SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
899 
S,No. __ _ 
Introduced by Sen. Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
Explanatory Note 
'13 
JIJL IUD 1:3 
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The tourism industry has significantly contributed to our country's economic growth and 
development. The influx of millions of foreign travelers who wish to enjoy the natural beauty of 
our country contributed to the increase in tourist expenditure revenue which translates to profits 
for our tourism establishments such as hotels and resorts, and employment to thousands of 
Filipinos in the tourism industry. In 2007, the Secretary of Tourism, Sec. Durano, revealed that 
visitor revenue grew to an average of 20.1 percent over the last three years. I 
However, in order for us to sustain this growth and for us to encourage others who would want to 
explore the natural splendor of our country, we need to enhance the country's reputation as a 
tourist-friendly country. We must establish a thriving and responsible travel industry which 
provides quality services, not only to foreign travelers but domestic travelers as well. 
This bill seeks to ensure that travel agents only provide the highest quality service, one which is 
fair, effective, responsive and courteous by regulating their profession. The bill also seeks to 
protect the interests of both foreign and local travelers. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought 
. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
I Data retrieved from htU,.lIwww.dQtpcyc goy phIVisit01%20In-(ol1natiol1/urum~s.l)tml#anch01609465 (accessed on 
I July 2008). 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
899 
S.No. __ _ 
Introduced by Sen. Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
DEFINING AND REGULATING THE TRAVEL AGENTS PROFESSION 
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 "Travel Agents Act of 2013 ". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.- It is the policy of the State to promote Philippine tourism 
as an indispensable element ofthe national economy. Thus, the State shall enhance the reputation 
of the country as a tourist-friendly country in Asia by protecting the interests of the local and 
foreign travelers in the Philippines. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms.- As used in this section, the term-
(1) "Philippine Tourism Authority or PTA" pertains to the existing implementation arm of the 
Department of Tourism. 
(2) "License" means a license granted under this Act. 
(3) "Licensee" means any person who holds a license granted to him or any other person in its 
behalf. 
(4) "Secretary" pertains to the secretary ofthe Department of Tourism (DOT). 
SEC. 4. Application of This Act-
(1) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as requiring any executor, administrator, trustee, 
liquidator, official receiver, trustee in bankruptcy of a bankrupt estate, trustee under a 


composition or scheme of arrangement or under a deed of arrangement or under a deed of 
assignment, committee of the estate or person of a mentally ill person, or manager of the propelty 
of an incapable person, for the purpose of performing his functions, exercising his powers or 
canying out his duties as such, to hold a license; 
(2) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1), it shall not be lawful for any of the persons 
referred to in that subsection in whom is vested the management of the business of any travel 
agent to carryon that business at any time after the expiration of three (3) months from the date 
on which the management of that business was so vested, unless that person holds a license; 
(3) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as relieving any person from the obligation to take out 
a license under any written law for the performance of any function, the exercise of any power, 
or the carrying out of any duty for which a license shall not have been required if this Act had 
not been passed or to pay the fee payable in respect of any such license. 
(4) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as requiring the Official Assignee perfoming his duties 
as the trustee in bankruptcy of the property of a bankrupt to hold a license. 
SEC. 5. Definition of tile Functions of a Travel Agent.-
(1) Subject to this section, a person carries on the business of a travel agent if he/she -
(a) sells tickets entitling an individual to travel, or otherwise arranges for a person a right 
of passage on any conveyance (not being a prescribed conveyance); 
(b) sells to, or arranges or makes available for, a person rights of passage to, and hotel or 
other accommodation at, one or more places (being places within or outside the Philippines, or 
some of which are within and others of which are outside the Philippines); 
(c) purchases for resale the right of passage on any conveyance (not being prescribed 
conveyance); 
(d) carries out such activity as may be prescribed; or 
(e) holds himself out as, or advertises that he is, willing to carryon any activity referred 
to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d). 
(2) An individual does not carryon the business of a travel agent by reason only of carrying on 
in the course of his employment any activity referred to in subsection (1). 


