I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by
virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and
decree the revision of Presidential Decree No. 189, dated May 11, 1973, as
amended, the charter creating the Department of Tourism, which shall henceforth
read in its entirety as follows:
SECTION 1. Short Title.—This Decree shall be known
as the Revised Charter of the Department of Tourism.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.—It is hereby
declared to be the policy of the Government to make the tourist industry a
positive instrument towards accelerated national development through which more
people from other lands may visit and better appreciate the Philippines and
through which the Filipinos themselves may learn more about the natural beauty,
history and culture of their country and thus develop greater pride in and
commitment to the nation.
SEC. 3. Creation of a Department of Tourism.—There
is hereby created a Department of Tourism, hereinafter referred to as the
Department, which shall be the primary policy, planning, programming,
coordinating and administrative entity of the executive branch of government in
the development of the tourist industry, both domestic and international.
SEC. 4. Powers and Functions.—The Department shall
have the following powers and functions:
- Administer, coordinate and supervise all activities of the government which
concern tourism;
- Effect the removal of unnecessary barriers to travel, the integration and
simplication of travel regulations as well as their efficient, fair and
courteous enforcement to assure expeditious and hospitable reception of all
tourists and travelers;
- Formulate an integrated program of promotion and publicity designed to
attract and induce people abroad to visit the Philippines, and patronize things
Philippine and to enhance the prestige of the Filipino people and the Republic;
- Represent the Government in all such conferences and meetings concerning
tourism and travel, and discharge such responsibilities of Government may arise
from treaties, agreements, and other commitments on tourism and travel to which
it is a signatory;
- License, classify, regulate and/or supervise the operation of all persons,
businesses, establishments, facilities and services that cater to, or have
anything to do with travelers and tourists, such as travel agencies, travel
agents/solicitors, tour operators, tour guides, hotels, resorts,
apartment-hotels, (APARTELS) tourist inns, motels, pension houses, lodging
houses and other similar lodging establishments, all tourist transport
operators, private membership clubs/clubhouses and recreational complexes with
room accommodations offering such services to the public, schools and training
centers offering tourism-related courses, and such other tourism-oriented
business/establishments/ facilities/services as may be determined by the
department;
- Formulate suitable standards to ensure that the highest possible standards
are met, reasonable fees and charges are made and that services are given with
honesty, courtesy and efficiency;
- Prescribe and enforce compliance with such circulars, rules and regulations
as may be necessary to implement the provisions and intent of this Decree;
- Conduct investigation, hearing and inquiry and provide for and grant
administrative reliefs in all proper cases upon all matters relating to the
administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Decree and/or the rules
and regulations or circulars adopted by it to implement and enforce the
objectives and intent thereof;
- Have access to the records and the premises of any business establishment,
facility or service falling under the regulatory jurisdiction of the department
and the right to copy therefrom, to question any employee and investigate any
fact, condition or matter which may be necessary or be of aid in the proper
administration and enforcement of this Decree and of any circular, rule and
regulation issued by the department;
- After notice and hearing, impose administrative fines not exceeding
P10,000.00, suspend or revoke the license, permit, registration or accreditation
of any persons, or entity subject to its regulatory jurisdiction, confiscate
bonds and order its disposition, for failure to comply with or for violation of
any of the provisions of this Decree, the rules and regulations, circulars,
orders, decisions or rulings of the department; to suspend or remove any
officials/employee of any regulated establishment for failure to comply with or
for violation of any provisions of this Decree, the rules and regulations,
circulars, orders, decisions, rulings issued by the departments;
- Issue summons, subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to compel the attendance of
witness and the production of books, papers and other documents pertinent to the
investigation, hearing and inquiry, and to examine those witnesses and such
books, papers and other documents as it shall need in relation to any matter
being investigated, heard or inquired into;
- Punish for contempt of the department, both direct and indirect, by way of
imposing fines;
- Enlist the aid, assistance and support of any and all government agencies,
civil or military, in the implementation of the provisions of this Decree or the
department's rules and regulations, circulars, and enforcement of orders and/or
decisions;
- Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.
