DOT won't postpone Tourism Congress

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) is pushing through with the scheduled Tourism Congress on Nov. 25 amid calls from the local tourism industry for its deferment.

“We have to convene the Tourism Congress as scheduled so that the participating members of the industry can organize themselves and there will be no more disruptions in the implementation of tourism programs next year,” Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said.

Durano said any delay or deferment of the summit would prevent the organization and election of officials that would implement tourism programs for next year.

Durano said there are 35 organizations representing different sectors of the tourism industry nationwide.

He said they were invited to attend the Tourism Congress as required under the new Tourism Act.

Under the law, the DOT would convene the Tourism Congress to allow participants to elect the nominees to fill up the five seats for the governing board of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority ((TIEZA), Tourism Promotion Board (TPB) and the Duty Free Philippines Corp.

Durano said once the three agencies become operational, they would implement the government’s tourism programs.

“With the members of the tourism industry serving as members of the governing, the private sector would now be able to participate in the implementation and promotion of tourism programs,” Durano pointed out.

Durano said the DOT’s sole responsibility under the law is to convene the Tourism Congress.

He said the task of organizing and electing officials rests on the members of the tourism industry.

To avoid possible delay in the operations of the three new DOT attached agencies, Durano called on the industry to elect interim officers should they fail to organize and officially nominate the officials for the governing board.

Durano further explained that members of the tourism industry taking part in the Nov. 25 Tourism Congress have the duty to draft the constitution and bylaws of the governing body.

In a meeting with Durano yesterday, some industry leaders expressed apprehension over the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) as well as the apparent rush in the holding of Tourism Congress.