Modernizing Government Regulations Program
PHILIPPINE TOURISM INDUSTRY
Regulatory Review
2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ...... 1 Industry Background ...... 1 Tourism Demand Situation ...... 1 Tourism Supply Situation ...... 1 Employment in Tourism ...... 2 Philippine Tourism Performance ...... 2 Ease of Doing Business ...... 3 Accredited Establishments ...... 4 OBJECTIVES ...... 5 Program Objectives ...... 5 Research Objectives ...... 5 SCOPE OF WORK AND LIMITATIONS ...... 5 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY ...... 6 TOURISM INDUSTRY REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT ...... 6 Starting a Tourism Business...... 7 Tourism Business Value Stream Map ...... 9 Accreditation ...... 10 Documentary Requirements ...... 10 Accreditation and Enforcement...... 15 Sanctions on Non-compliant Establishments ...... 16 ISSUES RAISED BY STAKEHOLDERS AND PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS ... 16 CRITIQUE OF THE ACCREDITATION SYSTEM ...... 17 CONCLUSIONS ...... 21 RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 22 REFERENCES ...... 23 ANNEXES ...... 24 Profile of the Study Team ...... 24 Results of the Perception Survey ...... 25 Documentation of the Industry Dialogue, Public Consultation, and Public Forum .. 33 Value Stream Maps ...... 69 Regulations Dashboard ...... 71 Regulatory Impact Analysis/Statement Template ...... 73
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Philippine Tourism Industry Regulatory Review
INTRODUCTION
Industry Background
The United Nations World Tourism Organization defines tourism as “[comprised of] the activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes.”
The tourism industry, according to Destination New South Wales (Australia), refers to “all businesses that directly provide goods or services to facilitate business, pleasure and leisure activities away from the home environment.” They include airlines, hotels and other accommodation, travel agencies, tour operators, car rental companies, transport operators, theme parks and other attractions, and many more. In the Philippines, these businesses are commonly known as sectors.
Tourism Demand Situation
Tourism was one of industries that was identified by the National Economic Development Authority as drivers of inclusive growth. Tourism has grown steadily from 2008 to 2018, from 3.14 million to 7.13 million, averaging 8% growth rate per year. The only time when it dipped slightly was in 2009, which was the year when Typhoon Ondoy, which submerged Metro Manila occurred. International receipts have also generally increased from 2008 to 2017, from USD 3.29 billion to USD 8.35 billion, averaging 6.41% per annum.
TABLE 1. International Arrivals and Receipts Philippines Year International Percent International Tourist Percent Arrivals (a) Growth (b) Receipts (Million USD)(b) Growth (b) 2008 3,139,422 1.5% 3,293 (40.38%) 2009 3,017,099 (3.9%) 2,916 (11.45%) 2010 3,520,471 17% 3,441 18.00% 2011 3,917,454 11.3% 4,053 17.79% 2012 4,272,811 9.1% 4,963 22.45% 2013 4,681,307 9.6% 5,599 12.81% 2014 4,833,368 3.3% 6,059 8.22% 2015 5,360,682 10.9% 6,415 5.88% 2016 5,967,005 11.3% 6,289 (1.96%) 2017 6,620,908 11.0% 8,349 32.76% 2018 7,127,168 7.7% NA NA Average Growth 8.0% Average Growth 6.41% Sources: a. Department of Tourism; b. www.knoema.com
Tourism Supply Situation
In terms of supply, the available data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that from 2009 to 2014, the number of tourism-characteristic establishments has grown by 74%, from 8,717 in 2009 to 15,191 in 2014, excluding food and beverage establishments, where data was not available in 2009. The number of F&B establishments in 2014, is 1.6 times the number of all other types of tourism establishments combined.
TABLE 2. Tourism-characteristic Establishments Establishments 2009 2014 Percent Growth Accommodation establishments (hotels, motels, pension houses) 1,475 3,279 122% Health and wellness establishments (sauna, slandering and body 3,797 7,234 91% building centers, hospitals) Other tourism activities (amusement parks, sporting activities, 2,015 3,146 56% foreign exchange dealers) Transport operators and tour & travel agencies 1,430 1,532 7% Food and beverage services No data 24,121 -- Total 8,717 15,191 74% Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
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According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (2018), travel and tourism contributed a total of USD 66.3 billion (from direct and indirect impacts) to the Philippine Gross Domestic Product in 2017, representing 21.1% of the country’s GDP. This is expected to rise annually by 5.8% from 2018 to 2028, reaching USD 123.6 billion or 22.4% of GDP in 2028. The total number of jobs (direct and indirect jobs) in the travel and tourism industry in 2017 was 7,796,500 or 19.2% of total employment. This is expected to grow by 2.4% per annum from 2018 to 2028, or 10,540,000 jobs in 2028 or 19.9% of total employment.
Employment in Tourism
The following table shows the total number of people directly employed in the industry in 2014. A total of 766,777 people was holding full employment. Of this number 54.8% were working in the food and beverage service sector. Health and wellness, and accommodation establishments accounted for 33% of total full employment. Seasonal employment happens during the peak season from March to May. Seasonal workers numbered 32,827. Of this number more than 45% were hired by food and service establishments. The second biggest seasonal employer was the accommodation sector which took in almost 38% of all seasonal workers.
TABLE 3. Employment in Tourism Characteristic Establishments, 2014 Sector Full % Share Seasonal % Share Employment Employment Food and beverage service 420,471 54.8 14,826 45.2 Health and wellness 161,306 21.0 1,848 5.6 Accommodation 92,075 12.0 12,372 37.7 Other activities 56,500 7.4 3,488 10.6 Transport operators, tour 36,465 4.8 292 0.9 and travel agencies All establishments 766,777 100 32,827 100 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
Philippine Tourism Performance
While the Philippines continues to break its own record in terms of tourist arrivals and receipts, compared with fellow members in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the country’s tourism performance was quite lackluster. Data from the World Economic Forum’s 2017 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report showed that the Philippines was ahead only of Cambodia and Laos in terms of such indicators as tourist arrivals and tourism receipts (WEF, 2017).
TABLE 4. Tourism-Performance Indicators in the ASEAN, 2017 Rank Country Tourist arrivals T. Receipts (million USD) 1 Thailand 29,923,185 44,552.7 2 Malaysia 25,721,251 17,597.1 3 Singapore 12,051,929 16,743.4 4 Indonesia 10,406,759 10,761 5 Vietnam 7,943,600 7,350 6 Philippines 5,360,682 5,276.3 7 Cambodia 4,775,231 3,130.3 8 Lao PDR 3,543,327 679.4 Total 8,717 15,191 74% Source: World Economic Forum, 2017; No data for Brunei and Myanmar
The country’s tourist arrivals and receipts generally reflect its overall travel and tourism competitiveness (TTC) in the region. The Philippines ranked 79th out of 136 economies in terms of TTC, faring five notches lower than its 2015 ranking. In the ASEAN, the Philippines placed 6th, only performing better than Laos and Cambodia.
TABLE 5. Travel and Tourism Competitiveness, 2016 Country Global Rank Change from (136 economies) 2015 Singapore 13 -2 Malaysia 26 -1 Thailand 34 1 Source: WEF, 2017
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TABLE 5. Travel and Tourism Competitiveness, 2016 (Continuation) Country Global Rank Change from (136 economies) 2015 Indonesia 42 8 Vietnam 67 8 Philippines 79 -5 Laos 94 2 Cambodia 101 4 Source: WEF, 2017
The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index consists of four sub-indices: enabling environment, travel & tourism policy and enabling conditions, infrastructure, and natural & cultural resources. Each sub-index has indicators as shown in the following illustration (WEF, 2017). The indicators in turn consist of sub- indicators (not shown in the figure).
FIGURE 1. Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index
The following table summarizes the rankings of the ASEAN countries in terms of the component criteria of TTC. It shows the Philippines ranking 82nd out of 136 economies, having the second worst business environment in the ASEAN after Cambodia. The Philippines is also the third slowest country to start a tourism business (ranked 115th out of 136); only Cambodia and Laos were slower, ranked 135th and 132nd, respectively. In terms of cost to start a business, it would take an amount equivalent to 15.8% of the per capita gross national income for Filipinos to start their tourism business in 2017, making it the third costliest among the eight ASEAN countries in the study.
TABLE 6. Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index Selected Criteria Country Business Time to start TSB Score Cost to start CTSB environment business business Rank Rank (TSB) (days) (CTSB) Rank GNI/capita Singapore 2 5 2.5 0.6% 13 Malaysia 17 93 18 6.2% 63 Vietnam 68 104 24 4.6% 55 Indonesia 60 105 24.5 19.4% 103 Thailand 45 109 25.5 6.6% 67 Lao PDR 47 132 67 4.6% 55 Philippines 82 115 28 15.8% 96 Cambodia 125 135 99 57.2% 127 Source: World Economic Forum, 2017
Ease of Doing Business
The Philippines’ poor tourism competitiveness in tourism is symptomatic of its generally poor business environment, as indicated by the distance to frontier score. In “Doing Business 2018: Reforming to Create Jobs” of the World Bank, the Philippines’ distance to frontier (DTF) score of 58.74 was ranked 113th out of 190 world economies, and 7th among the ASEAN countries, faring only better than Cambodia, Laos, and
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Myanmar. Distance to frontier measures how far a country’s economy is to the best performing economy on each of the indicators. Scores range from 0 (worst performing economy) to 100 (best). The ten indicators used for the DTF are starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency.
TABLE 7. Ease of Doing Business, 2018 Country DTF Score Global Rank ASEAN Rank (Total: 100) (190 economies) Singapore 84.57 2 1 Malaysia 78.43 24 2 Thailand 77.44 26 3 Brunei 70.60 56 4 Vietnam 67.93 68 5 Indonesia 66.47 72 6 Philippines 58.74 113 7 Cambodia 54.47 135 8 Laos 53.01 141 9 Myanmar 44.21 171 10 Source: The World Bank, 2018
Accredited Establishments
In 2016, the number of primary tourism establishments that were accredited by the Department of Tourism increased to 4,212 representing a 42.11% increase over 2015. The biggest growth rates were observed among the MICE sector, accommodation, travel and tour agencies, and tourist transport operators. The biggest shares of accredited primary tourism enterprises were in accommodation, travel and tour agency, and tour guides.
