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Chatto law names Bohol, 7 sites as tourism zones

by Rey Anthony Chiu

Tagbilaran City (13 May) -- Make strategic areas across the country, especially Bohol and 7 other provinces, into tourism enterprise zones, this is one of the effects of the new law President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed last week in the heart of the country's tourism super-region.

The move, which Bohol Representative Edgar Chatto and his counterpart at the Senate authored should make the Philippine tourism globally competitive and puts its as primary engine for investment, employment and national development.

Other than Bohol, other tourism zones to be established are in Cebu, Davao, Laguna, Cavite, Boracay, Palawan and Iloilo: all of these to foreign investors and tourists to visit places rich in history and culture, the law said. Thus, it will spur the creation of jobs and open additional channels for the infusion of much-needed investments as well as give the people the power to pull themselves out of the economic recession, explains Rep. Chatto in media interviews prior to the signing,

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed May 12, the National Tourism Act of 2009 (Republic Act 9593) declaring a national tourism policy and attempts to integrate all tourism development efforts to boost the country's competitiveness, he stressed.

This it does by strengthening the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its attached agencies to effectively and efficiently implement that policy and appropriate funds, he explains.

In fact, tourism Secretary Ace Durano admitted that the law lends DOT a "bigger jet engine so we can climb up. It provides us more capability and resources to make our tourism industry very globally competitive."

The Cebuano tourism chair was referring to the provisions for setting up of a system of accreditation, standards-setting and classification to make the tourism industry globally competitive.

The Act declares tourism as "indispensable element of the national economy and an industry of national interest and importance, which must be harnessed as an engine of socio-economic growth and cultural affirmation to generate investment, foreign exchange and employment, and to continue to mold an enhanced sense of national pride for all Filipinos."

The Act also reorganizes the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC) into the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), a corporation responsible for the marketing and promotion of the Philippines as a global tourism destination by highlighting its tourism products and services.

It also reorganizes the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) into the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), a body mandated to designate, regulate and supervise tourism enterprise zones (TEZs) as well as develop, manage and supervise tourism projects in the country.

Both TIEZA and TPB gets P250M capitalization from the national government says the new law.

Meanwhile, the Duty Free Philippines (DFP) becomes Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC), to run the tax-free merchandising system in the country. (PIA)

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Hi thegirlnextdoor,

As champion of tourism, Representative Edgar Chatto is certainly our strongest ally in the fight against criminality in Bohol. It was a good idea that you finally organized an expat group so that your voice will have more force and weight. Chatto is the best person to approach, because he is presently the face of tourism and he is as sensitive to the concerns of resident foreigners as to his own constituency. I support your cause because nowhere is the saying "no man is an island" truer than in Bohol--your safety is also ours.

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