Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2509

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by REP. RAMIL L. HERNANDEZ

AN ACT
MAKING THE POSITION OF TOURISM OFFICER MANDATORY IN THE
MUNICIPAL CITY AND PROVINCIAL LEVELS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991,” AS AMENDED

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines, with its breathtaking islands and rich cultural heritage, possesses
immense potential as a global tourism powerhouse. In 2019, the tourism industry
significantly contributed to the nation's prosperity, with tourist arrivals surging by
15.24% to over 8.26 million and generating P482.15 billion in visitor receipts—an
impressive 18.80% increase from the previous year. This robust growth translated to
tourism's 12.7% share of the country's gross domestic product. Furthermore, the
industry proved to be a powerful job creator, employing an estimated 5.71 million
Filipinos in 2019, accounting for 13.5% of total national employment. (Sources:
Department of Tourism, Philippine Statistics Authority).

‘The Tourism Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 9593) recognized this potential, tasking local
government units (LGUs) with maximizing tourism for local growth, explicitly stating
that, "[e]very province, city or municipality in which tourism is a significant industry
shall have a permanent position for a tourism officer.” However, many LGUs are not
able to comply because the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160)
lacks an explicit provision for this role.

This bill aims to amend R.A. No. 7160 to mandate the appointment of a dedicated
Tourism Officer in provincial, city, and municipal LGUs where tourism is a significant
industry.

A permanent Tourism Officer is a strategic investment that can meaningfully improve
local tourism, drive employment, and accelerate economic growth by:

* Driving Strategic Tourism Development & Promotion: Leading the creation
and execution of local tourism plans and marketing efforts.

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+ Enhancing Destination Competitiveness & Management: Ensuring
sustainable asset management and an improved visitor experience.

+ Catalyzing Local Employment: Connecting local businesses to tourism,
generating new jobs and livelihoods.

+ Stimulating Economic Growth: Increasing visitor receipts and local revenues
for community reinvestment.

+ Improving Stakeholder Coordination: Centralizing tourism initiatives and
fostering collaboration.

This measure was previously filed in the 19% Congress as House Bill No. 1727 by Rep.
Ruth Mariano-Hernandez. Given the importance of a dedicated Tourism Officer in each
LGUs in the country’s tourism industry, the approval of this proposed bill is sought.

Approved,

RAMIL L. HERNANDEZ
24 Distr{cy, Laguna

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2509

Introduced by REP. RAMIL L. HERNANDEZ

AN ACT
MAKING THE POSITION OF TOURISM OFFICER MANDATORY IN THE
MUNICIPAL CITY AND PROVINCIAL LEVELS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991,” AS AMENDED

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

Section 1. Section 443, Book III, Title Two, Chapter 2 of of Republic Act No. 7160,
as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. - (a)
‘There shall be in each municipality a municipal mayor, a municipal vice-
mayor, Sangguniang Bayan members, a secretary to the Sangguniang
Bayan, a municipal treasurer, a municipal assessor, a municipal
accountant, a municipal budget officer, a municipal planning and
development coordinator, a municipal engineer/building official, a
municipal health officer, [and] a municipal civil registrar [.], A municipal
cooperatives development officer (CDO) shall also be appointed:
Provided, That the municipality has the option to appoint a full-fledged
CDO or merge related such position to an existing position or official in an
office, unit or department in the municipal government: Provided, further,
That if the municipality shall appoint a full-fledged CDO, the municipality
has the option to set the rank, remuneration and other emoluments of the
municipal CDO subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.

A MUNICIPAL TOURISM OFFICER (MTO) SHALL ALSO BE APPOINTED;
PROVIDED, THAT IN MUNICIPALITIES WHERE TOURISM IS A
SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRY, THE APPOINTMENT OF AN MTO SHALL BE
MANDATORY, PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT THE MUNICIPALITY HAS
THE OPTION TO SET THE RANK, REMUNERATION AND OTHER
EMOLUMENTS OF THE MTO SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES,
AND REGULATIONS.