TABLE 8. DOT-Accredited Primary Tourism Enterprises 2015 2016 % Share Growth Rate in 2016 Compliance Accommodation 1,056 1,718 41% 62.69% Hotels 295 477 11% 61.69% Resorts 289 376 9% 30.10% Travel & Tour Agency 821 1,102 26% 34.23% Tourist Transport Operators 249 332 8% 33.33% Adventure & Ecotour Facility 5 4 0% -20% MICE 1 8 0% 700% Tour Guides 827 1,043 25% 26.12 Tourism Trainer 1 1 0% 0% Total 2,964 4,212 100% 42.11% Source: DOT
According to an article on Manila Bulletin online (February 13, 2019), citing the DOT as source, the number of accredited primary tourism establishments has already climbed to 6,108 as of December 31, 2018 (https: //news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/13/dilg-requires-tourism-enterprises-to-secure-dot-accreditation/). This is equivalent to an increase of 45% over the 2016 figures.
Apart from the primary establishments, a total of 475 secondary enterprises applied for voluntary accreditation. The bulk of secondary enterprises that sough accreditation consists of restaurant followed by health and wellness spas, and tourist shops or department stores.
TABLE 9. DOT-Accredited Secondary Tourism Enterprises 2015 2016 % Share Growth Rate in 2016 Compliance Restaurants 195 291 61.26% 49.23% Training Centers 11 20 4.21% 81.82% Tourist Shop/Dept. Store 17 38 8.00% 123.58% Farm Tourism Site 12 30 6.32% 150% Health & Wellness 33 42 8.84% 27.27% Others 47 45 9.47% Total 315 475 100% 50.79% Source: DOT
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OBJECTIVES
Program Objectives
As stated in the Modernizing Government Regulations program objectives, the study generally aims to:
1. Enhance capacity of agencies to improve the regulation making and effectively manage the delivery of regulatory services.
2. Identify specific measures to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden on specific industries.
3. Develop mechanisms that would make regulations more relevant and coherent.
Research Objectives
The objectives of this study are
1. To enumerate the number of steps involved in regulating the registration of tourism-related enterprises;
2. To identify the documents required for starting a tourism-related business;
3. To compute the costs of complying with the registration requirements for tourism businesses;
4. To identify the benefits of complying with the registration requirements for tourism businesses;
5. To compare the costs and benefits of compliance and non-compliance with tourism business registration;
6. To identify redundancies in documentary requirements; and
7. To recommend measures on simplifying tourism business registration.
SCOPE OF WORK AND LIMITATIONS
This study will be focusing only on one of the ten indicators of ease of doing business, which is starting a business. Included in this study are the renewal of tourism businesses, and DOT accreditation. The focus will be on primary tourism enterprises, although secondary tourism enterprises will also be discussed in passing.
This study was deficient in two aspects. One is that the study participants included only industry practitioners that are DOT-accredited. It was expected that they would advocate for the maintenance of the study quo. Another limitation of the study was that the respondents of the survey were mostly those who also attended the focus group discussions and public consultations. Thus, the results of the survey mostly mirrored the points raised about tourism regulations and accreditation during the FGDs and public consultations.
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RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
To achieve the overall objective of exploring the conversation between the researchers regulatory issues confronting the tourism the and participants. study utilized the tools of Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) as its guiding framework. RIA is a 4. Key Informant Interviews. This systematic process of “identifying and provides an opportunity for deeper assessing…regulatory proposals… based on exploration of identified issues arising determining the underlying regulatory objectives from the previous methods. It also sought and identifying all the policy allows participants to share further interventions capable of achieving them” (OECD, information that would otherwise be 2008, p.3). More importantly, RIA includes withheld in a public consultation. consultation with affected parties or stakeholders as part of its assessment. The following diagram illustrates the steps followed in gathering data for this study. The following specific methods are utilized in achieving the research objective: FIGURE 2. Data Gathering Steps
1. Document review. This includes analysis of relevant laws/rules/memorandum orders and other related literature, such as the previous study by Dela Santa and Melosantos (2016), to validate, compare and triangulate data A total of 41 resource persons were enjoined to collected from consultations with participate in the focus group discussions and stakeholders. This would also allow the public consultations. The participants are the research to compare issues and broken down as follows: proposed actions identified in previous studies pertinent to accreditation. TABLE 10. Data Gathering Steps Sectors Number 2. Industry survey. This serves as an Academe/Tourism Trainer 5 initial assessment of the costs of LGU Tourism Officers 3 compliance to the DOT accreditation. LGU Tourism Staff 5 Targeted participants include key DOT Regional Officers 1 players in the accommodation, attraction, tour and travel agencies and DOT Central 4 MICE. Data collected provides the Travel & Tour Agencies 8 foundation for further analysis. Hotels 5 Resort 1 3. Industry Focus Group Discussions and Restaurants 3 Public consultation. This targets the Tour Guides 3 conduct of discussion with a wider Transport Operators 2 audience to gather information on Event Organizer 1 aspects identified in the industry Total 41 survey and document review. It also provides a platform for a two-way
TOURISM INDUSTRY REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
The aspect of regulation that were covered in mandate of licensing and classifying tourism this study were starting and renewing a tourism- enterprises. The DOT then had about 70 in- related business. Embedded in these two house inspectors (OTSR key informant, procedures is the process of accreditation, interview). However, with the passage of which is a requirement for opening, and Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government renewing a tourism-related business. Code of 1991, several functions were devolved from the national to the local government units The regulation of tourism enterprises has (LGUs). The national government refers to the changed since the 1970s. When the Department central and regional offices, while LGUs refer to of Tourism was created on May 17, 1973 by provincial, municipal, city, and barangay virtue of Presidential Decree 189 it was given the government units. Under this law, licensing of
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tourism businesses was handed over to the inclusive, encourage collaboration and support LGUs and the DOT’s regulatory role was reduced from local government and industry to the issuance of accreditation to tourism stakeholders in the implementation of the new enterprises which chose to apply for it on a system, motivate stakeholders to maintain and voluntary basis. In 2009, by virtue of RA 9593 or improve the quality of their properties’ facilities Tourism Act of 2009, accreditation by the DOT and services, and develop database of primary was made a mandatory requirement for the tourism enterprises in the county. issuance of local business permit for primary tourism enterprises. Secondary tourism Just when the DOT thought that PAS was the enterprises could still apply for accreditation on best option to encourage accreditation a voluntary basis. applications, the Department of Interior and Local Government issued Memorandum The enforcement of mandatory accreditation Circular No. 2019-17 in February 2019, proved to be problematic due in part to many instructing LGUs to enforce the requirement for LGUs permitting primary tourism DOT accreditation as a precondition for establishments to operate even without DOT business permit. This directive actually sought accreditation. In response, the DOT compliance with the original sequence implemented its Progressive Accreditation mandated by law, which was to obtain System or PAS in July 2017. The PAS is a three- accreditation prior to application for business level recognition scheme, consisting of basic permit. However, the announcement also placed registration, regular accreditation, and premium the DOT at an awkward position as it had been accreditation. Each type of accreditation has a orienting the tourism stakeholders about the set of requirements as shown in the following PAS. The DOT also needed to speed up the table. The number and cost of requirements accreditation process so that the generally increase with each level of establishments could secure or renew business accreditation. The validity periods range from permits. The DOT had to implement “mobile one year for basic registration to three years for accreditation” in order to accelerate the process premium accreditation. Through the PAS, the (DOT officer, personal communication, March DOT hoped to make accreditation system more 2019).
TABLE 11. Timeline of the Tourism Regulation in Relation to Accreditation Before 1973 Licensing of all enterprises was handled by the Department of Trade and Tourism 1973 Licensing and classification of tourism enterprises became the responsibility of the newly created Department of Tourism by virtue of PD 189. 1991 DOT accreditation was made voluntary; licensing of tourism enterprises was devolved to LGUs by virtue of RA 7160 2009 Mandatory accreditation of primary tourism enterprises by the DOT was made a requisite for the issuance of business license by the LGU by virtue of RA 9593. Voluntary accreditation may be sought by secondary tourism enterprises. 2017 DOT launches the Progressive Accreditation System allowing primary tourism enterprises to apply for basic registration with the DOT with just a valid business license; in effect reversing the process 2019 DILG issues memorandum instructing LGUs to enforce compliance with DOT accreditation requirement prior to the issuance of business license to primary tourism enterprises.
Starting a Tourism Business
The table below summarizes the procedures, costs and the requirements associated with setting up a business in the Philippines by a new corporation. It shows that in common with other businesses, setting up a tourism business will entail about 15 steps, which will cost about P35,000 in filing fees and documentary requirements, which involve about 52 days of processing time.
