Mandatory Tourism Officer in the Municipal, City and Provincial Levels

Senate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 26 MAR 25 A10 :11 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 2014 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT MAKING THE POSITION OF A TOURISM OFFICER MANDATORY IN THE MUNICIPAL, CITY, AND PROVINCIAL LEVELS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCALGOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 EXPLANATORY NOTE The tourism industry in the Philippines remains robust, ranking among the strongest in Southeast Asia, according to the WTTC Economic Impact Report 2025. 1 The report indicates that the country ranked first among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in terms of tourism's contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), reaching USD 91.8 billion.? More importantly, tourism accounts for 19.9% of the Philippine economy, underscoring its significant role and making the country one of the most tourism-dependent economies in Southeast Asia in terms of scale and impact. Tourism in the Philippines is highly significant due to its inclusive nature, currently providing employment to approximately 11 million Filipinos. In fact, 1 Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN]. (2026, January 30). WTTC: Philippines among top tourism economies in GDP contribution and job generation [Press release]. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://asean2026.gov.ph/post/view/?title=wttc-philippines-among-top-tourism-economies-in-gdp-contribution- and-job-generation 2 Ibid.

the Association of Southeast Asian Nations recognizes the country's tourism sector as a "people-centered growth engine." Furthermore, the World Travel and Tourism Council projects that in the coming years, the industry could generate up to 14.1 million jobs, further underscoring its critical role in national development and economic resilience. 3 These implications call for a clearer and more comprehensive tourism regulation, long-term investment in workforce development, and sustained global promotion of the country as a world- class destination.4 While the tourism industry in the Philippines continues to prosper, there is a pressing need to strengthen its governance at the local level, particularly in terms of institutional capacity and professional management. At present, two key laws govern tourism at the local level: the Local Government Code of 1991 and the Tourism Act of 2009. These laws empower local government units (LGUs) to oversee and manage tourism development within their respective jurisdictions. However, Section 125 of the Tourism Act of 2009 merely encourages LGUs with high tourism potential to designate dedicated tourism officers. Due to its non-mandatory and ambiguous language, this provision remains largely unenforceable. Compounding this issue, the absence of a parallel requirement in the Local Government Code has led to inconsistent implementation across localities, causing many areas to miss opportunities for tourism-driven economic growth. Furthermore, these gaps have exposed broader systemic challenges in local tourism governance, including weak strategic planning and data management, overlapping institutional mandates, the prevalence of co- terminous appointments, and insufficient training and professional development for tourism personnel. 6 3 World Travel & Tourism Council. (2025, June 12). Philippines' travel & tourism sector set to inject a record PHP 5.9TN to the economy in 2025. WTTC. https://wttc.org/news/philippines-travel-tourism-sector-set-to-inject-a- record-php-5-point-9tn-to-the-economy-2025 4 Ibid. 5 Javier, A. B., & Elazigue, D. B. (2011, March). Opportunities and challenges in tourism development roles of local government units in the Philippines. In 3rd annual conference of the academic network of development studies in Asia, Nagoya University, Japan. 6 Wasela, J. (2023). Strategic public management for sustainable eco-cultural tourism development at the municipal level. Integrated Analysis of Local Public Administration.

Hence, this proposed legislation seeks to address these challenges by mandating the creation of tourism officer positions across all levels of local government units (LGUs)-from municipalities to provinces-particularly in areas where tourism is a primary industry. By formally institutionalizing this role within the local government structure in the Philippines, the bill aims to strengthen the capacity of LGUs to effectively plan, manage, and promote sustainable tourism development. In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this legislation is earnestly sought. 06=. JV EJERCITO

Senate Office of the Secretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES MAR 25 A10:11 First Regular Session ) SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 2014 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT MAKING THE POSITION OF A TOURISM OFFICER MANDATORY IN THE MUNICIPAL, CITY, AND PROVINCIAL LEVELS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCALGOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 443, Book III, Title Two, Chapter 2 of Republic Act No.

7160 is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. - (a) There shall be in each municipality a municipal mayor, municipal vice-mayor, sangguniang bayan members, a secretary to the sangguniang bayan, a municipal treasurer, a municipal assessor, a municipal accountant, a municipal budget officer, a municipal budget officer, a municipal planning and development coordinator, a municipal engineer/building official, a municipal health officer, and a municipal civil registrar. A municipal Cooperatives Development Officer (CDO) shall be appointed: Provided, That the municipality has the option to appoint a full fledged CDO or merge such position to an existing position or official in a related office, unit or department in the municipal government: Provided, further, That if the municipality shall appoint a full fledged CDO, the municipality has the option to set the rank, renumeration and other emoluments of the municipal CDO subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.

