Presidential Decree No. 867 (PD 867) — A Decree Establishing the Philippine Convention Bureau, Defining Its Functions and Sources of Funding.
WHEREAS, the promotion of the tourism and travel industry in
the Philippines is a primary concern of the government;
WHEREAS, the growth and development in tourism
accommodations and facilities underscore the need for concerted and
planned efforts to promote the Philippines not only as tourism
destination in the area but also, a center of world gatherings and
conventions; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary that an entity be created through
which the government and the private sector in the tourism and allied
fields can pool their resources, talents and efforts to achieve and
attain the above-mentioned goals, along definite guidelines and
mechanics.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,
hereby decree that:
SECTION 1. There is hereby created a body to be known as the
PHILIPPINE CONVENTION BUREAU which shall have its main office in the
Metro Manila Area.
SEC. 2. Objectives. The general objectives of the
Philippine Convention Bureau are:
To create and maintain an organizational machinery to plan,
develop and execute a campaign to promote tourism to, and attract
international gatherings and events in, the Philippines.
To conduct a continuing program to develop Manila
as a Convention City.
To supervise and coordinate all activities for
the smooth operation of various conferences to be held in
the country.
To oversee the requirements and general welfare of the
conventioneers.
SEC. 3. Membership. Membership in the Philippine
Convention Bureau may be opened to entities, groups or individuals that
have direct or indirect economic, social or cultural interest in
conventions, such as shipping companies, souvenir and gift shops,
manufacturers, exhibit promoters, international frienship organizations,
interested national organizations, etc. However, membership in the
Bureau for hotels, travel agencies, tour operators, tourism-oriented
restaurants, clubs, resorts, tourist transport operators and Philippine
passenger airlines shall be a requirement for the issuance of their
respective licenses.
There shall be Membership Committee to be
created by the Board of Governors whose principal duty is to screen and
submit to the Board findings on all applications for membership.
The Board of Governors shall exercise exclusive authority in approving
Membership with a simple majority vote of all the Members of the Board.
SEC. 4. Governing Body. There shall be a policy-making
body to be known as the Board of Governors whose membership shall be
drawn from the government and private sectors that are directly involved
in the planning and facilitation of efficient operations of the Bureau,
namely:
Secretary of Tourism, Chairman
Chief, Office of U. N, Affairs and International
Conference, Department of Foreign Affairs, Member
Representative, Central Bank of the Philippines, Member
President, Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines,
Member
President, Association of Tour Operators of the
Philippines,
Representative of Philippine Airlines, Member
The Director, National Media Production Center,
Member
The Director of Special Services, Department of
Tourism, Member
The Director of Tourist Promotions, Member
The Chairman of the Board of Governors shall be assisted by a
Vice-Chairman who shall be elected from among the members of the Board.
The Convention Director shall sit in the Board as an ex-officio member.
The term of all members coming from the government sector shall be
co-terminus with the tenure of their respective government positions
they concurrently occupy.
SEC. 5. Terms of Office.
The term of the Board Members representing the private group shall run
co-terminus with their tenure as officials of their respective
Associations. Upon the expiration of their tenure in the Association,
they may continue to sit in the Board as long as their retention in such
capacity is officially voted upon and endorsed by the Association
concerned.
The representative of Philippine Airlines to the Board
shall be nominated by the PAL Management and will sit in as Member of
the Board until such time when PAL Management shall have withdrawn his
appointment in favor of another.
SEC. 6. Compensation
of the Board of Governors. Members of the Board of Governors shall
not be entitled to any compensation except a per diem of P200.00 for
every actual attendance of a meeting and expenses for mission or
assignment undertaken for the Bureau.
SEC. 7. Powers and Duties of the Board of Governors.
The Board shall have the following powers and duties:
Promulgate policies, approve programs and prescribe
rules and regulations necessary to implement the intents and purposes
of the Bureau.
Approve the annual Budget and such, supplemental
Budget as may be submitted by the Chairman.
Act on the recommendations made by the Convention Director with
regard to the organization and staffing pattern of the Bureau and to fix
the salaries and emoluments of the officers and employees of the
Bureau.
Render annual reports to the President and such other special
reports that may be required from time to time.
SEC. 8. Executive Body. The Executive Power shall be
vested in the office of the Convention Director whose primary duty is
to oversee the operations of the Bureau. He shall be assisted by an
Assistant Convention Manager.