TABLE 12. Steps in Registering a Tourism Business Steps Tasks Cost Time to Labor complete cost 1 Obtain bank certificate of deposit Free 1 day 537
of the paid-in capital 2 Verify the availability of the 40 1 day 537 company name with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) (Department and Trade and Industry if single proprietorship)
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TABLE 12. Steps in Registering a Tourism Business (Continuation) Steps Tasks Cost Time to Labor complete cost 3 Register incorporation with the filing fee for articles of 3 days 537 Securities and Exchange incorporation PHP 1,000
Commission +issuance fees PHP 1,000+ PHP 510 bylaws fee + PHP 470 - stock and transfer book registration fee + PHP 75 - membership book registration fee; Total: 3,055 4 Obtain community tax certificate 500 1 day 268.5
(CTC) 5 Apply for a Barangay (district) 800 2 days 268.5
clearance 6 Obtain Mayor's permit/municipal The fees vary depending on 11 days 537 license to operate at the Licensing the local government unit
Section of the Mayor's Office (city/municipality) issuing the mayor’s permit (PHP 900, sanitary permit fee + 0.2% of capital for license fee + PHP 2000, permit fee for businesses engaged in retail + PHP 2,500 garbage collection fee); Total: 25,400 for a company with 1M capital 7 Receive inspection from the Free 5 days 268.5
Mayor's Office 8 Buy special books of account at 400 1 day 268.5
bookstore 9 Register for taxes at the Bureau of PHP 500 (registration fee) + 2 days 268.5
Internal Revenue (BIR) PHP 15 (certification fee) and PHP 100(documentary stamp tax, in loose form to be attached to Form 2303) Total 615 10 Payment of documentary stamp PHP1 for every PHP 200 of 1 day 268.5
taxes capital; P5000 for 1M 11 Obtain the authority to print Included in Procedure 9 1 day receipt/invoices with the Bureau
of Internal Revenue (BIR) 12 Print receipts and invoices at the PHP 4,000 (between PHP 14 days 268.5
print shops accredited by the BIR 3,000 and PHP 5,000) 13 Submit receipts and invoices to Free 1 day 268.5 the BIR for approval, have receipts/invoices and books of
accounts stamped by BIR 14 Initial registration with the Social Free 1 week 537
Security System (SSS) and 15 Complete registration with SSS Free 1 day 537 and Philippines Health Insurance
Company (PHIC) PHP 34,810 52 days P5,370 (10 days) 38 days with PBS
The applicant will have to transact with seven government offices, namely,
1. Securities and Exchange Commission 5. Bureau of Internal Revenue 2. Department of Trade and Industry 6. Social Security System 3. Barangay LGU 7. Philippine Health Insurance Company 4. Municipal/City LGU
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Other agencies that were mentioned in the DOT accreditation guidelines and Perception Survey were:
1. Department of Health (health 5. City Environment and Natural certification) Resource Office 2. Land Transportation Franchising and 6. Municipal Environment and Natural Regulatory Board Resource Office 3. Land Transportation Office 7. Department of Labor and Employment 4. Department of Environment and 8. Bureau of Immigration and Deportation Natural Resources (Environmental 9. Technical Educations and Skills Clearance) Development Authority (accreditation of training centers and trainers)
Tourism Business Value Stream Map
Dela Santa and Melosantos (2016) plotted a value stream map showing the documentary requirements for starting a business. The current researchers reformatted the VSM into the following the table, which shows that someone that is going to set up a tourism business will have to deal with seven agencies (actually eight if LGU will be distinguished into Barangay and municipal / city office); secure 21 different permits or documents; and submit 20 duplicates of the documents. Each permit will further require small steps such as going to the office concerned, filling out forms, paying, and queueing. If the procedure is not finished on time, the applicant will have to return the following transaction day.
TABLE 13. Value Stream Map for Starting a Tourism Business No. Document Required Mayor’s Business TIN Employee Employee Registration Accreditation permit Name R Registration Registration of Corporations/ Partnerships LGU DTI BIR SSS PhilHealth SEC DOT 1 Locational clearance 2 Barangay clearance 3 Fire safety certificate 4 Electrical inspection certificate 5 Sanitary permit 6 Cultural Tourism Affairs Office Clearance 7 Lease contract 8 TRN Acknowledgement Form 9 Treasurer’s affidavit: Statement of Assets and Liabilities 10 Deed of undertaking 11 Board resolution on business name registration 12 Mayor’s permit 13 Business Name Registration 14 Articles of incorporation 15 List of officials and employees 16 Registration data sheet of stockholders and directors 17 SEC Registration (copy) 18 Audited financial statements 19 Bank certificate of deposit of paid in capital 20 Comprehensive general liability insurance 21 Proof of working capital Total documents per 7 9 4 4 3 6 6 Agency Total number of 39 documents
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Accreditation
A crucial layer in securing the mayor’s 4. Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and (business) permit whether as a start-up or for Exhibitions (MICE) renewal is accreditation. Accreditation is • Professional congress defined in Republic Act 9593 (Tourism Act of organizer/mice organizer 2009) as “a certification issued by the • Mice facility/venue Department of Tourism to a tourism enterprise that officially recognizes [the latter] as having 5. Ecotourism complied with the minimum standards for the • Ecoguide operation of tourism facilities and services.” • Ecolodge • Ecotour facility The objectives of accreditation were “to • Ecotour operator encourage global competitiveness, strengthen data gathering and research on tourism, and 6. Tourism Frontliner facilitate the promotion of individual enterprises • Tour guide and the industry as a whole” (RA 9593, Subchapter II -E, Section 39). DOT officials also Secondary tourism enterprises are tourism- maintain that accreditation is a way to related facilities and services. They can apply guarantee quality customer service, security, for accreditation on a voluntary basis. They and the protection of tourists from cover health and wellness services, tourism- unscrupulous establishments. related establishments, and tourism trainers.
Under the law (RA 9593), accreditation is 1. Health and wellness services mandatory for primary tourism enterprises, and • Ambulatory Clinic voluntary for secondary tourism enterprises. For • Medical Concierge primary tourism enterprises, securing the DOT • Spa accreditation is a prerequisite for obtaining the • Tertiary hospital mayor’s permit.
2. Tourism related establishments Primary tourism enterprises are those facilities • Agri-tourism farm/site and services that are directly related to tourism. • They are periodically required to obtain Department store/shopping accreditation from the DOT to ensure the quality mall/specialty shop of its facilities and standard of services. • Galleries • Museums 1. Accommodation • Restaurant • Hotel • Tourism entertainment complex • Resort • Tourism recreational facility • Apartment hotel • Tourism training center/institute • Tourist inn • Rest areas/Restrooms • Pension house • Motel 3. Tourism Trainer • Homestay The accreditation process, in general, entails the 2. Travel and Tour Agencies following steps:
• Tour operator 1. Self-assessment • Travel agency
• Travel and tour agency 2. Filing of application • Online travel and tour agency
3. Submission of documentary 3. Tourist Transport Operator requirements • Tourist air transport • Tourist land transport 4. Inspection by DOT-designated • Tourist water transport inspectors
5. Receipt of accreditation
Documentary Requirements
Apart from the usual documentary requirements for starting and operating a business, DOT accreditation imposes added formalities. The requirements for DOT accreditation vary depending on the type of establishment and level of accreditation sought. The following list comes from the Progressive
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Accreditation System, which according to the DOT is already a much-simplified version over the original list. [With the issuance of DILG Circular, the basic registration will no longer apply.]
TABLE 14. Requirements for Accreditation of Primary Tourism Establishments Establishment Requirement Basic* Regular Premium Accommodation 1. Valid Mayor’s Permit/Business * License * * 2. Valid Comprehensive General Liability Insurance Policy (min. * coverage P500,000) 3. Valid Comprehensive General Liability Insurance Policy (min. * coverage P1,000,000) 4. National Certification for concerned * staff 5. Quality Recognition Awards from * reputable institutions Travel and Tour 1. Valid Mayor’s Permit/Business * * * Agencies License 2. For the General manager: Proof of 3 years’ experience or proof of passing * * travel and tour course by DOT and accredited training center 3. Notarized list of names of officials and employees (with designation and * * nationality) 4. Audited financial statements and Income Tax Return of preceding year * (with minimum capital requirement of P500,000) 5. Audited financial statements and Income Tax Return of preceding year * (with minimum capital requirement of P1,500,000) 6. Membership of good standing in * recognized associations 7. Commendations or awards from * recognized institutions Tourist Land 1. Valid Mayor’s Permit/Business * * * Transport Operator License 2. Valid LTFRB franchise for the * * vehicles 3. LTO Certificate of Registration for the * * Vehicles 4. LTFRB Confirmation of vehicle units * * for the current year 5. Proof of attendance to DOT seminar * * for the drivers Online Travel 1. Barangay clearance * Agencies 2. Valid Mayor’s Permit and/or * Business License 3. Contract of lease/title for the office * MICE Organizer 1. Valid Mayor’s Permit and/or * * * Business License 2. General Manager: Proof of 3 years’ experience or attendance to PCO * * training 3. Notarized list of names of officials and employees (with designation and * * nationality) *Prior to the issuance of DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2019-17
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TABLE 14. Requirements for Accreditation of Primary Tourism Establishments (Continuation) Establishment Requirement Basic* Regular Premium MICE Organizer 4. Company profile/portfolio * 5. Audited financial statements; minimum working capital of * P500,000 6. Audited financial statements; minimum working capital of * P1,000,000 7. Proof of successful organization and handling of at least five domestic and * international events; 8. Proof of membership to a recognized * MICE organization 9. Award or commendation from * reputable institutions MICE Venue 1. Valid Mayor’s Permit and/or * * * Business License 2. Notarized list of names of officials and employees (with designation and * * nationality) 3. Valid Comprehensive General Liability Insurance Policy (min. * coverage P500,000) 4. Valid Comprehensive General Liability Insurance Policy (min. * coverage P1,000,000) 5. Quality Assurance Award from a * reputable institution *Prior to the issuance of DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2019-17
After the basic requirements are secured, the TABLE 15. Scoring System for Star-Grading applicant can proceed with the DOT of Accommodation accreditation application. The DOT Total Points Category accreditation involves four steps: (1) self- 251-400 1-star assessment, (2) filing of application, (3) 401-550 2-star submission of required documents, (4) ocular 551-700 3-star inspection of the enterprise building or facility. 701-850 4-star The DOT seal and certificate of accreditation 851-1,000 5-star will be released if the enterprise passes the inspection. The evaluation for accommodation The criteria for hotels for the star rating system establishments (hotel, resort, and apartment are spread over seven dimensions, with each hotel) under the star rating system involves a dimension having its set of indicators. The self-assessment phase, and the actual dimensions are (1) arrival and departure, (2) assessment by the DOT third party accreditor. public areas, (3) bedrooms, (4) bathrooms, (5) The self-assessment provides an idea of food and beverage, (6) amenities, and (7) whether a property will be ready for a specific business practices. There is a total of 83 criteria category of accommodation facility. and 177 indicators. Apartment hotels have two additional dimensions: lounge area, and kitchen. The ocular could be done in minutes in the case of a travel agency, according to a travel agency TABLE 16. Dimensions and Number of manager. The inspector evaluates the property Criteria of Star-Grading System of based on, but not limited to, the items from an Accommodation official checklist of requirements. For example, Dimensions Number of the evaluator may look for a receiving area, or a criteria magazine rack, even though these items may Arrival/departure 15 not be required. Public areas 13
Bedroom 24 There accommodation standards range from Bathroom 15 one to five star. The category is determined by a points system as shown in the following table. Food and beverage 10 Amenities and services 4 Business practices 2
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The criteria for hotel accreditation consist in for less than 50 rooms at least one PWD part of mandatory and minimum requirements. room. which are denoted by a small letter m (m). Mandatory requirements, denoted by a capital m 9. Drinking water and one glass per guest (M) refer to those that are prescribed by existing laws, without which, no accreditation shall be 10. Baths and/or showers with functioning issued to the enterprise until such time that it hot and cold water. Hot water reaches 38 rectifies said deficiencies. Minimum degrees in 20 seconds. requirements marked as a small letter m are those which are minimum to a certain star 11. Toilet paper provided rating. Without that requirement the establishment will be awarded a lower 12. Breakfast room available classification, regardless of the total points accumulated. 13. Emergency and fire evacuation procedures are followed and in place Examples of mandatory requirements (DOT Manual on National Accommodation 14. Backup generator or emergency power is Standards): available, capable of providing full power
1. Hotel name clearly visible from the street Examples of minimum requirements for a three- star hotel: 2. Hotel name is visible at night 1. Reception service available 24 hours 3. Driveway is in a sound condition and free from significant potholes with no obvious 2. Porter services are available obstructions. 3. Bedroom area including bathroom is at 4. Professional security in place 24 hours at least 20 square meters main entry point 4. Tea/coffee facilities in room 5. Left luggage services available without dedicated space 5. Telephone provided in each room with direct dial 6. Guests must be provided with Official Receipt on departure. 6. In room compendium with basic information on emergency contacts 7. All public areas are air-conditioned or have temperature control initiatives and 7. In room compendium with extended maintain a temperature between 20-25 information including mini bar price degrees year-round, except in areas where lists and restaurant menu elevation is 2000 ft. above sea level. 8. Full-service restaurant open 7 days a 8. One PWD room for every 50 up to 150 week (including breakfast) rooms, and 1 for every 100 rooms thereof,
The accreditation fees of sample establishments are shown in the following table:
TABLE 17. Accreditation Fees Enterprise Classification Basic Regular Premium 1-year 2-year 3-year validity validity validity Accommodation 5-star 8,500 4-star 7,500 3-star 6,500 2-star 5,500 1-star 4,500 Regular 2,000 Mabuhay Accommodation 500 1,400 2,100 Homestay 600 900 Tourist Land Transport Op. (Min. 3 Bus 700/u. 1,050/u. u.) Coaster/minibus 400/u. 600/u. Van 300/u. 450.u. Car 200/u. 300/u.
