Mayors’ League opposes plans for tourism superbody

Metro Manila mayors have strongly opposed a bill filed by Sen. Richard Gordon creating a super tourism body with overarching powers over all local government units’ tourism-related development programs.

"We are definitely against it," Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said as he aired the misgivings of members of the Metro Manila Mayors League of which Atienza is concurrent president.

He said the creation of a tourism superbody over LGUs is in violation of the Constitution, which mandates the promotion and enhancement of local autonomy.

Among others, the Gordon bill provides that a reorganized Department of Tourism (DOT) shall exercise supervision over local government units with powers to sanction LGUs, including: the suspension of services rendered by the DOT and its attached agencies to local government units; suspension of the power of the local government to issue licenses and permits to tourism enterprises; imposition of fines and penalties against the responsible local government executives and subordinates, among others.

"This is contradictory to the modern trend in boosting tourism through the principle of local autonomy that is provided for by the Constitution," Atienza said.

Atienza added that contrary to the proposal of the Gordon bill, the Constitution empowers all local governments to oversee development in their respective jurisdiction and in fact does not provide for a centralized system as envisioned in the bill.

In fact, he said, faithful compliance with the Constitutional provision for the full promotion of local autonomy in so far as tourism development is concerned could even lead to the abolition of the Department of Tourism since the responsible LGU officials could take care of promoting tourism in their localities.

"This way, tourism related development would be more effective at the local level," Atienza added.