RIA gets stakeholders' support

CEBU, Philippines - Local tourism and labor stakeholders in Cebu have expressed support in the pilot implementation of Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) programs of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The DOT revealed its plans to improve the investment climate during the recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) RIA seminar held recently in Cebu City.

“I feel much more assured that this public private partnership is towards building regulations that make sense,” said Hans Hauri, general manager of Marco Polo Plaza and the president of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association of Cebu (HRRAC).

The DOT, together with DOLE and the Department of Finance (DOF), will work for the institutionalization of RIA.

One of the key features of the system is setting up the Office of Best Regulatory Practice to propose and review regulations, as well as train government personnel involved in business regulations.

Under the program entitled “PHI Strengthening Institutions for an Improved Investment Climate,” the RIA is part of ADB’s technical assistance to implement the Philippine Development Plan’s goal of increasing competitiveness for inclusive growth.

RIA seeks to boost the global competitiveness of the country’s tourism sector, as it allows the development of improved regulations based on best practice principles and international norms.

It also gives the opportunity to better understand issues and set objectives through analyses, assessment, and consultations with all stakeholders in arriving at the most optimal policy.

DOT Office of Tourism Planning, Research, and Information Management Director Rolando Cañizal said that implementing the accommodation standards for hotels and designation of tourism enterprise zones is being reviewed under the DOT-ADB RIA program.

The new standards are set to take effect nationwide by December 2012.

RIA will also be used as a lens to aid in the designation of tourism enterprise zones and strengthen coordination between the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zones Authority (TIEZA) and other departments to establish one-stop shops and facilitate the grant of incentives.           

“We welcome ADB’s assistance in our campaign to boost tourism competitiveness. The tourism industry is one of the sectors affected by many regulations. Streamlining these regulations will encourage foreign direct investments (FDIs) and potentially help us attain our goals for 2016,” said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez in a statement.

The National Tourism Development Plan sets forth the following objectives for 2016: 10 million international visitors, 35.5 million domestic travelers, 8.1% industry contribution to the Gross Domestic Product, and 17% share to the national employment.—(FREEMAN)