Units with existing Tourism Officers prior to
the implementation of this law will be given three (3) years to
comply with the aforementioned requirements.

(b) The tourism officer shall take charge of the office for tourism
and shall:

(1) Prepare, implement, coordinate, monitor and update
local tourism development plans;

(2) Ensure the proper enforcement of tourism standards,
laws, rules and regulations;

(3) Provide regular reports on status of tourism plans and
programs, tourist arrivals, employment, occupancy rates,
investment and tourist products, among others, to the
local chief executive and DOT; and

(4) Coordinate with the DOT and its attached agencies and
corporations in regard to the development and promotion
of tourism in the locality.

(c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and
functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.”

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive
orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is
held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected
hereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)

days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,