Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1826

Introduced by Representative Francisco Jose F. Matugas II

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| EXPLANATORY NOTE

The tourism industry was greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to a report released by our own Congressional Policy and Budget
Research Department in December 2021, travel restrictions, border controls,
and stringent community lockdowns halted the growth of the tourism industry.
The tourism direct value added (TDGVA) declined by 61.2% in 2020 and the
TDGVA 4s a percentage of GDP at 5.4% in 2020 was the lowest in 20 years.

As the country opens to foreign and local tourists, and as we aim to revive
the tourism industry, we must focus more on developing, promoting and
marketing various tourist destinations in the country. In order to attract
tourists again 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 yiew of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
FRANCISCO JOSH F. MATUGAS II

Surigao del Norte, First District
(Siargao Island)

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of-covid-19-<¢risis-on-the-tourism-sector



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Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1826

introduced by Representative Francisco Jose F. Matugas II

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

Be it enacted by the Senate and the 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 2022.”

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 sourist, 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;

(©)| Secretary of the Department of Transportation or the duly
designated representative;

@)_— Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways or the
duly designated representative;

©), Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications
Technology;

| Secretary of Health;

(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;

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

provide ai internet services to tourists;

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(| 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;

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

@ 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 Forre, 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.

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SEC. 7. Efficient and Reliable Communications Infrastructure. — The
Task Force, led by the Department of Information and Communications
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,