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  Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
Introduced by Honorable Richard I. Gomez 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Despite all the challenges in most recent years, the Philippine Tourism Industry remains 
one of the cornerstone industries in the Philippines. For decades, the industry has consistently 
contributed 8-9% of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and 12% of national 
employment. However, the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a most formidable challenge 
because for the first time in twenty years, Tourism’s GDP contribution fell below 5.6%.   
This bill, to be known as the “Philippine Tourism Sustainability Act,” aims to strengthen 
the industry in the face of threats, such as health emergencies, environmental degradation, natural 
disasters and medium- to long-term effects of climate change, so that it can continue to be an 
engine for countryside development.  
This bill calls for the assembly of a Philippine Tourism Sustainability Council, to be 
composed of relevant government and private stakeholders, with the goal of establishing policies 
and procedures to achieve industry resilience from the above-mentioned threats. The industry’s 
ordeal with the temporary closure of Boracay proved that without synchronized policies and 
procedures among national agencies, LGUs and industry players, implementing environmental 
sustainability and resilience to health emergencies and natural disasters will remain in question.  
As our country gears up to recover and bounce back from the economic decline due to the 
COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to plan for the sustainable development of the Tourism 
Industry. This means that industry growth plans would integrate the principles of “People, Planet 
and Profit” – wherein each pillar is equally valued. This means that while we push for tourism’s 
share in our economic growth, we make sure that our environment is preserved and maintained, 
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and that the welfare of tourists and local residents is top priority. This also means that the industry 
would grow using climate resilient infrastructure, as well as health safeguards in place.  
 
In light of this, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
 
 
 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
Introduced by Honorable Richard I. Gomez 
AN ACT  
INTEGRATING AND ESTABLISHING PERTINENT POLICIES AND REGULATIONS 
TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PHILIPPINE TOURISM INDUSTRY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Tourism Sustainability 
Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes Tourism as one of the key drivers of the 
national economy. It is, therefore, critical to enhance the industry’s policies, operation and 
coordination among major national agencies and industry players to ensure its sustained 
contributions to the national GDP by upholding the principles of People-Planet-Profit. 
Towards this end, the State shall seek to: 
1. Strengthen Tourism’s role in countryside development through air, sea and land
infrastructure development in underserved cities and municipalities;
2. Develop the industry’s resilience to health emergencies and epidemics through structural,
operational and policy safeguards;
3. Develop the industry’s resilience to natural disasters, including super typhoons,
earthquakes, tsunamis, and medium- to long-term effects of climate change; and
4. Develop a holistic and coordinated approach to preserving environmental integrity in the
face of tourism development.
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SEC. 2. Creation of Philippine Tourism Sustainability Council. – The responsibility of achieving 
and maintaining “Tourism Sustainability” shall be given to qualified representatives of all relevant 
stakeholders of the Tourism Industry.  An assembly of such stakeholder representation shall be 
immediately convened and called the “Philippine Tourism Sustainability Council.”  
 
Stakeholders for representation shall include, but shall not be limited to: 
(a) Department of Tourism 
(b) Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(c) Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority 
(d) Department of Public Works and Highways 
(e) Department of Health 
(f) Department of Trade and Industry 
(g) National Economic and Development Authority 
(h) Department of Interior and Local Government 
(i) Department of National Defense 
(j) Department of Finance 
(k) Department of Budget and Management 
(l) Local Government Units 
(m) National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council  
(n) Climate Change Commission 
(o) Direct and Indirect Tourism Enterprises/Operators, including Small and Medium 
Operators  
(p) Power, Water, Telecommunications and other Utilities Service Providers  
(q) Tourism Supply Chain Providers 
(r) Tourism-related Non-Government Organizations 
(s) Tourism-related Civil Society Organizations 
(t) Local Communities of Tourism Development Areas 
 
 
SEC. 3. Objectives. – The Philippine Tourism Sustainability Council shall be tasked to accomplish 
the following: 
(1) Establish a unified definition of “Tourism Sustainability,” taking into consideration the 
policies in Sec. 2;   
(2) Establish goals to achieve and maintain “Tourism Sustainability;” 
(3) Integrate all existing laws pertaining to the Tourism Industry in various areas 
that influence the sustainability of the industry. These areas include, but are not  
limited to, the following: environmental stewardship, public health, infrastructure  
development, inclusive socio-economic growth, local government regulation and  
enforcement, and tourism development;  
(4) Create new and necessary policies and regulations to achieve our national  
“Tourism Sustainability” goals;  


 
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(5) Institute a system for accountability of violations to systematically enforce this Act; 
and  
(6) Generate procedures for mainstreaming “Tourism Sustainability” laws and their  
enforcement at all levels, from national agencies to local governments. 
 
SEC. 4. Philippine Tourism Sustainability Laws. – The Philippine Tourism Sustainability 
Council shall compose a set of Philippine Tourism Sustainability laws in accordance with the 
results of the council proceedings. These provisions shall constitute the “Philippine Tourism 
Sustainability Act.” 
 
SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Philippine Tourism Sustainability Council 
shall promulgate not later than thirty (30) days upon the approval of the Philippine Tourism 
Sustainability Act, all the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation.  
 
SEC. 6. Separability Clause. – If any section or part of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, 
the other sections or provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, issuances 
or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or 
modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 8. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication either in the 
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,