SEC. 5. Organization of the Department.—The
Department shall be composed of a Department Proper and two (2) bureaus, namely:
the Bureau of Tourism Promotion and the Bureau of Tourism Services.
The department proper shall include the office of the Secretary, the Planning
Service, Financial and Management Service, Administrative Service, legal Service
and such other offices or divisions that the Secretary is hereby authorized to
create to carry out the functions and objectives of the department.
SEC. 6. Authority and Responsibility.—The authority
and responsibility for the powers and the discharge of the functions of the
Department shall be vested in a Secretary of Tourism, hereinafter referred to as
the Secretary. The Secretary shall be assisted by one Undersecretary.
SEC. 7. The Office of the Secretary.—The Office of
the Secretary shall consist of the Secretary of Tourism, the Undersecretary of
Tourism and the personnel in their immediate office. It shall be responsible for
the formulation, adoption and promulgation of rules and regulations and
circulars necessary to carry out departmental policies and objectives, and for
exercising direct control and immediate supervision over the offices, services
and bureaus of the department.
SEC. 8. Functions of the Secretary.—The Secretary
shall have the following functions:
- Establish the internal organization of the department, its bureau and
offices to achieve its function and objectives;
- Advise the President in the promulgation of executive orders, regulations,
and decrees relative to matters falling under the jurisdiction of the
department;
- Establish the policies and standards for the operation of the department
pursuant to the President's program of government;
- Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the department
objectives, policies and functions;
- Exercise supervision and control over all bureaus and offices under the
department;
- Delegate authority for the performance of any function to officers and
employees under his direction; and
- Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.
SEC. 9. Functions of the Undersecretary of
Tourism.—The Undersecretary shall have the following functions:
- Advise and assist the Secretary in the planning, supervision and
coordination of all technical, administrative, financial and management, and
related functions of the department;
- Determine the administrative needs and requirements of all bureaus and
offices under the department;
- Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and implementation of
department objectives and policies in all matters relating to his area of
responsibility;
- Subject to the policy guidelines established and prescribed by the
Secretary, administer the day to day activities, coordinate the programs and
policies and assume over all responsibility for the efficient and economical
operation of entities under his jurisdiction;
- Subject to the policy guidelines established and prescribed by the
Secretary, exercise supervision over all activities in the department relating:
to the planning, development, promotion and marketing aspects of the functions
and powers of the department under this Decree; and
- Perform such other functions and discharge such other powers as may be
provided by law or delegated by the Secretary pursuant to a Department Order.
SEC. 10. Functions of the Bureau of Tourism
Promotion.—The Bureau of Tourism Promotion shall organize and support a
program of public relations, advertising, promotion and publicity calculated to
inform, interest, attract and encourage both domestic and foreign tourism in the
Philippines; and shall perform such other functions as may be assigned/delegated
to it by the Secretary.
SEC. 11. Creation of Divisions and Offices.—With
the approval of the Secretary, the Director of the Bureau of Tourism Promotion
is hereby authorized to create such divisions and offices as he may deem
necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the bureau and for the proper
and efficient operation of its business.
SEC. 12. Functions of the Bureau of Tourism
Services.—The Bureau of Tourism Services shall provide information,
reception, facilitation, security and investigation services to tourists;
license, regulate, classify and inspect all tourism-oriented establishments;
hear and resolve administrative cases within its jurisdiction; conduct training
courses and programs for those involved with the Tourism Industry; and shall
perform such other functions as may be assigned/delegated to it by the
Secretary.
SEC. 13. Creation of Divisions and Offices.—With
the approval of the Secretary, the Director of the Bureau of Tourism Services is
hereby authorized to create such divisions and offices as he may deem necessary
to carry out the powers and duties of the Bureau and for the proper and
efficient operation of its business.