The Convention Director and the
Assistant Convention Director shall be elected by a vote of at least 8
Members of the Board of Governors. The Convention Director shall serve
as the Bureau's Chief Executive Officer prescribed by the Board of
Governors.
The tenure of the Convention Director shall be fixed
by the Board of Governors.
All other appointments to all
positions in the Bureau shall be acted upon and approved by the Board of
Governors upon the recommendation of the Convention Director.
SEC.
9. Duties of the Convention Director.
The Convention Director shall supervise the executive functions
of the Convention Bureau and shall be responsible for the efficient and
economical conduct of its operations and employees under the
supervision of the Board of Advisers.
He shall supervise the functions of all officials and staff
members under him and see to it that they comply faithfully, efficiently
and honestly with their official duties.
He shall study, analyze and plan, together with
his staff, projects and activities undertaken by the Bureau.
He shall recommend to the Board important matters
and projects that may need extensive assistance from both the
government and private sector.
He shall submit to the Board on or before the 15th of January
of each year, a proposed budget containing estimated income and expenses
to take effect on the next fiscal year.
He shall submit to the Board statement of finances of the
Convention Bureau covering the operations of the previous calendar year
not later than the 30th day of December.
He shall submit to the Board of Annual Report of Activities of
the past year not later than the 30th day of December.
Perform such other functions that the Board may delegate.
SEC. 10. Duties of the Assistant Convention Director.
The Assistant Convention Manager shall perform such duties as
are designated by the Convention Manager and shall act on his
stead on the incapacity or absence of the Convention Manager.
He shall directly supervise the functions of the Administrative
Section.
SEC. 11. The Bureau shall have the following divisions:
Administrative, Research and Statistics, Consultation and Liaison and a
Secretariat. The Board of Governor, may, however, create such other
divisions or staff as will promote and improve the functioning and
operation of the Bureau.
SEC. 12. Duties of the
Administrative Division. The Administrative Division shall take
charge of keeping all the records of the Bureau and the management and
of its employees.
It shall also be responsible for keeping a book
of accounts to keep track of all disbursements.
SEC. 13. Duties of the Research and Statistics.
The Research and Statistics Division shall undertake a continuous
program of research covering such areas as what world
organizations are meeting, where and when they are held, who
is who in each organization, what attraction would best appeal
to most of each group in terms of facilities or resources and how this
attraction can be best presented. This task involves the gathering of
all available information materials and statistics on conventions.
SEC. 14. Duties of the Marketing and Promotions
Division. The Marketing and Promotions Division shall devise and
spearhead a sustained promotional scheme covering all general and
specialized media here and abroad to project and publicized Manila as a
convention venue.
SEC. 15. Duties of the Consultation and Liaison
Division. The Consultation and Liaison Division shall maintain a
continuing relationship with those agencies or organizations concerned
by organizing or hosting regular consultation meetings to ensure proper
reception facilities and services to conventioneers, and/or to provide
upon request, the necessary guidance regarding the technical aspects of
holding conventions.
SEC. 16. Duties of the Convention Secretariat.
The Secretariat shall form, train and maintain a nuclues of personnel
who shall actively assist conference organizers in the planning,
preparation, promotion, staffing operations and liquidation of any type
of meetings or conventions.
SEC. 17. Source of Financing. The operational
expenses of the Philippine Convention Bureau shall be drawn from the
following: (1) A 25% share for the first year and 10% share
thereafter from the annual travel tax fund (2) A uniform P200,000.00
yearly contribution from each of the government Board member
institutions including the Philippine Airlines (3) Membership
contribution to the extent of 1-½% of the gross annual income of
individual members from the private sector (4) 50% of the annual
hotel room tax fund (5) Convention Bureau members who are not engaged in
profit making enterprises which shall be fixed by the Board of
Governors (6) Subsidies and/or grants that may be received for the
Philippine Convention Bureau.
SEC. 18. Tax Exemptions. The Philippine
Convention Bureau shall be exempted from the payment of income and
donee's taxes and all donations and contributions to the Bureau will be
deductible from the donor's income for tax purposes.
SEC. 19. Appropriation. Only for the
first year of operations of the Convention Bureau, the sum of
10 Million Pesos is hereby appropriated out of any fund in the National
Treasury not otherwise appropriated to be released in lump sum upon the
approval of this Decree.
This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 2nd day of January, in the
year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-six.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
JACOBO C. CLAVE
Presidential Executive Assistant
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