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TABLE 17. Accreditation Fees (Continuation) Enterprise Classification Basic Regular Premium 1-year validity 2-year 3-year validity validity Travel and Tour Agency Main Office 5,000 7,500 Branch Office 3,000 4,500 Online 5,000 7,500 MICE Organizer 1,400 2,100 MICE Venue 2,800 4,200 Sticker fee (all enterprises) 300 Plaque fee (all enterprises) 2,500
These fees apply for primary tourism enterprises under the Progressive Accreditation System. Only Mabuhay accommodation could apply for the one-year basic registration. All the rest need to start with regular accreditation, which is valid for 2 years, and elevated to premium status which is valid for three years if an establishment meets the higher level requirements. There is no price difference between a regular and premium accreditation on a per year basis for most classes of enterprises. For example, the regular accreditation of a travel agency costs P5,000 which is valid for two years; premium accreditation costs P7,500, valid for three years. Both costs an average of P2,500 per year of validity. The savings come in the form of not having to do the leg work and paperwork for a longer period of time.
Alternative accreditation systems do exist but are not recognized by the DOT, even though the standards may be even higher than those of the agency. An example of this is Rolls Royce’s standards for five-star hotels. The table below compares the standards of DOT and RR.
TABLE 18. Comparison of Hotel Standards of DOT and Rolls Royce Criteria DOT ROLLS ROYCE 24-hour security staff / 1 pt. FD 60 fire-resistant room doors X 1 pt. Door viewer / 1 pt. Emergency evacuation guides displayed near the entrance / 1 pt. to the rooms or suites Emergency lighting / / Stairwell exits marked and lit X / Emergency alarm or panic button X 1 pt. Fire sprinkler system X / Fire safety doors on each floor X / Independent electricity generator / 1 pt. 24-hour first aid staff availability X / Free access for wheelchairs from street to hotel X / Free access for wheelchairs throughout the hotel X / 24 hr. reception desk / / Concierge services x / Porterage on request / / Storage for guest luggage X / Foreign exchange or ATM X / Message taking service X / Free internet access in public areas X / Late check out X / Business service X / 50% of rooms 20 sqm or larger / / (30 sqm.) Choice of lighting X / Controllable air conditioning or heating X / Drawer storage for clothes X / Room safe X / (4 pts) Laundry bag X / (1 pt.) Single bed min of 190 cm. by 90 cm; double bed min 198 X / cm. by 152 cm (not indicated)
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TABLE 18. Comparison of Hotel Standards of DOT and Rolls Royce (Continuation) Criteria DOT ROLLS ROYCE Hygienic covers for mattresses X / (not indicated) At least two pillows per guest X / (not indicated) Hygienic covers for pillows X / (not indicated) Wakeup call service X / ( not indicated) Turn-down service or evening room check X / Single bedside tables for single room/two bedside table for X / doubles/twins (4-8 pts) Bedside phone / (whether / bedside not indicated) Writing desk X / Hotel stationery X / Power sockets for guest use X / In-room information folder / / In room service menu / / Hairdryer X / (2 pts) Sewing kit X / Iron and board X / (2 PTS) Armchair or sofa X / Complimentary beverages X / Tap water safe to drink or bottled water provided free of X / charge Mini bar / / 24 hr. room service / / In room internet X / Bathroom choice of lighting X / Multiple towels per guest X / Bathrobe per person X / Slippers per guest X / (1 pt.) Toothbrush tumbler or holder X / Shaving socket with dual voltage X / Bathroom waste bin X / Bathroom consumables X / soap; liquid soap; shampoo; conditioner; body lotion (3-5 pts) Vanity set (shower cap, nail file, cotton swab, tissue paper; X / min of three items) (3-5 pts) Spare toilet paper X / 24-hour dry cleaning X / 24 hr. laundry and ironing X / (2 pts) Daily inspection of public areas X / Daily inspection of bedrooms X / Energy efficiency, sustainability and conservation X Not mandatory; 1 (5 pts max for point for each energy efficiency) practice
Administration and Enforcement
By law, the responsibility of administering and Central (National). The brunt of enforcing the enforcing mandatory accreditation resides in prescribed standards and classification of the Standards Monitoring and Enforcement primary and secondary tourism enterprises falls Division (SMED), which is under the Office of on the DOT’s regional offices. The SMED also is Tourism Standards and Regulation of DOT mandated to act on complaints on erring
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accredited tourism enterprises, and if issuance of business permits to the concerned necessary, impose fines, downgrade, suspend tourism enterprises by the LGU. The law on or revoke the accreditation, and issue public tourism emphasizes the major role of local advisories pertaining to the violators. The loss tourism officers as enforcers of tourism of accreditation is supposed to lead to the non- standards in their localities.
Sanctions on Non-compliant Establishments
The DOT has an oversight committee that training, and other programs of the Department conducts periodic inspections of the classified and its attached agencies and corporations; establishments. The DOT may, for the following and be endorsed by the DOT to embassies, trade violations, either downgrade or cancel the associations, and other DOT accredited accreditation of a tourism establishment: (1) establishments for preferential treatment in false declaration, (2) failure to comply, (3) failure obtaining relevant services. DOT training to meet standards and requirements, (4) use of programs include basic customer handling, and the facility for prostitution. housekeeping to upgrade the quality of service for the guests. Bonafide employees of DOT- In case of such violation, the OTSR assessor will accredited establishments could have access to make a report, and send the letter to the international airports. DOT-accredited tourist establishment about the violation. The land transport vehicles are also endorsed by the establishment is given three months to rectify Department to the Land Transportation the deficiencies. If the establishment fails to Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for comply, the accreditation is either revoked or issuance of tourist transport franchise. They downgraded. The DOT OTSR sends a report to could also participate in DOT sales missions the LGU regarding the status of accreditation of abroad. These benefits were validated by the the offending establishment. The LGU is tourism stakeholders during the focus group supposed to withhold or deny business permits discussions and interviews. Some participants to an establishment whose accreditation has also added that DOT accreditation serves to been cancelled by the DOT. reinforce their company image as a responsible tourism enterprise. According to the DOT, being accredited enable a tourism enterprise to access promotional,
ISSUES RAISED BY STAKEHOLDERS AND PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS
The following table shows the list of issues that were raised by the industry stakeholders during the interviews, focus group discussions, and public consultations. The list has been grouped according to themes: information related (Transparency issue), implementation-related issues, costs outweighing benefits for the industry, regulation not being responsive to new trends. The table also shows the initial recommendations mentioned by stakeholders during the focus group discussions, public consultations, and in-depth interviews.