(3) A person does not carryon the business of a travel agent in respect of any activity referred to 
m-
(a) subsection (l)(a) ifhe can-ies on the activity in respect of a conveyance of which he is 
the owner; or 
(b) subsection (l)(b) ifhe carries on the activity in respect of a conveyance and place of 
accommodation of which he is the owner. 
(4) A person does not carryon the business of a travel agent by reason only of holding himself 
out as, or advertising that he is, willing to can-yon any activity to which subsection (3)(a) or (b) 
applies. 
SEC. 6. The Role of the Pllilippine Tourism Authority.- The Department of Tourism 
thru the Philippine Tourism Authority or PTA shall be responsible for the administration ofthis 
Act and may authorize any of its officers to exercise any of the powers conferred upon and 
perform any of the functions imposed upon PTA by this Act on its behalf. 
SEC. 7. Persons Carrying on Business of Travel Agent to be Licensed.-
(1) No person shall carry the business of a travel agent unless he is the holder of a license 
granted to him or any other person on his behalf. 
(2) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with subsection (1) shall be guilty of an 
offense and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding P20,OOO.OO or to imprisonment 
for a term not exceeding two (2) years or to both. 
SEC. 8. Application for License.-
(1) Any person who desires to obtain a license shall make an application to the PTA in such fonn 
as the PTA may require. 
(2) Upon receiving an application under subsection (1 ), PTA shall consider the application and 
may grant a license, with or without conditions, or refuse to grant a license. 
(3) PTA shall refuse to grant a license if-


(a) satisfactory evidence has not been produced of the good fame and character of th(l 
applicant or, if the applicant is a company, of its officers holding a managerial or an executive 
position or, ifthe applicant is a firm, of the members of the firm; 
(b) satisfactory evidence has not been produced to show that the applicant is a fit and 
proper person to hold a license; 
(c) the applicant or, if the applicant is a film, any member of the firm, has been convicted 
of any offense involving fraud or moral turpitude or, if the applicant is a company, any of its 
officers holding a managerial or an executive position has been convicted of any offense 
involving fraud or moral turpitude; or, 
(d) PTA considers it in the public interest to do so. 
(4) PTA may at any time vary or cancel any of the existing conditions of a license or impose 
conditions or additional cpnditions thereto. 
(5) PTA shall, prior to taking any action under subsection (4), notify its intention to take such 
action to the licensee concerned and shall give the licensee an opportunity to submit reasons why 
the conditions of his license should not be so varied or cancelled. 
(6) Where a license is subject to conditions, the licensee shall comply with those conditions. 
(7) Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of the PTA under this section may, within one 
month of being notified of the decision of the PTA, appeal against such decision to the Secretary 
of the Department of Tourism whose decision shall be final. 
SEC. 9. Limit as to Number of Licenses Granted.- PTA may, with the approval of the 
Secretary of the Department of Tourism, limit the number of licenses to be granted under this 
Act. 
SEC. 10. Annual License Fee.- Every licensee shall pay such license fee as may be 
prescribed by PTA. 
SEC. 11. Displaying of License.-


