Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

15t Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, S466

Introduced by: HONORABLE DARYL GRACE J. ABAYON
AT (Aangat Tayo), Partylist Representative

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is endowed with great scenic beauty, historically significant sites,
natural resources and a population whose traditions are attractive to tourists.
These assets should be preserved and nurtured, not only because they are
appreciated by others, but because they are valued by the country's very own
citizens.

Tourism has always played a vital role in the contribution to the country's
economy. The pecuniary gains which may be derived through tourist spending,
foreign exchange earnings, and employment generation contribute largely to the
stability of any country.

The national government, for the past years, has encouraged tourism and
recreation explicitly in a number of decrees, executive orders, and legislative
enactments. The development and promotion of tourism however, to a large
extent, is confined only to the Department of Tourism, tasked solely in the
formulation of the country's programs and strategies for the tourism industry.
While our country is composed of more that 1,700 islands, with more than 80
million Filipinos of diverse ethnic origins, the Department of Tourism needs the
Proper support in developing the vast potentials of tourism to a level where the
country may derive optimum benefits.

There is a need, therefore, to lay down integrated and coordinated policies,
plans and strategies down to the Local Government Unit which is essential in
order to address the aforementioned problem. Local Government Units, because
of their familiarity of their respective parochial concerns and interests will serve
as an ideal venue in achieving the national goals towards the fullest development
of tourism in the country.

In view thereof, the attached bill seeks to create the position of Tourism
Officer in every province, cities and municipalities.

Hence, approval of the measure is earnestly requested.

DAR’ ACE J. ABAYON


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

15% Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. S468

Introduced by: HONORABLE DARYL GRACE J. ABAYON
AT (Aangat Tayo), Partylist Representative

AN ACT
CREATING THE POSITION OF TOURISM OFFICER IN EACH PROVINCE,
CITY, AND MUNICIPALITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE, CERTAIN
SECTIONS OF R.A. NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991.

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

SECTION 1. Paragraph (a) of Section 443 of R.A. No. 7160, otherwise
known as the Local Government Code of 1991 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“ SEC. 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, A TOURISM OFFICER, and a municipal civil
registrar.”

Sec. 2. paragraph (a) of section 454 of the same Code is hereby amended
to read as follows:

“SEC. 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, A CITY TOURISM
OFFICER, and a city general service officer.”

Sec. 3. Paragraph (a) of section 463 of the same Code is hereby amended
to read as follows:

“SEC. 454 Officials of the Provincial Government - (a) There shall be
in each Province a governor, a vice-governor, members of 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 provincial administrator, a provincial health officer, a provincial
social and development officer, a provincial general services officer, a provincial
agriculturist, A PROVINCIAL TOURISM OFFICER, and a provincial veterinarian.”


Sec. 4. A new Article is hereby inserted between Articles thirteen and
fourteen to be known as Article thirteen-a, to read as follows:

“ARTICLE THIRTEEN-A — THE TOURISM OFFICER

“ SEC. 483-A QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES, - (A) NO
PERSON SHALL BE APPOINTED TOURISM OFFICER UNLESS HE/SHE IS A CITIZEN
OF THE PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT
CONCERNED, OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER, A HOLDER OF A COLLEGE DEGREE
PREFERABLY IN TOURISM OR ANY OTHER RELATED COURSE FROM A
RECOGNIZED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, AND A FIRST-GRADE CIVIL SERVICE
ELIGIBLE OR ITS EQUIVALENT. HE/SHE MUST HAVE ACQUIRED EXPERIENCE IN
THE PRACTICE OF TOURISM WORK FOR AT LEAST FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE CASE
OF PROVINCIAL OR CITY TOURISM OFFICER, AND THREE (3) YEARS IN THE CASE
OF THE MUNICIPAL TOURISM OFFICER.

“THE TOURISM OFFICER SHALL TAKE CHARGE OF THE OFFICE ON TOURISM
SERVICES AND SHALL:

“(1) FORMULATE INTEGRATED TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND
POLICIES FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL;

“(2) CONDUCT CONTINUING STUDIES, RESEARCHES, AND TRAINING
PROGRAMS ON TOURISM NECESSARY TO EVOLVE PLANS AND PROGRAMS FOR
IMPLEMENTATION.

“(3) MONITOR AND EVALUATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DIFFERENT
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, AND ACTIVITIES OF TOURISM IN THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROVED
DEVELOPMENT PLAN;

“(4) PREPARE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING DOCUMENTS ON TOURISM FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL;

“(5) RECOMMEND TO THE SANGGUNIANG AND ADVISE THE GOVERNOR
OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, ON ALL OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO ATTRACT TOURISTS;

“(6) EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AND PERFORM SUCH OTHER
DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY LAW OR ORDINANCE.”

SEC: 5. All laws, decrees, executive orders and other issuances
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take fifteen (15) days after its publication in two
(2) newspapers of general circulation..

Approved,