TABLE 19. Issues and Recommendations by Stakeholders Issue Recommendations Information-related issues/Transparency Multiple agencies One-stop shop Multiple requirements One-stop shop Frequent submissions of requirements to regulatory agencies (Perception Survey) Varying requirements based on political territory Remove necessity of filing multiple permits if one is holding a national-level accreditation Local ordinances are passed without due Public consultation consultations with stakeholders Changes in ordinance not always communicated to stakeholders (Survey) Lack of familiarity with tourism regulations Information and education campaign (Survey) Lack of transparency on some requirements; breakdown of fees is not explained by agency (Survey)
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TABLE 19. Issues and Recommendations by Stakeholders (Continuation) Issue Recommendations Unclear set of requirements Issue checklist of requirements for setting up business, and for accreditation Implementation-related Issues Different interpretations or implementation of LGUs, DOT and other entities involved in the law/LGUs not following the requirement for regulating tourism should sit down to standardize DOT accreditation for issuance of business process permits Slow processing times; time consuming; long Increase DOT staff complement and procure days (30 days for 46% of survey respondents) equipment; train LGUs to monitor; revive the allotted for legwork automated system Irregular or inconsistent monitoring Increase DOT staff complement; train LGUs to monitor Inconsistent enforcement (Survey) Difficulty of access to agencies (Survey) Increase number of offices Costs outweighing benefits High cost of compliance (fees, time, transaction Lengthen validity of accreditation and permits; and travel costs) increase manpower complement; increase number of offices per region Lack of tangible benefits of compliance Reward with reduced fees; exemptions Unfair competition from non-compliant Stricter enforcement; implement fines for establishments violations Low compliance by most of the industry players Penalties are not significant Burden is on the industry; regulation is focused on obligations of the industry without clear benefits (Survey) Current regulation not responsive to new trends Current regulations are insufficient to deal with Report to authorities the new phenomena of unlicensed foreign tour guides, and online travel agencies Unqualified trainers Better screening of trainers
CRITIQUE OF THE ACCREDITATION SYSTEM
To reiterate the avowed objectives of mandatory which has mandatory accreditation, these accreditation were “to encourage global countries where the mode is voluntary competitiveness, strengthen data gathering and accreditation rank far better than the Philippines research on tourism, and facilitate the (World Travel & Tourism Council, 2018). promotion of individual enterprises and the industry as a whole” (RA 9593, Subchapter II -E, TABLE 20. 2017 Rank of Countries with Section 39). DOT officials also maintain that Voluntary Accreditation as a Norm accreditation is a way to guarantee quality Country 2017 Ranking customer service, security, and protection of (136 economies) tourists from unscrupulous establishments. Thailand 34 Australia 7 From the analysis of the myriad of criteria used Canada 9 to rate accommodation establishments, along Germany 3 the star rating system, it could be said that none United Kingdom 5 of those criteria directly measures the New Zealand 16 achievement of the stated objectives. This is a USA 6 serious flaw because it has been said that you Philippines (Mandatory) 86 cannot regulate what you cannot measure. As accredited entities, the establishments gain As far as the necessity for mandated rather than access to DOT-sponsored promotional events voluntary accreditation, there is evidence to and trainings. They also get endorsed to suggest that there is no correlation between embassies and other government agencies and these modes of accreditation and are encouraged to patronize the services of competitiveness. The following table shows a fellow accredited establishments. list of countries where the norm is voluntary Unfortunately, these benefits remain largely accreditation. Compared to the Philippines unappreciated by the industry because the
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benefits are “not tangible”; they are only Being situated near bodies of water or in an “opportunities” and have no precise monetary environmentally fragile areas can jack the fees value. On the other hand, the costs of even higher in or to comply with environmental compliance, like fees and penalties, are precise requirements. For example, a water treatment and stated in monetary terms. Many plant cost about P2.5 million. The cost of testing establishments would rather not become generator sets for pollution run into five digits. accredited because the supposed value of The cost of penalties for violation of accreditation is not relevant to them. “Aanhin ko environmental regulations is even higher at naman ang invitation to participate in travel P10,000 per parameter per day! According to a missions abroad kung ang market ko naman ay high-level manager of a hotel in Quezon City, mostly domestic?” asked one informant. [Who keeping track of the regulations is quite tedious needs travel missions abroad when your market task that even necessitated him to delegate a is mostly domestic?] “Napipilitan lang ako mag- staff to just be on a constant watch for member kasi requirement ng CHED,” a key documentary requirements and deadlines. informant who sells educational tours confided. [I am just forced to apply for accreditation The DOT is supposed to be able to monitor because it is a requirement of CHED.] Another tourism establishments to ensure compliance. issue they cited was that if they become The problem, however, is that the “universe of accredited, the more that they will be prone to accreditable establishments” is not known, sanctions like heavy fines, and ultimately according to a former officer of Tourism revocation of accreditation. Since that will be Standards and Regulation. Comparing available the end result, many travel agencies choose not data from the Philippine Statistical Authority, to be accredited. Finally, most customers do not and the DOT, the proportion of accredited discriminate between accredited and non- establishments would be below 20%. The figure accredited entities. Customers do not ask about seems to be so much lower based on accreditation, according to an accredited travel information provided by a local tourism officer agent. For them the most important thing is the in Region 6 (Central Visayas) and Region 10 price. Non-accredited tour operators can (Northern Mindanao). “There are 217 resorts but undercut the accredited ones. For instance, “the only three are accredited; There are already 34 official daily rate for an accredited tour guide is potential farms in Iloilo alone but only 11 P1,500 but the “outcasts” (non-accredited) will accredited farms in Region 6.” “Ninety percent charge only P750 for a day,” says an informant of vans [in Cagayan de Oro] are not accredited in Cagayan de Oro. “The outcasts outnumber us, by DOT. Of the 60 to 200 tour operators in CDO, kaya minsan ang feeling ko kami na legit na yung only 10 are accredited.” outcasts.” We are forced to engage the services of non-accredited tourist transport because of The inability to monitor compliance is also due their greater number, and sometimes also to lack of resources (staff, offices, equipment). because they can charge cheaper rates, says another. Thus, the objective of mutual utilization One of the often-cited reasons for the inability or of services among accredited entities is also disinterest to comply is the myriad number of defeated. requirements that need to be submitted.
Besides the cost of accreditation itself, the One feature of the accreditation process for stakeholders complained of high compliance accommodation facilities is the scheduled visit costs. It cost a restaurant in Cagayan de Oro of third-party evaluators. This method has City, from P350,000 to P400,000 for restaurants shortcomings in the sense that the applicants to purchase fire suppression and sprinkler could prepare for the visit. An alternative to this system. Millions of pesos are needed to meet is the use of spot visits by a qualified evaluator the star-rating system requirement for PWD (e.g., Rolls Royce accreditation for five-star rooms, and to have water treatment plant. One hotels). The use of third-party evaluators by the informant told the Team that their hotel spent DOT presents the possibility of properties being P100 million just to make their rooms compliant ranked inconsistently due to the presence of with national standards. A surety bond of numerous subjective criteria, such as the ones P500,000 costs P6,000 a year in premium shown below. payment. Renewal fees for travel and tour operators in CDO amount to between P1,000 1. Basic structure with adequate materials and P3,000 a year plus other fees like that will provide a simple and safe environmental fee or “garbage collection fee accommodation environment. “even if they do not collect [our] garbage.” For tour operators the total costs for renewing 2. Minor maintenance may be required, accreditation is between P25,000 and P30,000; natural weathering is evident. for farm tourism sites, P50,000. 3. Reception: Obvious size restrictions, area may be cluttered.
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4. Reception: No seating area available but 3. Procurement process ensures local limited privacy means it is difficult to have purchasing across all supply areas private conversations. (minimum 30% from within the region)
5. Basic registration process with minor wait 4. Procurement process advocates Green time (not more than 10 minutes per purchasing (minimum 20% of food/ guest). beverages, laundry services, and cosmetics procured from organic 6. Staff wear clean clothing and are neat and suppliers). tidy. Given the abysmal non-compliance with the 7. Staff are not very attentive or seem mandatory accreditation for primary tourism distracted, may be absent for short entities, it would be safe to say that enforcement periods. has been very weak. This ineffectiveness could be attributed to several factors. One is the DOT’s 8. Basic check-out process with minor wait lack of police powers. The DOT was given time (not more than 10 minutes per “responsibility without authority”; the DOT “has guest). no teeth,” according to both tourism entrepreneurs and professionals, a charge a 9. Public areas design and quality of decors: DOT official admitted. The DOT is given the duty Some attempt to coordinate design and to implement accreditation, but the have a consistent theme. enforcement of sanctions requires the cooperation of the LGUs. Another factor that 10. Public areas maintenance: Amateurish greatly undermine the DOT’s ability to impose application of wallpaper/ paint, tired look, the regulation are the lack of manpower. DOT damage is evident, and several minor lacks staff at the regional level. For example, repairs are needed. one regional office has 20 plantilla positions but only 10 have been filled out; and has 13 job order 11. Public areas furniture: Mismatched (JO) employees. In the case of accreditation for furniture that is not particularly hotels, the DOT employ a pool of trained third- comfortable. party accreditors, who were selected for their professional experience and unquestionable 12. Public washroom: Aging fixtures, rough integrity. The DOT used to have about 10 such finish no additional space accreditors but the number is much less now, according to an officer of the DOT OTSR. 13. Public washroom condition and cleanliness: Older condition, but clean and The online accreditation system that DOT used usable. to have was also inefficient. “Lagi naghahang; ‘di ma-verify authenticity ng documents. Walang 14. Bedrooms: Doors and drawers can be online payment system so receipts are issued opened freely without moving furniture, late.” [The system keeps hanging, and we could may still have cluttered feel, impression is not verify the authenticity of uploaded fair, ceiling height is at least 2.4 meters. documents. There is also no online payment system, so the receipts are issued late.] This 15. Light switch by main door only; online system has been taken down indefinitely acceptable illumination of bedroom. by the DOT.
16. Bedroom furniture: One chair, one bedside The DOT relies on the public to report table, aged materials, MDF (Medium complaints about erring tourism Density Fiberboard) materials, no establishments, and on the LGUs to suspend the coordination, repairs evident. issuance of the business permit. Unfortunately, very few LGUs demand for the certificate of Besides the problem of subjectivity, some accreditation. This suggests that the LGUs are requirements are hard to verify, such as the defying the law or are not aware of their following criteria under “Sustainable Practices”. responsibility as partner entity in enforcing accreditation. 1. Training program in place for staff (minimum of 3 days per staff member/ The penalties for non-compliance by concerned year). establishments are fines, downgrading, suspension or revocation of accreditation. In the 2. Recruitment program ensure local people case of erring travel and tour agencies, the fine are employed (minimum 80% from within for the first offense or violation is P50,000, the region). P75,000 for the second offense and revocation of accreditation on the third offense.