(1) Every licensee shall exhibit his license or a certified copy thereof in a conspicuous place at 
his principal place of business and at every branch where the licensee carries on the business of a 
travel agent. 
(2) Any person -
(a) who contravenes or fails to comply with subsection (I); or 
(b) who, not being the holder of a license, keeps up or exhibits on or near his office, 
house or place of business or exhibits anywhere or allows to remain unoblitenited any sign, 
writing, painting or other mark implying that such office, house or place of business is that of a 
person licensed to carryon the business of a travel agent, shall be guilty of an offense and shall 
be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding P20,OOO.OO or to imprisonment for a term not 
exceeding two (2) years or to both. 
SEC. 12. Revocation and Suspension of License.-
(I) PTA may by order revoke or suspend a license-
(a) if PTA is satisfied that the licensee-
(i) has ceased to carryon the business for which he has been licensed or, if the 
licensee being a company, goes into liquidation or is wound up or otherwise dissolved; 
(ii) improperly obtained his license contrary to the provisions of this Act; 
(iii) is no longer a fit and proper person to continue to hold the license; 
(iv) has been convicted of any offense involving dishonesty or moral turpitude or, 
if the licensee is a company, any of its officers holding a managerial or an executive position or, 
if the licensee is a firm, any member of the fiml has been convicted of any offense involving 
fraud or moral turpitude; 
(v) is carrying on or has carried on the business of a travel agent in such a manner 
as renders him unfit to continue to hold a license; 
(vi) is contravening or has contravened any of the provisions of this Act or any 
regulations made thereunder; or 


(vii) has been convicted of any offense under this Act or any regulations made 
therelmder or, if the licensee is a company, any of its officers holding a managerial or an 
executive position has been convicted of any offense under this Act or any regulations 
made thereunder; or 
(b) if PTA considers it in the public interest to do so. 
(2) PTA shall, before revoking or suspending any license under subsection (1), give the licensee 
concerned notice in writing of its intention to do so, specifying a date, not less than 21 days after 
the date of the notice, upon which such revocation or suspension shall take effect and calling 
upon the licensee concerned to show cause to the PTA why his license should not be revoked or 
suspended. 
(3) When PTA has revoked' or suspended a license under subsection (I), PTA shall forthwith 
inform the licensee concerned by notice in writing of the revocation or suspension. 
(4) The person whose license has been revoked or suspended may, within 14 days after the 
receipt of the notice referred to in subsection (3), or such extended pel~od of time as the 
Secretary of the Department of Tourism may allow, appeal in writing against the revocation or 
suspension to the Secretary whose decision shall be final. 
(5) An order of revocation or suspension shall not take effect until the expiration of a period of 
14 days after PTA has informed the licensee concerned of the order. 
(6) If within that period the licensee concerned gives due notice of appeal to the Secretary, the 
order shall not take effect unless the order is confirmed by the Secretary or the appeal is for any 
reason dismissed by the Secretary or is withdrawn. 
SEC. 13. Effect of revocation and suspension oflicense.-
(1) Where an order of revocation or suspension becomes effective under section 12, the licensee 
concerned shall forthwith cease to carryon the business of a travel agent. 
(2) Subsection (1) shall not prejudice the enforcement by any person of any right or claim against 
the licensee concerned or by the licensee concerned of any right or claim against any person 
arising out of or concerning any matter or thing done prior to the revocation or suspension ofthe 
license. 


SEC. 14. Furnishing incorrect particulars in application.- Any person who in any 
application for a license makes any statement which is not correct in any material particular shall 
be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding PIO.OOO.OO. 
SEC. 15. Wrongful conversion and false accounts.-
(1) Any licensee who -
(a) fraudulently converts to his own use or to the use of any other person -
i) any money or part thereof received by him on behalf of any person in respect of 
any transaction in his capacity as a travel agent; or 
(ii) any money or part thereof so received which are held by him in trust pending 
the completion of any transaction; 
(b) frandulently omits to account for, deliver or pay-
(i) any such money or pmt thereof so received by him on behalf of any person to 
such person; or 
(ii) any such money or pmt thereof so received by him which are or were held by 
him in trust as aforesaid pending the completion of the transaction to the person or persons 
entitled to such money; or 
(c) fraudulently renders an account knowing such account to be false in any 
material particular of -
(i) any such money or pali thereof so received by him on behalf of any person; 
(ii) any money so received by him which is or was held by him in trust pending 
the completion of any transaction or any part of such money; or 
(iii) expenses, commission or other charges incidental to any transaction or 
proposed or contemplated transaction as a travel agent, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be 
liable on conviction to imprisonment for a tenn not exceeding 3' years. 
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or in any way affect the provisions of any 
other written law. 


