Tourism Coordinating Council.
SEC. 98. Tourism Coordinating Council. — A council that shall serve as a coordinating body for national tourism development efforts shall be formed, consisting of the Secretary, as Chairperson; the TPB Chief Operating Officer; the TIEZA Chief Operating Officer; the heads of other agencies attached to the Department; the Secretaries of the DOTC, the DPWH, the DFA, the DENR, the DILG, the DOLE and the Department of Education (DepEd); and the heads of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the BI, the National Historical Institute, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the PAGCOR, the leagues of LGUs and such other government agencies that the President may designate; a representative each from the Tourism Congress, an accredited NGO or PO engaged in ecotourism, and a recognized indigenous people’s federation.
The Council shall prepare a five (5)-year strategic plan to develop and enhance a culture of tourism. It shall also approve an annual infrastructure development plan that shall promote access to and from airports and seaports, and TEZ and other tourism destinations which shall be accorded priority by the relevant infrastructure agencies of the national government.
Education.
SEC. 99. Education. — The Department shall work closely with the DepEd for the development of basic education programs - formal, informal and non-formal learning systems and interventions - for in-school and out-of-school youth in the promotion of a culture of tourism through the development and integration of tourism concepts and the enhancement of education in languages, history and culture and the arts.
The Department shall also work closely with the CHED in the regulation of colleges and universities that grant undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in tourism.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority is hereby mandated to develop, in conjunction with the Department, programs for the training of tourism entrepreneurs by providing programs for languages, history and cultural appreciation, and small business management.
Peace and Order.
SEC. 100. Peace and Order. — The PNP shall establish a Tourism Security Force to assist in maintaining peace and order within areas of high tourism traffic. A tourist police assistance desk office shall likewise be established in such areas. The Department shall coordinate with the DILG in training the members of the force in cultural sensitivity, languages and relevant laws.
Funding Grassroots Tourism Enterprises.
SEC. 101. Funding Grassroots Tourism Enterprises. — Insofar as allowed by applicable laws and their respective charters, government-owned and -controlled banks and financial institutions shall provide microfinance schemes for the assistance and development of small- and medium-scale enterprises in the tourism industry.
No Injunctions Clause.
SEC. 102. No Injunctions Clause. — No temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction shall be issued or be effective against the TIEZA unless the same is issued by the Supreme Court.
Joint Congressional Oversight committee on Tourism.
SEC. 103. Joint Congressional Oversight committee on Tourism. — A Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Tourism, hereinafter referred to as the "Oversight Committee", is hereby constituted in accordance with the provisions of this Act. The Committee shall be composed of the Chairpersons of the Committees on Tourism of both Houses of Congress, the Chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the Chairperson of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and three (3) additional members from each House to be designated by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Oversight Committee shall be in existence for a period of ten (10) years from the effectivity of this Act.
The Secretary shall report to the Oversight Committee on a monthly basis the latest statistics on tourist arrivals and other relevant data. He or she shall also report, on a quarterly basis, the status of implementation of this Act based on the monthly report submitted thereto by all attached agencies of the Department with respect to the implementation of their respective programs.
The Tourism Congress.
SEC. 104. The Tourism Congress. — Within thirty (30) days from the publication of the implementing rules and regulations of this Act, the Secretary shall convene a Tourism Congress of representatives of all accredited tourism enterprises and former government officials involved in the tourism industry to serve as the private sector consultative body to assist the government in the development, implementation and coordination of Philippine tourism policy.
The Tourism Congress shall adopt and ratify its constitution, shall elect its officers and shall establish a secretariat, both for the Tourism Congress as a whole and for component sectors. It shall also nominate such representatives as required under this Act. Finally, it shall endeavor to meet annually to carry out its mandate.
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