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On the part of the tourism stakeholders, most of we had many inspectors, 70, so we could field the FGD participants accept that regulations are them at once to the establishments.] Moreover, necessary and for the most part reasonable. the process is not seamless as payment and However, following the law could be very issuance of receipts could not be done online. burdensome to them in terms of the amount of Furthermore, many applicants as well as DOT effort and time involved to do so. staff in the regional offices prefer manual application because they could verify the It has been observed by Dela Santa and authenticity of submitted documents faster Melosantos (2016) that start-up tourism than those uploaded online. Online enterprises have to deal with several accreditation application on the DOT website government agencies. This finding was has been deactivated for several months as of supported by this present study team which this writing. The lack of manpower was also a observed that the regulatory agencies are more major issue that was acknowledged by the DOT often than not separated by distance, which official. A regional office needs at least five makes the application process tedious. For people to handle the accreditation applications. example, the DOT regional office for Region IV A But most regional office would have just two (Calabarzon) is located in Calamba, which is with plantilla positions, and the rest as job order, more than three hours away from Mauban, according to our key informant. Quezon. Metro Manila is even more challenging given the traffic congestion which slows down Another significant finding of the study is the official transactions. This jacks up transaction growing concern about online travel agencies, costs because people may have to avail of the and foreigners who work as tour guides in the more expensive but faster transport network country. There were also comments about services and pay for meals as they wait in line moonlighting by van drivers who bring tourists for their papers. Some requirements require the to a hotel but also conduct tours on their way applicants to return to finish their transactions back. There are also electronic shops that also with the relevant government offices, which sell flight tickets. “Pati Bayad Center nagtitinda multiply their expenses. One respondent from ng airline ticket.” Quezon Province informed this Team that, he had to go back to the DOT Calabarzon Regional These are entities that are difficult to trace and Office in Calamba several times to get his catch. Perhaps as a way to bring the online accreditation as tour guide. travel agents under the DOT radar, in the DOT’s Progressive Accreditation system, OTAs were Several reasons have been cited for the included under primary tourism enterprises that inefficiencies of the Department of Tourism have to be accredited. However, the insofar as accreditation processing is accreditation fees are at the same level as brick concerned. According to a high-ranking official and mortar agencies at P5,000 and P7,500 for of the DOT Office of Tourism Standards and regular and premium accreditation, respectively. Regulations, these include the lack of personnel Another requirement is for the online agency to at the DOT Regional Offices, non-functioning have a contract of lease for an office. This is computers, outdated software, computer problematic as OTAs work is not confined by equipment that is supposed to be dedicated for physical space. Moreover, the high fees could accreditation being used for other official even discourage rather than encourage them to purposes, and slow Internet speeds. The last seek accreditation. one discourages online accreditation application, which is supposed to make the The issue of foreigners working as tour guides process cheaper and faster. “Mas mabilis pa in places like Boracay has also been raised a few yung manu-manong processing ‘nung 1970s times by the focus group participants. It is not kasi ang dami naming inspectors sa DOT, mga 70 fair because they even get much higher pay than kaya nakakapag-field kami kaagad sa mga legitimate Filipino guides, they say. The establishments.” [It was even faster when we problem, however, is that there are virtually no had manual system during the 1970s because local guides who speak Korean or Chinese.
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CONCLUSION
Mandatory accreditation of primary tourism approach to achieve global enterprises has legal basis as per RA 9593. competitiveness. Most tourism industry stakeholders agree that regulations are necessary. 5. Accreditation has proved to be a huge burden on the part of the government, However, accreditation as a form of regulation and thus should consider narrowing its suffers from several defects. coverage, as well be open to alternative approaches. The government may 1. The benefits accrued from consider narrowing the coverage of accreditation do not outweigh the mandatory accreditation to the lower costs of compliance. In fact, most of categories of hotels, and exempt the stakeholders consulted follow the hotels that belong to international law only because “it is the law”. The chains, such as Marriott, Sofitel, supposed benefits are mere Holiday Inn, as their standards are even “opportunities”, whereas the costs are higher and more strict than those of real in the form of fees and penalties. the DOT. As one manager of a five-star Thus, the benefits are insufficient to hotel put it, the only asset of the big induce compliance, as attested by the hotels are their brands, which are very low compliance rates. based on the stringent standards. The government can free up scarce 2. A big number of accreditation criteria resources by allowing voluntary are subjective, and hard to verify, which accreditation from reputable rating results in inconsistent application. The bodies. An example of this is that of inconsistency in application could be Rolls Royce for a five-star hotel, which at the level of the local government in general has higher standards than units, or individual leaders. Thus, rules DOT’s. concerning tourist transport would be different from one political boundary to 6. Accreditation cannot be effectively another, and from one mayor to enforced because the DOT lacks police another. powers, and the LGUs are not enforcing the law as provided by RA 9593. 3. There is the tendency to impose additional requirements on top of the 7. The DOT and LGUs are deficient in not existing ones, which are already providing guidance and support for the burdensome on the affected sectors. affected sectors. For example, An example of this, is the charging of manuals on hotel accreditation are not “development fees” by an LGU, or an distributed; and the public are not fully inspector requiring a travel agent to aware of the myriad of technical and have a magazine rack and receiving legal requirements, as well as on the area. The latter example also betrays a obligations as business entities lack of appreciation of the nature of the (taxes). travel agency business. A receiving area is not necessary because most 8. Accreditation guidelines are applied transactions are now done over email, across the board without regard for the cell phones and other electronic conditions of specific areas and means. specific sectors of the tourism industry. For example, the requirement 4. The link between mandatory for 24-hour security services is accreditation and its avowed mandatory even in areas where crime objectives of global competitiveness rate is very low. Application fees for and achieving international standards online travel agencies are as high as of service remains obscure. There are for the brick and mortar agencies, no indicators and no systematic when most online agencies are being research that measure mandatory maintained by people who are not accreditation’s effectiveness to necessarily financially well-off. Five- achieve those policy goals. The case of star hotels that are part of global Thailand and other highly competitive chains whose standards are even tourist destination show that higher that DOT’s are also subjected to mandatory accreditation is not the only accreditation.
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9. Access to the accreditation system is specific cases attest to this. The first difficult due to the limitation imposed one is the noncooperation of many by geographic space, lack of LGUs in requiring accreditation for manpower, and technical equipment. business permits, and the directive from the DILG to LGUs to enforce 10. There is lack of consultation and accreditation, after the DOT has cooperation between partner agencies already formulated the Progressive like DOT and DILG and LGUs. Two Accreditation System.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Mandatory accreditation is not in conformity with most attributes of sound regulation. It should be suspended until the following measures have been put in place.
1. Strengthen the benefits to encourage 7. The government agencies should hold compliance. Reward compliance with a summit to amend accreditation rules substantial reduction (20%) in as well discuss the enforcement accreditation fees. protocols.
2. The criteria should be reduced and 8. Integrate information, education and made as objective as possible to communication as part of the strategy enable their consistent application by to encourage compliance. Include different individual evaluators. orientation of rules and regulations before the application of business 3. Create indicators that link mandatory permits. accreditation with the objectives. 9. Expedite the establishment of one-stop 4. Focus on the lower classifications of shops and the setting up of the accommodation establishments and Philippine Business Registry. on emerging sectors. Redesign accreditation to encourage growth, 10. Simplify and revitalize Online rather than to impose punishments. Accreditation System.
5. Allow autonomy to four star and five- 11. Amend the guidelines to factor in star hotels. specific conditions in local areas.
6. Allow voluntary certification from 12. The DOT, DILG and LGUs should hold recognized international bodies. inter-agency dialogues to iron out issues in enforcement.
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REFERENCES
Dela Santa, E. & Melosantos, A. (2016). Modernizing Government Regulations - Tourism. Final Report. Development Academy of the Philippines.
Department of Tourism (n.d.) National Accommodation Standards (Hotels, Resorts and Apartment Hotels). Manila: DOT.
Department of Tourism (n.d.) Documentary Requirements for Accreditation. Manila: DOT.
Department of Tourism (n.d.) Rules and Regulations to Govern the Accreditation of Tourism Related Establishments. Manila: DOT.
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2008). Introductory Handbook for Undertaking Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA). Retrieved from < https://www.oecd.org/gov/regulatory-policy/44789472.pdf>
Philippine Statistics Authority (2014) Survey of Tourism Establishments in the Philippines (STEP). Final Results. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved from
The World Bank (2018). Doing Business 2018 Reforming to Create Jobs: Comparing Business Regulation for Domestic Firms in 190 Economies. Washington DC: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank. Retrieved from http://www.doingbusiness.org/content/dam/doingBusiness/media/AnnualReports/English/DB2 018-Full-Report.pdf.
What is the tourism industry? Destination NSW. Retrieved April 20, 2018 from
World Economic Forum (2017). The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017: Paving The Way For A More Sustainable And Inclusive Future. Geneva: WEF. Retrieved from http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TTCR_2017_web_0401.pdf.
