Gordon tourism bill cited as urgent

President Arroyo has certified as urgent Sen. Richard Gordon’s bill seeking to reorganize the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its attached agencies to boost tourism and attract investments in the tourism industry.

In a communiqué to Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the President underscored the "necessity of the immediate enactment" of Senate Bill No. 1238, of which Gordon is the principal author.

Gordon said his bill seeks to create Tourism Philippines, a corporation combining the functions of the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. (PCVC) and the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) with the promotions and marketing departments of the DOT to strengthen the promotion of the Philippine tourism industry.

Under Gordon’s measure, Tourism Philippines is to be governed principally by private sector representatives and supported with a funding scheme that would generate at least $100 million, half of which would be spent on the promotion of the Philippines’ tourism industry.

"The Tourism Act of 2006 is not simply about tourism or its economic impact," Gordon said. "It is, ultimately, about building our self-worth as a people, not only through the dignity of work through investments generated, but in the genuine awareness of the richness of our history and culture and the beauty of our country."

Gordon said his bill "seeks to encourage investments in new hotels, resorts and other tourism enterprises through tax breaks and fast, friendly and efficient governance to truly create world-class establishments in the most beautifully historical and culturally significant areas of our country."

He said his measure seeks to make the Philippines a major global player in the tourism arena: "First, by strengthening tourism industry promotions; second, by increasing the country’s tourist accommodations and; third by rallying the public and private sectors to support tourism development."

The bill has undergone significant revisions in the course of committee deliberations with representatives of the private sector, the DOT and other government agencies responsible for budget and investments, he added.