SEC. 16. Power to search premises.- Any officer of PTA or any police officer, on being 
satisfied upon any information and after any further inquiry which he thinks necessary that there 
is good reason to believe that any place is used for the carrying on of the business of a travel 
agent by a person who is not the holder of a license, may with such assistance and by such force 
as is necessary, by day or by night -
(a) enter or go to the place and search the place and all persons found therein; 
(b) seize all docnments and things reasonably supposed to have been used or intended to be used 
in connection with the business of a travel agent which are found in the place or on such persons; 
and 
(c) detain all such persons until they and the place have been searched. 
SEC. 17. Power to arrest.-
(l) Any police officer or any officer of PTA duly authorized in writing in that behalf by the 
Board may without warrant arrest any person whom he reasonably suspects to have committed 
an offence under this Act. 
(2) Any police officer or any officer of PTA duly authorized in writing in that behalf by PTA 
arresting a person under subsection (1) may search that person and take possession of all articles 
found on him which, there is reason to believe, were used in connection with the offense. 
(3) Every person so arrested shall be taken to the PTA office or a police station. 
(4) No woman shall be searched except by a woman. 
SEC. 18. Power to Investigate.- In any case relating to the commission of an offense 
under this Act, any police officer and any officer of PTA duly authorized in writing in that behalf 
by the PTA may seize items or evidence connected with the commission of the offense. 
SEC. 19. Powers of the PTA.- Any police officer and any officer of the PTA duly 
authorized in writing in that behalf by the PTA shall, for the purposes of the execution of this 
Act, have power to do all or any of the following: 
(1) to enter, inspect and exmuine, by day or by night, the place of business of any licensee; 


(2) to require the production of records, accounts and documents kept by a licensee and to 
inspect, exmuine and copy any of them; and 
(3) to make such inquiry as may be necessary to ascertain whether the provisions of this Act are 
complied with so far as regards any person employed by a licensee to assist in the work of it 
travel agent. 
SEC. 20. Obstruction of search, etc.- Any person who -
(I) refuses any police officer or any officer of the Board authorized to enter or search access to 
any place; 
(2) assaults, obstructs, hinders or delays him in effecting any entrance which he is entitled to 
effect under this Act, or in the execution of any duty imposed or power conferred by this Act; 
(3) fails to comply with any lawful demand ofa police officer or an officer of the Board in the 
execution of his duty under this Act; or 
(4) refuses or neglects to give any information which may reasonably be required of him and 
which he has it in his power to give, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on 
conviction to a fine not exceeding PI 0,000.00 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 
months or to both. 
SEC. 21. Liability of directors, partners, etc.-
(1) Where an offense under this Act has been committed by a company, any person, who at the 
time of the commission of the offence was a director, secretary, manager or other officer of the 
company or who was purporting to act in any such capacity, shall be deemed to be guilty of that 
offense and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly unless he proves 
that the offense was committed without his consent or connivance and that he exercised such 
diligence to prevent the commission of the offense as he ought to have exercised having regard 
to the nature of his function in that capacity and to all the circumstances. 
(2) Any person who would have been guilty of an offense if anything had been done or omitted 
to be done by him personally shall be guilty of the offt~nse and shall be liable to the same penalty 
if such thing had been done or omitted to be done by his partner, agent or servant in the course of 


