Tourist Safety, Protection and Assistance Act

SC218. MITTED TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) 25 JUL 21 P1:41 SENATE RECL.. 20 6% S. No. 741 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE NATIONAL TASK FORCE FOR TOURIST SAFFETY, PROTECTION, AND ASSISTANCE, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE Tourism has long been a key pillar of the Philippine economy. In 2023, the Department of Tourism (DOT) recorded 5.45 million international tourist arrivals, exceeding the year's target of 4.8 million. This resulted to an additional Php 482 billion in revenue, highlighting the economic significance of tourism as a job generator, investment facilitator, and local economy stimulator. In 2024, foreign tourist arrivals increased to more than 6.3 million and reached a record-high tourism revenues of about Php 760 billion in the same year. 2 The current administration has implemented pro-tourism policies that prioritize sustainable development of tourism resources while ensuring the welfare of our communities. Despite this progress, concerns about tourism safety, scams, emergency assistance, and the lack of coordinated support systems remain. Incidents involving petty crimes, tour-related fraud, transportation safety lapses, and even natural disasters, especially in top destinations, highlight the urgent need for institutionalized 1 CPBRD Facts and Figures. Performance of the Philippine Tourism Industries. 2024. Industries-FIN-2.pdf http://cpbrd.congress.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FF2024-52-Performance-of-the-Philippine-Tourism- 2 PHL Hits Record High Tourism Revenue in 2024. https://beta.tourism.gov.ph/news and_updates/phl-hits- record-high-tourism-revenue-in-2024/

and responsive tourist protection mechanisms. Just recently, high-profile crimes targeting tourists have drawn both national and international concern. In February 2025, an American tourist was fatally shot at an ATM in Mindanao during a robbery. Just months earlier, in July 2024, an Australian couple and their Filipino relative were found murdered in a hotel in Tagaytay, an incident that raised grave concerns about hotel security and emergency response in tourist areas. These incidents are not just isolated cases, but they threatened the safety of visitors, and damage the reputation of our tourism sector. The DOT, in addition to the Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP), and other agencies, is trying to address these problems, but there are still more to improve. A 2022 Commission on Audit (COA) report even cited uneven assignment of tourist police and non-operational tourist information centers of many LGUs. With these, the proposed measure seeks to institutionalize the National Task Force for Tourist, Safety, Protection, and Assistance (NTF-TSPA), an inter-agency body led by the DOT, which will help develop a formulate an integrated national action plan, adopt tourist protection programs and establish tourist help desks and emergency hotline in key destinations. This measure aims to secure the rights and welfare of tourists and upgrade the country as a safety destination in the eyes of the world. In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. JV EJERCITO

Sifer oim TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL 21 P1:41 SENATE RECEIVED BY, S. No. 741 Introduced by Senator IV Ejercito AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE NATIONAL TASK FORCE FOR TOURIST SAFFETY, PROTECTION, AND ASSISTANCE, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Tourist Safety, Protection

2 and Assistance Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - As the State recognizes tourism as a major

4 contributor to the country's economic growth. It is the policy of the State to ensure 5 the safety, security, and welfare of all tourists in the Philippines.

Sec. 3. Institutionalization of the National Task Force. - The National Task Force

7 for Tourist Safety, Protection, and Assistance (NTF-TSPA) is hereby institutionalized 8 as a permanent inter-agency body under the supervision of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Sec 4. Composition of the National Task Force for Tourist Safety, Protection and

Assistance (NTF-TSPA). - The Task Force shall be chaired by the Secretary of Tourism, and co-chaired by the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government. It shall be composed of representatives from the following agencies: a. Department of Justice (DO)) b. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) C. Department of Health (DOH) d. Department of Transportation (DOTr)

e. Bureau of Immigration (BI) f. Philippine National Police (PNP), through its Tourism Police Units g. Philippine Cost Guard (PCG) h. Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) i. League of Provinces, Cities, and Municipalities of the Philippines j. Other agencies as may be deemed necessary by the Task Force

Sec. 5. Duties, Powers and Functions. - It shall be the duty of the NTF-TSPA

to facilitate, through the concentered national government agencies and local government units. (LGUs), the following: (a) Adoption of uniform standards on signage for use throughout the Philippines to facilitate travel in the country; (b) Provision of directional signages in tourism facilities and destinations, including airports, seaports, land border crossings, highways, and bus, train, and other public transit locations; (c) Preparations and dissemination of multilingual travel and tourism information and promotional materials; (d) Establishment of a toll-free telephone assistance system run by multilingual operators to provide assistance to domestic and foreign tourists; (e) Coordination with LGUs for the establishment of tourist help desks in identified tourist destinations; and (f) Institution of measures to prevent unlawful acts of harassment committed on tourists.

Sec. 6. Local implementation. - Local government units (LGUs) shall establish

Local Tourist Assistance and Protection Councils (LTAPCs) to implement NTF-TSPA programs and the local level and serve as first responders to tourist safety concerns.

Sec. 7. Funding. - The amount necessary to cover the expenses for the operation

of the NTF-TSPA shall be charged against the existing appropriation of the DOT as contained in the annual General Appropriations Act. Funds for the implementation of the programs and projects that shall be approved by the NTF-TSPA shall be included in the appropriation of the implementing agencies concerned.

Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared

2 unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, memorandum

5 orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders, ordinances or parts thereof 6 which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

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