“(b) xxx

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“(xxx
“(@) xxx
“()xxx"”

Section 2. Section 454, Book Ill, Title III, Chapter 2 of Republic Act No. 7160, as
amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 454. Officials of the City Government. - (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[], A city CDO shall also be appointed: Provided, That the
municipality has the option to appoint a full-fledged CDO or merge related
such position to an existing position or official in an office, unit or
department in the municipal government: Provided, further, That if the
municipality shall appoint a full-fledged CDO, the municipality has the
option to set the rank, remuneration and other emoluments of the
municipal CDO subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.

A CITY TOURISM OFFICER (CTO) SHALL ALSO BE APPOINTED;
PROVIDED, THAT IN CITIES WHERE TOURISM IS A SIGNIFICANT
INDUSTRY, THE APPOINTMENT OF A CTO SHALL BE MANDATORY,
PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT THE CITY HAS THE OPTION TO SET THE
RANK, REMUNERATION AND OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF THE CTO
SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.

“(b) xxx
"(xxx
“(d) xxx

"(e) xxx”

Section 3. Section 463 Book III, Title Four, Chapter 2 of Republic Act No. 7160, as
amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 463. Officials of the Provincial Government. - (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
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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, [.] A provincial
CDO shall also be appointed: Provided, That the municipality has the
option to appoint a full-fledged CDO or merge related such position to an
existing position or official in an office, unit or department in the
municipal government: Provided, further, That if the municipality shall
appoint a full-fledged CDO, the municipality has the option to set the rank,
remuneration and other emoluments of the municipal CDO subject to
existing laws, rules, and regulations.

A PROVINCIAL TOURISM OFFICER (PTO) SHALL ALSO BE
APPOINTED: PROVIDED, THAT IN PROVINCES WHERE TOURISM IS A
SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRY, THE APPOINTMENT OF A PTO SHALL BE
MANDATORY, PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE PROVINCE HAS THE
OPTION TO SET THE RANK, REMUNERATION AND OTHER
EMOLUMENTS OF THE PTO SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES, AND
REGULATIONS.

“(b) xxx
"(xxx
"(d) xxx

"(xxx

Section 4. A new provision shall be inserted in Book II
No. 7160, as amended to read as follows:

Title V of Republic Act

ARTICLE XXI
THE TOURISM OFFICER

‘SEC. 490-A, APPOINTMENT, QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES. -

(A) NO PERSON SHALL BE APPOINTED AS TOURISM OFFICER UNLESS
SUCH PERSON IS A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED, OF GOOD MORAL
CHARACTER, HAS NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF ANY ELECTION
OFFENSE OR A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY MORE THAN SIX (6) MONTHS,
A HOLDER OF A RELEVANT BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN TOURISM,
BUSINESS, 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/SHE MUST HAVE ACQUIRED AT LEAST FIVE (5)
YEARS OF SUBSTANTIAL WORK EXPERIENCE AND INVOLVEMENT IN
THE TOURISM INDUSTRY. THE APPOINTMENT OF A TOURISM
OFFICER IS MANDATORY FOR THE PROVINCIAL, CITY AND
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS WHERE TOURISM IS A SIGNIFICANT
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INDUSTRY. LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS WITH EXISTING TOURISM
OFFICERS PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT 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 HAVE THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS:

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 THE STATUS OF TOURISM
PLANS AND PROGRAMS, TOURIST ARRIVALS, EMPLOYMENT,
OCCUPANCY RATES, INVESTMENTS AND TOURIST PRODUCTS,
AMONG OTHERS, TO THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM (DOT);

4) COORDINATE WITH THE DOT AND ITS ATTACHED AGENCIES
AND CORPORATIONS, AND PRIVATE ENTITIES, WITH REGARD
TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN
THE LOCALITY; AND

5) ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AGENCIES AND THE
PRIVATE SECTOR IN PROMOTING THE TOURISM OF THEIR
CONCERNED MUNICIPALITIES, CITIES, AND PROVINCES ON A
NATIONAL AND GLOBAL SCALE.

(©) EXERCISE AND PERFORM SUCH OTHER POWERS, DUTIES, AND
FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY LAW OR ORDINANCE.

Section 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and
effect.

Section 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
amended accordingly.

Section 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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