A MUNICIPAL TOURISM OFFICER (MTO) SHALL ALSO BE APPOINTED: PROVIDED, THAT IN MUNICIPALITIES WHERE TOURISM IS A SIGNTFICANT INDUSTRY, THE APPOINTMENT OF A MTO SHALL BE MANDATORY, PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE MUNICIPALITY HAS THE OPTION TO SET THE RANK, REMUNERATION AND OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF THE MTO SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. "(b) xxx "(c) xxx "(d) xxx "(e) xxx

Sec. 2. Section 454, Book III, Title Three, Chapter 2 of Republic Act No. 7160

is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 454. Officials of the City Government. (a) There shall be in each city a mayor, a vice-mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members, a secretary to the sangguniang panglungsod, a city treasurer, a city assessor, a city accountant, a city budget officer, a city planning and development coordinator, a city engineer, a city health officer, a city civil registrar, a city administrator, a city legal officer, a city veterinarian, a city social welfare and development officer, and a city general services officer. A city CDO shall be appointed: Provided, That the city has the option to appoint a full fledged CDO or merge such position to an existing position or official in a related office, unit or department in the city government: Provided, further, That if the city shall appoint a full fledged CDO, the city has the option to set the rank, renumeration and other emoluments of the city CDO subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations. A CITY TOURISM OFFICER (CTO) SHALL AISO BEAPPOINTED: PROVIDED, THAT THE APPOINTMENT OF A CTO SHALL BE MANDATORY, PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE CITYHAS THE OPTION TO SET THE RANK, RENUMERATION AND

OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF THE CTO SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS. "(b) In addition thereto, the city mayor may appoint a city architect, a city information officer, a city agriculturist, a city population officer, and a city environment and natural resources officer. "xxX "(c) xxx "(d) xxx "(e) xxx

Sec. 3. Section 463, Book III, Title Four, Chapter 2 of Republic Act No. 7160,

is hereby amended to read as follows: "Sec 463. Officials of the Provincial Government. — (a) There shall be in each province a governor, a vice-governor, members of the sanggunian panlalawigan. A provincial treasurer, a provincial assessor; a provincial accountant, a provincial engineer, a provincial budget officer, a provincial administrator, a provincial health officer, a provincial social welfare and development officer, a provincial general services officer, a provincial agriculturist, and a provincial veterinarian. A provincial CDO shall also be appointed: Provided, That the province, in the appointment of a full fledged CDO shall set the rank, renumeration and other emoluments of the provincial CDO subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations. A PROVINCIAL TOURISM OFFICER (PTO) SHALL ALSO BE APPOINTED: PROVIDED, THAT IN PROVINCES WHERE TOURISM IS A SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRY, THE APPOINTMENT OF A PTO SHALL BE MANDATORY, PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE PROVINCE HAS THE OPTION TO SET THE RANK, RENUMERATION, AND OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF THE PRO SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS. "(b) In addition thereto, the governor may appoint a provincial population officer, a provincial natural resources and environment officer, a provincial architect, and a provincial information officer.

"XXX "(c) xxx "(d) xxx "(e) xxx."

Sec. 4. Section 467, of Book III, Title Five, Article Seventeen of Republic ActNo.

7160, is hereby amended and shall now read as follows: ARTICLE XXI THE TOURISM OFFICER

Sec 490-A. QUALITIFICATIONS, POWERS ,AND DUTIES.

— (A) NO PERSON SHALL BE APPOINTED TOURISM OFFICER UNLESS HE IS A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED, OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AND IRREPROACHABLE REPUTATION, OF KNOWN INTEGRITY AND COMPETENCE, AND HAS NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF ANY ELECTION OFFENSE OR OF ANY CRIME PUNISHABLE BY MORE THAN SIX (6) MONTHS OF IMPRISONMENT, OR HAS NO PENDING INFORMATION FOR ANY OFFENSE, A HOLDER OF A COLLEGE DEGREE IN TOURISM, PUBLIC BUSINESS, ECONOMICS, MARKETING, ADMINISTRATION OR OTHER RELATED FIELDS FROM A RECOGNIZED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, AND A FIRST GRADE CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBLE OR ITS EQUIVALENT. HE/SHE MUST HAVE AT LEAST GIVE (5) YEARS OF SUBSTANTIAL WORK EXPERIENCE AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY EITHER IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR GOVERNMENT. LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS WITH EXISTING TOURISM OFFICERS PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS LAW WILL BE GIVEN THREE (3) YEARS TO COMPLY WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED REQUIREMENTS. (B) THE TOURISM OFFICER SHALL TAKE CHARGE OF THE OFFICE FOR TOURISM AND SHALL PRACTICE THE FOLLOWING:

(1) PREPARE, IMPLEMENT, COORDINATE, MONITOR AND UPDATE LOCAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLANS; (2) ENSURE THE PROPER ENFORCEMENT OF TOURISM STANDARDS, LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS; (3) PROVIDE REGULAR REPORTS ON STATUS OF TOURISM PLANS AND PROGRAMS, TOURIST ARRIVALS, EMPLOYMENT, OCCUPANCY RATES, INVESTMENT AND TOURIST PRODUCTS, AMONG OTHERS, TO THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM (DOT); (4) COORDINATE WITH THE DOT AND ITS ATTACHED AGENCIES, AS WELL AS CORPORATIONS AND PRIVATE ENTITIES, IN REGARD TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN THE LOCALITY; AND (5) ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL AGENCIES AND PRIVATE ENTITIES IN PROMOTING THE TOURISM OF THEIR CONCERNED CITIES AND PROVINCES NATIONWIDE AND GLOBALLY. (C) EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AND PERFORM SUCH OTHER DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY LAW OR ORDINANCE.

Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or

unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and

regulations, issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper or general circulation. Approved,