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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s.B. No. 2459
23 OCT-3 PI :17
RECEIVED B'
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9593, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE TOURISM ACT OF 2009, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Tourism is considered one of the top priorities of the nationai government in 
view of its potentiai in boosting the country's economy. The importance of tourism 
as an economic tooi and a job-generating industry was highiighted by President 
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his first State of the Nation Address on 25 July 2022. 
The President also directed the Secretaries of Tourism and Public Works and 
Highways to develop the country's airport infrastructure, among others, to promote 
the Philippines as a prime tourist destination.
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), considered as the main 
gateway to the Philippines, was labelled as the "worst business class airport in the 
world" by California-based luggage storage app Bounce in May 2022. This 
unpleasant image was aggravated by the recent air traffic system glitch at the NAIA 
terminals, which paralyzed both international and domestic flight operations, last 01 
January 2023. Such fiasco may adversely affect the country's tourism sector.
To provide additional funding for the enhancement of the country's air 
transport system, this bill seeks to amend Sections 72 and 73 of Republic Act No. 
9593 to increase the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority's 
allocation from travel tax collection and earmark 10% thereof for the rehabilitation 
and improvement of air transport infrastructure.
Thus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
23 OCT-3 PI -17
RECEIVED BY;
SENATE
s.B. No. 2459
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
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AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9593, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE TOURISM ACT OF 2009, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in Congress 
assembied:
SECTION 1. Section 72 of Republic Act (RA) No. 9593, otherwise known as " The 
Tourism Act of2009', is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SECTION 72. Funding. - The TIEZA shall obtain the funds for its operations from 
the following:
(a) [Fifty] SIXTY percent [(50%)] (60%) of the proceeds from travel tax 
collections;
(b) A reasonable share from the collections of the Office of Tourism Resource 
Generation, to be determined by the Department;
(c) Income from projects managed by the TIEZA; and
(d) Subsidies or grants from local and foreign sources that may be received by 
the TIEZA.
At least five percent (5%) from the travel tax collection which shall accrue to the 
TIEZA shall be earmarked for the development of historic, cultural, religious and 
heritage sites and prime tourist destinations. Another five percent (5%) shall be 
earmarked for the development of ecotourism sites in depressed provinces with 
strong tourism potentials. TEN PERCENT (10%) SHALL BE EARMARKED 
FOR THE REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF AIR TRANSPORT 
INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DOMESTIC AND 
INTERNATIONAL TERMINALS, RUNWAYS, TAXIWAYS, PASSENGER 
TERMINALS AND OTHER SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE."
XXX


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SEC. 2. Section 73 of RA No. 9593 is hereby amended to read as foilows:
"Section 73. Coliection and Allocation of Travei Taxes. - For purposes of this Act, 
the TIEZA shali be the principal agency responsible for the timely collection of 
travel taxes.
Amounts to be collected by the TIEZA shall be distributed in the manner provided 
for under this Act: Provided, That the nationai government shaii iook for 
alternative funding sources for programs funded by the travel tax in the event of 
a phase out of travel tax collection foilowing internationai agreements.
Pursuant to Section 72 of this Act, [fifty] SIXTY percent [(50%)] (60%) of the 
proceeds from travel tax collections shali accrue to the TIEZA.
The government's contribution to the Higher Education Development Fund, 
equivalent to [forty] THIRTY-FIVE percent [(40%)] (35%) from the total 
gross collections of the travel tax, shall be retained: Provided, That the 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shaii give priority to tourism-related 
educational programs and courses. The [tee] FIVE percent [(10%)j (5%) 
share of the National Commission for Cuiture and the Arts from the totai gross 
coliections of the travei tax shaii iikewise be retained."
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - Ali iaws, presidentiai decrees, letters of instructions, 
executive orders, rules and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this Act,
10 are hereby repeaied or amended as the case may be.
SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shaii take effect after fifteen (15) days foilowing 
the compietion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of 
generai circulation in the Phiiippines.
Approved,