EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 6612
EXPLANATORY NOTE

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) first emerged in Wuhan, Hubei, China, in
December 2019. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a
pandemic. As of 11 March 2020, over 126,000 cases have been confirmed in more than 110
countries and territories, with major outbreaks in mainland China, Italy, South Korea, and
Iran, More than 4,600 have died from the disease and 67,000 have recovered.

In the Philippines, the first case of COVID-19, confirmed on January 30, 2020, was a
38-year old woman who arrived from Wuhan. Two days later, the Philippines recorded the
first death outside China. As of March 11, 2020, there are already 49 confirmed cases of
COVID-19 with hundreds of possible cases where people are being investigated or are
under quarantine.

Aside from the health implications, COVID-19 has also affected business and jobs.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has laid off 300 workers as part of a business restructuring
plan to manage losses sustained from travel restrictions to coronavirus-stricken destinations,
Atleast another 300 workers lost their jobs since February as a result of COVID-19 affecting
the tourism sector. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has also stated that
66 firms either temporarily closed down or implemented flexible arrangements for workers,
mostly in Central Luzon and three other regions known for tourism sites. Further, said 47
companies and/or factories with 4,416 workers had implemented flexible work
arrangements, including shorter hours, reduced working days or carrying out forced leaves.

Establishments including hotels, restaurants and resorts have been greatly affected
especially in tourist areas. As an example, data released by the Malay Tourism Office of
Malay town, Aklan province, where Boracay is located, showed that there was a 40-percent
drop in tourist arrivals for February 2020 alone with only 103,834 foreign and domestic
tourists. In comparison, there were 172,695 tourists for February 2019.

The biggest drop is the foreign tourist arrivals, which accounted for more than 51
percent. For February 2020, there were only 40,436 foreign tourists. In comparison, there
were 115,143 foreign tourists for February 2019.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is eamestly requested

RUFI . RODRI


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 6612

AN ACT
APPROPRIATING THE AMOUNT OF TEN BILLION PESOS TO FUND AN EMERGENCY
TOURISM STIMULUS PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM TO MITIGATE
THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 IN THE TOURISM SECTOR

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

SECTION 1. The Department of Tourism is hereby mandated to formulate and implement an
Emergency Tourism Stimulus Program for those establishments and tourist sites affected by
COVID-19.

SECTION 2. The amount of Ten Billion Pesos (Php 10,000,000,000) is hereby appropriated
to the Department of Tourism to fund said Emergency Tourism Stimulus Program for those
establishments and tourist sites affected by COVID-19.

SECTION 3. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in English or
Filipino in the official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,
whichever comes first.

Approved,