JAN.

08, 2014

NR # 3340B

Intergovernmental tourism task force proposed

It is now imperative for government to adopt and implement an integrated approach in tourism development. The House Committee on Tourism is now in receipt of HB 3030 which seeks to establish an Intergovernmental Task Force for International isitor !ssistance hereinafter referred to as the "Task Force.# "$e have %et to achieve or reali&e tourism's full potential as an important economic tool necessar% for national development(# stressed authors )eps. *iosdado +acapagal !rro%o ,-nd *istrict( Camarines .ur/ and )ep. 0loria +acapagal1!rro%o ,- nd *istrict( 2ampanga/. "This is a humble attempt to make the 2hilippines a premier travel and tourism destination in the world(# the authors said without downgrading the current tourism efforts of the countr%. !rro%o said that the tourism industr% has been branded as an "engine of economic growth# given its capacit% to boost and 3umpstart an% econom% especiall% countries like the 2hilippines. "Tourism( aside from 4F$ remittances( is a consistent source of foreign e5change earnings and emplo%ment opportunities and also promotes international goodwill(# !rro%o pointed out. Furthermore( tourism highlights and makes known to the global communit% the rich and colorful socio1cultural life of Filipinos( the !rro%os said. The proposed statute( to be known as the " isit the 2hilippines !ct of -063(# and the Task Force shall be composed of the .ecretar% of Tourism as Chairman with the following as members7 the .ecretar% of Interior and 8ocal 0overnment9 the .ecretar% of Transportation and Communications9 and such other representatives of other government agencies and private sector entities as ma% be determined to be appropriate b% the Chairman to the mission of the Task Force. 4n the use of funds( the authors proposed that none of the funds appropriated ma% be used for purposes other than marketing( research( or an% other activit% designed to promote the countr% as the premier travel and tourism destination in the world. The .ecretar% ,of the Task Force/ shall submit to the relevant Committee of Congress an annual detailed report on matters enumerated in .ection : of the proposed

!ct such as the manner in which appropriated funds were used( and changes in the 2hilippine market share of international tourism in general and as measured against specific countries and regions( among other mandates. !mong the Task Force's vital duties include the review of signage at facilities in the countr%( including airports( seaports( land border crossings( highwa%s( and bus( train( and other public transit locations( and shall identif% e5isting inade;uacies and suggest solutions for such inade;uacies( such as the adoption of uniform standards on signage for use throughout the countr% in order to facilitate international visitors' travel in the 2hilippines. 8ikewise( the Task Force shall review the availabilit% of multilingual travel and tourism information and means of disseminating at no or minimal cost to the government of such information. !nother is to facilitate the establishment of a toll1free( private sector operated telephone number( staffed b% multilingual operators( to provide assistance to international tourists coping with an emergenc%. HB 3030 also provides that not later than eighteen ,6</ months after the date of enactment( the Chairman shall submit to the 2resident and to Congress a report on the results of the review( including proposed amendments to e5isting laws or regulations as ma% be appropriate to implement such recommendations. ,30/ dpt