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ANNEXES
Profile of the Study Team
Reil G. Cruz. Research Fellow. PhD Management. Associate Professor, U.P. Asian Institute of Tourism
Giovanni Francis A. Legaspi. Research Associate. Master of Arts in Industrial Relations, Assistant Professor, U.P. Asian Institute of Tourism
Jennifer B. Rucio. Research Assistant. Bachelor of Science in Tourism. Summa cum laude, U.P. Asian Institute of Tourism
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Results of the Perception Survey
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Documentation of Industry Dialogue, Public Consultation, and Public Forum
Industry Dialogue Recoding 180627_1350.mp3 Transcription
RC1: So first of all, we would like to thank you So we have barely about around 3 hours. We again for making time for this industry dialogue. plan to finish everything by 5 oclock. Thank you We were expecting only three, but it multiplied to for your cooperation. I guess DAP will be a factor of three. It’s almost nine. providing us with some pampalamig…
So, our team is comprised of myself as lead, Sir Ms. Nica: …bukod sa aircon… Vanni as the associate, and Jen as our assistant. And as have been provided in the (Laughs from the respondents) background information, there has already been RC: So I’ll turn you over to Sir Vanni. For the a mapping out…a mapping study carried out in initial questions. 2016. If you look at the walls, this is what they did in 2016. They inventory all the documentary VL3: Salamat. Thank you Sir Reil. So I would like requirements, the time spent for acquiring such to start first before asking the questions, part of document, as well as the cost for the the protocol, or regulations, ay would be the commoditary value plus the opportunity cost. consent form that we would have to ask everyone. Ito po ay may kinalaman rin naman sa So, this time, we’re going to do the deepening ating mga personal na opinion. This would be study. We’re very lucky because this is just one passed on later by Ms. Adel… of the two which will be doing a deepening study. So that means that there is a big RC: Kanina nag-pa-sign na sila… importance or significance being given to the tourism sector. So, our inputs are very valuable. VL: And also, with all due respect, meron din po tayong data privacy law. If incase ay you don’t With regards to the deepening study, the first want your any identity at all, but of course we thing we are going to do is to validate the value your inputs and what you would be able to findings and recommendation that (from) the share in this discussion, kung ayaw niyo ang mapping out study carried out by Dela Santa and pangalan niyo ay nakalagay, ‘yun po ay okay. We Melosantos. Later on, we will be doing the respect that. And at the same time, we would deeper questions like how, why… and the details be… we would protect the identity of those who of the different dimensions of the issue on do not want to be identified. But again, since, si regulation Jen… We are very grateful that si Jen facilitated the communication, sent out the invitations So, for this afternoon, I have asked Vanni to be through email and (to Ms. Jen) text ba…? Meron the “tagapagpadaloy ng talakayan”. din text, okay, thank you. And the responses and (Laughs from the respondents) your support is highly valuable… being here, As a facilitator ay ‘yun ang kanyang strength. present for this discussion. Kami naman ni Jen ay nandito lang, mag- Time elapsed – 04:50 oobserba at mag-nonotes. But I will also be helping out with the question. Okay po. So, VL: Okay po. So as mentioned by Ms Adel, and everyone will have a chance to air their insights, the overview by Ms. Nica, this will be primarily opinions, comments... Wala pong mali. Lahat ay looking at regulations of tourism in particular, tama. We value the diversity of opinions, and and understanding how this can be modernized that will really enrich our study. in a sense. From there, we have taken off from the idea that this modernizing regulatory (Time elapsed - 02:40)2 program would be focusing on the Kasi kung we go with the crowd, baka yung enhancement of capacity, identifying specific opinion mo ay may weight. Hindi mo lang sinabi. measures, and at the same time developing So, we encourage everyone to say what is in mechanisms that would lead to a more their… bottom of their hearts and minds… in this productive and efficient business… sectors afternoon. under tourism. Marami po kasi ito na nabanggit
1 Reil Cruz 3 Vanni Legaspi 2 Time elapsed presented in Minutes and Seconds format (MM:SS)
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kanina. But part of the deepening will be looking MJ5: And also…permits sa mga home-based. at the tourism industry. Which is really unfair sa mga gaya naming na we rent an office or we buy an office. So here, meron po kaming questions that we will be asking, and we would like everyone to give VL: You really invest… their thoughts and share their ideas on how this can be explained and affecting your own line of MJ: Yes, we invest a lot. businesses; whether as an organization, as PS: A lot of them don’t even know their consultants or as an LGU… We are lucky geography. How could you set a place (without because we are quite represented here by some knowing its) geography. of the sectors under tourism… the transport sector later by Mr. Cesar, and from the hotel. VL: And this is because…?
We will still have continuous consultation in PS: …the government allows! other, succeeding months and days, and we hope we would be able to gather some more… VL: Because there’s a loop hole, ganoon ba other sectors – resorts and other iyon? accommodations. And probably, makakasama din po kayo doon. PS: Ehhh..
So we would like to first widen and look at a VL: Kasi before you have to attend the more encompassing discussion first on, which (seminar)… so wala na ngayon, Sir? particular regulation affects or is relevant to PS: Meron…inuulit na naman. Hindi sa LGU. Sa your own industry, own sector or to the LGU for DOT, yes. Pero kung gusto mo lang mag-pa- this area? Because we would have to first look accredit. And accreditation is not mandatory. It at the broader aspect. Gusto po muna nating is voluntary matingnan, ano po ba yung mga reguations na nakakaapekto sa inyo. Anyone can probably BC: (argues) Ok it’s not… share…kahit sino po. PS: Ok, I know it says not anymore. But the PS4: Setting up business in our sector…setting problem is, ang LGU pa rin, sige lang nang sige. up businesses as a travel agency. Sige lang nang sige…
VL: So primarily, Sir Paul, ano po bang regulation MJ: Para sa akin it (referring to accreditation) in particular ang nakakapekto? Of course, should be one of the requirements to get a business registration, we are talking about DTI… business permit.
PS: DTI, SEC… “Yun ‘yun una. After that is the Time elapsed – 10:00 LGU. And then BIR. And then the mandatory requirement of SSS, Pag-ibig…Yung system nay AC6: Yung progressive accreditation nila un, sa ngayon nakikita ko. Everyone wants to (referring to DOT) ngayon… I was in Tagaytay join the bandwagon. But nobody knows HOW. yesterday and they discussed it. So meron They don’t even have a checklist of what is silang sinasabi na basic accreditation. But that required. Yun bang parang, suntok sa buwan the first step. That’s for one year. And then lang. Sama ako diyan. Yun bang parang hot regular, then the premium. Meron siyang mga pandesal. requirements. But the regular is just for the… parang walang pinagkaiba na… parang sinabi (Laughs from respondents) mo lang sa DOT na: “here, we are present”. Dahil Mayor’s permit lang yung requirement. As I see PS: Really.. Yun bang idea nila na, “Malakas it, yung regulation, talagang nandoon sa sabihin benta niyan ah. Sama din ako diyan.” Without kong mga individuals that is implementing it. knowing the business. Kaya ano ang Dahil kung… ako bilang tourism officer, medyo nangyayari? Pag pumasok na… naiintindihan ko yung halaga to regulate. Medyo MJ: Hindi unlike noon Paul, that you cannot get mahigpit. Pero yung sa iba. Yung sinasabi nilang a business permit without attending the travel basic, is very easy. Kung medyo maluwag yung age—tour operations for like two weeks, right? LGU in giving their mayor’s permit, so andali dali And now you can just get permit because you na hindi na check yung kung talagang ano apply for a business permit yung…
PS: (interjects) Kasi kilala mo yung LGU…’Pag PS: (interjects) yung requirement.. pasok na, kapit na sa patalim pala AC: yung…they should function.
4 Paul So 6 Annie Calleja 5 Marilyn Jante
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Ung sitwasyon sa amin, kaya ko nasabing nasa talagang inaaccept naming ay iyong nasa implementor at saka nasa kung sino yung commercial area. nakatayo doong mga authority. Yung mayors permit, madaling kunin…merong…ung sa…’yung AC: Ahh yung requirmenet na iyon… staff na nag-p-process. Ang ginawa ko para MJ: Very very strict kami sa… maka-control, wag niyo muna sila bibigyan ng go signal to start with the process. Dahil AC: Pero alam ko hindi eh. Kasi may case ako kailangan po di ba ‘yung parang mabilis, in a day na kak-- tapos. MJ: Maam meron… Once na mag-start yan, hindi na mapipigilan, dire-diretso yan. Ang mahalaga, magawa yan AC: Baka naman lumusot lang siya kasi… within the day – in a day – dahil magkakaproblema sila. Yung sakin, ang ginawa MJ: Meron… ko, basta related sa tourism, sakin muna PS: Kulang nga tayo sa parang checklist. Na pupunta. Yung nakita ko… yung kung hindi kami dapat nakikita yan kapag gusto mo mag-travel magkasundo, ay meron kaming isang agency, tingnan mo muna kung kaya mo lahat kumukuha ng permit na tour operator na ang to. required namin sa opisina ay kinakailangan may training siya sa awareness. Mga ganung MJ: Kasi pinipilit niya na maging member tayo. trainings na we start giving. And then ito yung Pero nasa apartment kasi office niya. So kahit medyo nakayanan niyang sabihin na: “naiwan ko president ako ng PTAA merong tayo na lang yung galing sa tourism na certificate. So sinusunod. “Eh bakit ang DOT inaccredit kami. “ payagan mo naman ako.” So pinayagan siya. Nung dumating sa isang part, sa treasurer’s AC: Pero meron kasi sa amin na hindi siya office na sabi: “nasan yung certificate mo sa makalusot kasi bahay niya. Pero siguro depende ano?” Kasi lumusot na sa una. nga
“Ay, wala po” So pumunta ka sa tourism office. Time elapsed – 15:00 And so, wala hindi siya nagsasabi ng totoo. AC: …Depende sa nag-iimplement. Yun yung PS: Ikot ikot lang. mali. Pero may batas na ‘yon.