SEC. 14. Functions of the Planning Service.—The
Planning Service shall provide the department with economical, efficient and
effective services relating to planning, programming and project development,
including the formulation of immediate and long range plans and programs for
tourism development and their priorities as may be warranted by domestic and
international developments; and shall perform such other functions as may be
assigned/delegated to it by the Secretary.
SEC. 15. Functions of the Financial and Management
Service.—The Financial and Management Service shall provide the department
with staff advice and assistance on budgetary, finance and management
improvement matters; and shall perform such other functions as may be
assigned/delegated to it by the Secretary.
SEC. 16. Functions of the Administrative
Service.—The Administrative Service shall provide the department with
economical, efficient, and effective services, relating to personnel
information, records, communications, supplies, equipment, collections,
disbursements, security and other custodial works; and shall perform such other
functions as may be assigned/delegated to it by the Secretary.
SEC. 17. Functions of the Legal Service.—The Legal
Service shall provide legal advice, service, assistance and support to the
Secretary and Undersecretary and all the offices services and bureaus under the
department on all legal matters affecting the department; and shall perform such
other functions as may be assigned/delegated to it by the Secretary.
SEC. 18. Attached Agencies.—The following agencies
are hereby attached to the department for purposes of policy coordination and
integration of programs:
- The Civil Aeronautics Board, which shall continue to be governed by laws
pertinent to its functions and powers when not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Decree.
- The Philippines Tourism Authority, which shall continue to be governed by
the provisions of the existing laws.
- The Philippine Convention Bureau, which shall continue to the governed by
the provisions of existing laws when not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Decree.
SEC. 19. Penalties. —
- Violation by a license or holder of Authority.—Any person, whether
natural or juridical, licensed, registered, accredited or permitted by the
department to engage in a tourism-oriented establishment, facility or service,
who shall violate or cause another to violate any of the provisions of this
Decree or the rules and regulations or circulars adopted and promulgated by the
department shall, upon conviction by a competent court, suffer the penalty of
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than two (2) years or fine
of not less than Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) nor more than Ten Thousand Pesos
(P10,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court. In addition thereto, any
license, registration, accreditation, permit or authority which may have been
issued by the department shall be deemed automatically withdrawn and revoked and
the cash/surety bonds of the offender shall be forfeited in favor of the
department.
- Violation by a Non-Holder of Authority.—Any person who is not a
holder of a license, accreditation, permit or any other authority from the
department who shall violate or cause another to violate any of the provisions
of this Decree or the rules and regulations or circulars promulgated by the
department shall, upon conviction of a competent court, suffer the penalty of
imprisonment of not less than one (1) year nor more than six (6) years or a fine
of not less than Four Thousand Pesos (P4,000.00) nor more than Twenty Thousand
Pesos (P20,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.
- Penalty imposed upon Officers of Juridical Persons.—If the offender
is a corporation, partnership, firm or association, the penalty shall be impose
upon the officer or officers who may have been responsible for the violation;
and if such officer or officers is an alien, he/they shall, in addition, be
deported without further proceedings on the part of the Commission on
Immigration and Deportation.
SEC. 20. Separability Clause.—The provisions of
this Decree are hereby declared to be separable, and in the event any one or
more of such provisions are held unconstitutional, they shall not affect the
validity of other provisions.
SEC. 21. Repealing Clause.—All provisions of
Presidential Decree No. 189 and all amendments thereto, inconsistent with the
provisions of this Decree are hereby repealed or modified including General
Orders, Letters of Instruction, Rules and Regulations, Executive Orders that are
inconsistent or contrary to the provisions of this Decree are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.
SEC. 22. Effectivity.—This Decree shall take effect
immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 11th day of June, in the year of Our Lord,
nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.
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(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS President of the
Philippines |
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By the President: |
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(Sgd.) JACOBO C. CLAVE |
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Presidential Executive
Assistant |