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Republic of the Philippines X DATE September 5, 2023 «
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES \\ * TIME 1:50pm. id
Quezon City, Metro Manila eS BY Pei hy
NINETEENTH CONGRESS Xe. eg a
Second Regular Session Wp INDEX?

House Bill No._ 9039

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Introduced by Representatives Faustino Michael T. Dy Ill and Emigdio P. Tanjuatco IIT

EXPLANATORY NOTE

There is no doubt of the significance of tourism both as an economic force to a nation
and a psychological boost to an individual traveler. In the Philippines, the increasing
contribution of the Tourism Direct Gross Value Added cannot be belittled. It’s even more
impressive in other countries where tourists flock in the tens of millions annually. One could
just imagine the income earned, and the multiplier effect of the tourists’ spending, and their
consequent effects on, generally, the people’s livelihood and quality of life. It is also
indubitable in all cases that it is both the beauty and safety of a destination that attract a tourist
and create lasting impressions, and that the reverse holds true as well.

It is thus important to preserve not only our valued tourist destinations, but more
importantly our tourists’ memories of their sojourn however brief. Good memories will entice
them to come back, and their stories will be the best, free, marketing tool.

This bill seeks the establishment of a Tourist Protection and Assistance Council that
will ensure the implementation of measures to protect and assist tourists during their travel,
with the end in view of preventing unpleasant incidents from happening, and reducing the
trouble and inconvenience to tourists in case such things do happen. These include the
erection of warning signs, especially easy-to-understand visuals, in crime-prone areas to raise
awareness and alert the tourists to take necessary and proper precautionary measures;
coordination with LGUs for the establishment of tourist help desks in identified tourist
destinations, preparation and dissemination of multi-lingual travel and tourism information
and promotional materials which include contact details of embassies of countries whose
citizens are among the top ten (10) tourists to the Philippines; establishment of a toll-free
telephone assistance to connect the foreign tourists with their embassies; provision of leaflets
with contact details of embassies in all police stations and tourist help desks; establishment
of a tourist incidents desk in police stations and regular training and briefing of police
regarding relevant local and national laws and rules and how these apply to tourists; and
referral to hospitals in case of medical emergencies.

also recognizes the importance of coordinating during times of distress with
the embassies of foreign tourists, as they have an even wider remit and capacity in assisting



their nationals. It thus includes the creation of disaster response guidelines involving tourists,
including ensuring the familiarity of DoT staff to embassy protocols and necessity of their
assistance to avoid the embarrassing snafu that happened in 2010 with the hijacking of the
bus in the Rizal Park, where DoT employees prevented embassy officials from reaching their
citizens and providing adequate support.

For the reasons above cited, these representations earnestly seek the approval of this

: EMI Lf m
5” District, Isabela 2™ District, Rizal

bill.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No__ 9039
ee
Introduced by Representatives Faustino Michael T. Dy III and Emigdio P. Tanjuatco I

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A TOURIST PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE COUNCIL FOR THE
SECURITY AND PROTECTION OF TOURISTS AND TOURIST FACILITIES, AND
PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR THE HARASSMENT OF TOURISTS

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

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Tourist Protection and Assistance
Act”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - Tourism is widely recognized as a leading
contributor to the country’s economic growth, and the State recognizes its role as such, with a full
department dedicated to tourism. The State shall endeavor to enact measures for the protection of
and assistance to tourists, whether foreign or domestic, during their tourism-related travels and
stays.

SECTION 3. Tourist Protection and Assistance Council. — The Department of Tourism
(DoT) shall, within nine (9) months from the effectivity of this Act, establish a Tourist Protection
and Assistance Council in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG), other concemed national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units
(LGUs). Such council shall aim to strengthen security and protection measures for tourists and
tourism-related services and establishments. It shall likewise be tasked to ensure the following:

(a) Adoption of uniform standards on signage for use to adequately facilitate travel
throughout 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;

(©) Erection of waming signs, especially easy-to-understand visuals, in crime-prone areas
to raise awareness and alert the tourists to take necessary and proper precautionary

measures;
(d) Coordination with LGUs for the establishment of tourist help desks in identified tourist
destinations;


(©) Preparation and dissemination of multi-lingual travel and tourism information and
Promotional materials which include contact details of embassies of countries whose
citizens are among the top ten (10) tourists to the Philippines;

(f) Establishment of a toll-free telephone assistance to connect the foreign tourists with
their embassies;

(g) Provision of leaflets with contact details of embassies in all police stations and tourist
help desks;

(h) Institution of measures to prevent unlawful acts or harassment committed against
tourists including, but not limited to, repeated and/or unwanted solicitation;

(i) Inclusion in the DoT website of the contact details and links to embassies’ websites;

) Regular training and briefing of police regarding relevant local and national laws and
rules and how these apply to tourists;

(&) Establishment of a tourist incidents desk in police stations;

(1) Referral to hospitals in cases of medical emergencies;
(m)Creation of disaster response guidelines involving tourists, including ensuring the
familiarity of DoT staff to embassy protocols and assistance.

SECTION 4. Composition of the Tourist Protection and Assistance Council. ~ The Tourist
Protection and Assistance Council shall be composed of the following: Secretary of Tourism or
duly designated representative as head, representative each of the DILG, other concemed NGAs,
LGUs and private sector entities as may be deemed appropriate.

SECTION 5. Penal Provisions. - For the purpose of this act, the following penalties shall

be given to the following:
(a) Any person found guilty of harassment by the Tourist Protection and Assistance
Council shall incur a fine of Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php 20,000). Harassment is

defined in this act as the following:
i. _ Repeated solicitation of business form tourists who have expressed their desi

not to be bothered by solicitations.
Solicitation of business from tourists through intimidation.
Offering fixed rates for goods or services that are usually set through a metered
device or instrument.
iv. Declining to provide goods and/or services to tourists who refuse to purchase
the same from vendors who set a fixed rate.
v. Offering goods and services to tourists with the intent to defraud.
vi. All acts including, but not limited to, the aforementioned with the intent to
defraud or cause harm to tourists that is deemed as such by the Tourist
Protection and Assistance Council, or other concerned government agencies.
(b) Any person found guilty of any criminal offense against tourists other than harassment
as defined in the Section 5, shall incur the next higher penalty as provided for by the
Revised Penal Code.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to cover the expenses for the
operation and implementation of the programs and projects of the Tourist Protection and


‘Assistance Council shall be charged against the current year’s budget of the DoT.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Tourism shall
formulate the rules and regulations of this Act within ninety (90) days of its effectivity.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. — All acts, decrees letters of instruction, issuances, orders,
or parts intet rest with any provision of this Act are hereby deemed repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. —If any part of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the
rest of the provisions shall remain in force and

SECTION 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in two
newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

APPROVED,