partnership business or in the course of his employment, as the case may be, unless he proves 
that the offense was committed without his knowledge or consent and that he took all reasonable 
precautions to prevent the doing or omission to do such thing. 
(3) Nothing in subsection (2) shall relieve any partner, agent or servant from any liability for an 
offense. 
SEC. 22. Disclosure of information.-
(1) A person shall not disclose any information obtained by him in connection with the 
administration or execution of this Act, unless the disclosure is made -
(a) with the consent of the person from whom the information was obtained 
(b) in connection with the administration or execution of this Act; 
(c) for the purposes of any legal proceedings arising out of this Act or of any report of 
such proceedings; or 
(d) for the purpose of objecting to an application for a license or of any investigation 
conducted under this Act. 
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable 
on conviction to a fine not exceeding P5,OOO.OO or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 
months or both. 
SEC. 23. Service of notices, orders and subpoenas.- Any notice, order, detennination, 
certificate or subpoena that may be given, made or issued under this Act may be served -
(1) by delivering it personally to the person to whom it is addressed; or 
(2) where it is addressed to the licensee -
(a) by delivering it to any place shown on the application for the license as the licensee's 
place of residence or business and by leaving it there with some person for that licensee; or 
(b) by posting it by registered post in an envelope duly stamped and addressed to the 
person to whom it is addressed at any place shown on the application for the license as the 
licensee's place of residence or business, and shall be deemed to have been served upon i Is being 
so delivered or, in the case of a notice, order, certificate or subpoena served as referred to in 


paragraph (b )(ii), shall be deemed to have been served when it would be delivered in the 
ordinary course of post. 
SEC. 24. Service of notice, summons, writ or other proceedings on PTA.- Any notice, 
summons, writ or other proceedings required to be served on PTA may be served by being left 
with some person apparently employed in the administration of this Act at the PTA office or, in 
the case of a notice, by posting it by registered post in an envelope duly stamped and addressed 
to PTA at its office, and shall be deemed to have been served upon its being left or, in the case of 
a notice served by so posting it, shall be prima facie deemed to have been served when it would 
be delivered in the ordinary course of post. 
SEC. 25. Authentication of documents.- Every summons, process, demand, order, 
notice, statement, direction or document requiring authentication by PTA may be sufficiently 
authenticated without the seal of the PTA if signed by the General Manager of PTA. 
SEC. 26. Sanction for prosecution.- No court shall take cognizance of any offense under 
this Act or any regulations made hereinafter except with the sanction in writing of the Public 
Prosecutor. 
SEC. 27. Conduct of proceedings.- Proceedings in respect of any offense under this Act 
or any regulations made hereinafter may be conducted by any officer authorized in writing in 
that behalf by the General Manager of PTA. 
SEC. 28. Composition ofoffense~~-
(1) The PTA may, in its discretion, compound any offense under this Act or any regulations 
made hereinafter which is prescribed as a compoundable offense by collecting from a person 
reasonably suspected of having committed the offense a sum not exceeding P5,OOO.OO. 
(2) The PTA may, with the approval of the Secretary, make regulations to prescribe the offenses 
which may be compounded. 


SEC. 29. Regulations.-
(1 ) PTA may, with the approval of the Secretary, make regulations generally for the carrying out 
of the provisions of this Act and, in particular, may make regulations for all or any of the 
following purposes: 
(a) prescribing the information and documents to be furnished by an applicant for a license; 
(b) prescribing the forms to be used under this Act; 
(c) prescribing the procedure to be followed on applications and other proceedings under this 
Act; 
(d) prescribing the books, accounts (including trust accounts) and records to be kept by a licensee 
and the form and mode of keeping such books, accounts and records; 
(e) prescribing the fees payable in respect of licenses granted under this Act; 
(f) prescribing the conditions for a license granted under this Act; 
(g) regulating the conduct of travel agents in their business and prescribing a code of conduct for 
travel agents; and 
(h) to exempt any persons or classes of persons from the provisions of this Act. 
(2) Such regulations may provide that a contravention thereof shall be punishable with a fine not 
exceeding P20,OOO.OO or with imprisonment for a tenn not exceeding 12 months or with both 
and, in the case of a continuing offense, with a further fine not exceeding Pl,OOO.OO for every 
day during which the offense continues after conviction. 
SEC. 30. Separability Clause.- If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or 
invalid, the remainder thereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 31. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other 
issuance or parts thereof inconsistent with the provision of this Act are hereby repealed, amended 
or modified accordingly. 


SEC. 32. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at 
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,