AC: Ang nagbigay ng unang go signal ay yung Pero balikan ko po yung case ng progressive kauna-unahang tourism officer. Pagdating sa natin ngayon. Yung basic at saka one year lang treasurer’s office, pinababalik sakin. So nahuli yang basic. Ang requirement is the mayor’s namin. Yun po yung ibig kong sabihin na kung permit. Sabi naming, aano kung after one year magiging pare-parehong naiintindihan yung hindi siya nag-progress? Kasi ang expected responsibility. So sa amin po, basta tourism from the basic, mag-progress siya doon sa related, nauuna ako. regular. Kapag hindi nag-progress, anong mangyayari? Ang sagot sa amin, “Eh bahala na Kapapangyari lang noong isang araw na last LGU”. Eh ano ba yan… Tapos yung regular week, na nakalimutan daw niya na ako una. Kaya naman-- nag-go na. Mabuti na lang pagdating sa treasurer’s office. “No. Kulang yung galing sa PS: Actually hindi nga nag-uusap pa yun eh dahil taas”. So at least dun sa process. Pero, alam po ba ninyo kung bakit? Sa LGU, magkakaroon ng conflict dahil yun pong pinapayagan nila 12 square meter. Sa DOT proseso ay dapat matapos nila within the day. minimum 18! So pag binigyan ka ng 12 square So pipilitin pong tapusin yan. Magkakaroon sila meter, pagdating mo doon sa taas eh bagsak ka ng, anong tawag doon, failure doon sa kagad. Paano mo i-e-expand yan kung maganda regulasyon na dapat na binigay ng pagkuha ng na negosyo? Mag-eexpand ka, maglilipat ka. permit. Dahil sumabit sa akin. So yun po iyon. Sakit ng ulo yan, sa BIR, sa ano…
MJ: Seeing di ba nasa tourism kayo…Meron pa AC: Sir, ang tingin ko diyan, dahil yung LGU not nga akong narinig: “Eh accredited naman ako ng unless makuha nila sa akin yung mga datos na DOT” Kaya parang naisip namin, bakit nag- yan, ay hindi nila mai-adopt iyon. Kasi nga, aacrredit ng home-based? katulad noon, bago young tourism, yung business sa amin. So yung process ng Mayors AC: Kasi sila accreditation… permit, hindi pa masyado nila maintindihan yun. Lahat nasa tourism. So yung tourism officer MJ: ‘Yun na nga eh. But, syempre kami ang sana ang gagawa noon. Pero hindi rin sana yung concern namin like sa PTAA… alam ni Paul ‘to… tourism officer…Sana mula sa DOT pasok agad And Paul is very strict when it comes to the doon sa ano… pero hindi agad ganoon yun. requirements of the members. So, hindi kami nag-accept ng members na home-based. Ang PS: Kaya nga. Kumbaga isahan na lang ‘yun….
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AC: Kaya ang sitwasyon naming mga tourism AC: In our case, okay po kami sa Mauban. Ang officers, lito-lito. I mean, nagkakaproblema. nangyrai doon ay… Ang sabi ko nga ay depende Katulad po ng kahapon po, issue yan. Sa amin doon sa nagpapaimplement. Kasi in our case, po kasi hindi masyado issue ang pagkuha ng ang sabi ko doon sa mga resort owners, “Sige, tourist arrivals. Ang DOT kasi, ang requirement magmalimali kayo ng count niyan”. Kaso meron ng DOT, alam mo naman, puro count lang ng kasi kaming isang service center na lahat ng arrivals, yun lang ang nakatutok… whch is hindi turista dadaan doon. So pagdaan ng mga naman ata dapat na ‘yun lang. Ngayon turista, lahat ng datos nila ay kinukuha ko na napapagusapan na, kailangan ba irequire sa doon sa isang form. Yung form ng DOT andiyan pagkuha ng permit na kinakailngan na hindi nila na, sinasagutan nila, tapos dinagdagan ko pa. itatago yung arrivals nila. Papano ipinapasok sa Dati walang guest nights yung number of dapat ipasok yun. Yun ang sinasabi ng marami. nights. Walang nakalagy doon, so nilagay ko. Sa aking part ay tahimik na po ako dun dahil Sinusulat na nga. So pagkaalis nila, kwentado ko maaga naming naiayos. na kung ilan ang ano…base sa DOT requirements MJ: Kasi may nagtatago ng arrivals nila.. Dahil ayaw nila sa BIR eh… MJ: Magkaiba ba ang record ng ano…general tourist saka domestic? AC: Yung sitwasyon po namin sa Mauban, ang unang nangyari diyan, ay nakukuhaan namin sila AC: Magkaiba po. Foreign at domestic. What I ng arrivals. Siguro mabuting pakikipagkaibigan mean is the guest nights. The number of nights. sa kanila. Before, I promise: “wag po kayo mag Sa statistics ng turo sa amin immultiply mo ang aala, hindi po kayo maaapektuhan. Hindi ko po number of nights, ang number of night stay. ipapakita”. Ang ngaing problema ngayon, yung Hindi yan gagawin ng resorst. So ang aking mayor naming ay nag-ku-kuwan kuwan… ginagawa. *Carc cuy* sila. Kaya pag naghaharap Pumunta sa mayor, nakikiusap na huwag taasan harap kami ng mga resort owers: “Ito po ang ang buwis nila. So, teka muna, tawag si Anie, kuha namin. Nakapirma po dito ang mga turista, akin na yung tourist arrivals. So ang ginawa ang aming guest at tatlong gabi sila”. So niyang pagka-count ay yung sa tourists….eh di therefore, three ang aking computation. Alam na nadala na yung mga tao kasi ginamit niya yung ng mga resort owners our record is from the pagcocompute…so what I mean is, kulang ng tourist. But not all is going to do that. Kaya mga standars, ng mga requriements na dapat nagkakaroon tayo ng pagkakaib iba po. sudin ang LGU. Kaya nagkaroon ng mga ganoong problema. Tapos tiningnan ng treasuer VL: That is with regards to tourist arrivals. Pero namin: “tingnan mo, hindi naman pwede na ang the regulation that affects this…kaya ginagawa arrivals titingnan”. Ewan ko kung anong gnawa niyo ito ay dahil? niya so nagbago sila ng computation. Hindi na AC: …required ng DOT. Eh yung count ng base doon sa arrivals. Kasi litong lito sila doons arrivals. We have to submit saan kami sa a batas ng DOT na yung couting of overnight province. Province ang nagsusubmit doon. Ano stay which you will multiply with the number of yan. Binigyan naman kami ng trainings. nights. So yung isa tapos tatlong araw, that would be counted as three. Ay! Nalilito yung PS: I feel... I feel… Kapag ka ganoon lagi ang resort, nalilito rin yung sa munisipyo. Kaya po sagot sa inyo na: “(inaudible) niyo naman ang yung pagcocompute pa lang po, doon pa lang tax ko”. Kasi nga, kulang sila sa touri-- tax nagkakaproblema na. awareness naman. Kasi nga ang perang sinisingil sa inyo ng treasurer’s office, is BC: Yeah. But they can… basically kung gaano karami yung dumating. MJ: So yung ginagawa pala natin na 6.5 Kailangan ganoon karami iyon di ba. Ang (million). That’s only the declared…tourist problema, nasingil mo na yan eh. Ayaw mo pa arrivals… rin magbayad. Hindi naman dapat yun.
BC: Data gathered…Data gathering for statistical AC: Kasi naman sa part ng mga resort owners… purposes, DOT is conducting modules, training PS: Kaya nga eh… Hindi nila naiintindihan yun. the LGUs for them to do that. So that situation is being addressed. Not for anything noh. AC: …wala silang magawa eh
AC: Yes po, we have that. Yes po. PS: Nasingil na nila yun eh. Dapat naibigay na nila yun sa gobyerno. Gusto nila ibubulsa pa rin. BC: But you cannot make plans without Hindi naman dapat. numbers. So they are requiring you this. They didn’t do it because they want to make life AC: Ang nagiging problema po kasi diyan is sa difficult for you. They have their own objective. part ng LGU, pag walang nakikita ang mga Sa ngayon medyo, okay, ganito-ganito, pero community na nagbabago, tamad silang capability building, mandate nila yun eh. They magbigay…ayaw nila. Ginasgastos niyo naman have to help you guys to keep up with the… yan wala naman akong nakikita…
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MJ: Hindi lang naman sa Mauban nangyayari Yung mga ganoon. And then yung mga permit— yan eh. Ito recently may binisita din ako, ito din ah yung binigay samin na certificate ng DOT ang sinabi nila. Na di dinedeclare talaga yung tourist arrival kasi laki daw ng binabayaran sa LP: training certificate… BIR eh. AC: Saka how much… (yung accreditation) AC: Ayun po Maam yung aking tinatanong kung Ryan: Mura lang naman po siya. Pamasahe lang papano ipapaliwanag kung anong batas natin talaga po yung mahal. doon… papaano na icocompute yung tax supposed to be ng isang resort. Base saan…? AC: Kasi yung region is…yung ano ay sa Calamba. Kami Mauban ay..is Region 4. PS: Ayun na nga. Nagnenegosyo ng hindi alam. Yun ang masakit. Kailangan ba gang talaga?
VL: Si Maam Lyn… Ano po ang on your… Sorry, si Time elapsed 24:09 Maam Lyn ay isang… sa Mauban din po no. Ryan: Yes po AC: Kasama ko po. LP: Pupunta ka. Personal… VL: Si Sir Ryan… VL: for the regional office? AC: Kasama ko rin po. AC: Opo Ryan: Gayon din naman po. VL: Okay… VL: Pero sa tour guide siya. Anong regulation naman Sir Ryan ang kailangan mo icomply sa MJ: Nung ano…medyo maraming ASEAN ano… tour guide? yung tourism…competition. Kumuha pa ko sa Manila ng tourist—ng tour guide. Para sa Clark. Ryan: Sa tour guide… Ngayon naman po ah…. VL: Hmm. Kulang…? VL: Regional tour guide ano? Regional? AC: Yes Maam Ryan: Tama po MJ: Nagdala pa ‘ko sa Manila… AC: Sa accreditation naman… AC: Yan po yung problema ngayon. Kasi ah… VL: Ano namang regulation yung kailangan mong icomply to perform kung ano yung MJ: ‘Tas matatanda ginagawa niyong trabaho… (Laughs from the group) AC: (to Sir Ryan) Yung accreditation nila yun yung sinasabi nila… Ano ba yung ni- VL: Pasintabi po… requirements nila sa iyo? Ryan: Nauubos…nauubos na mga kabataan… Ryan: Yung requirements nila sa amin… Dati is, VL: Ok. Bago po tayo pumunta kay Mr. Claravall syempre, mas maganda po yung college level or ay… Ito bang regulation na ito ay malaking high school level… bahagi ng trabaho mo? Na kailangan talaga? AC: (to Sir Ryan) intern ninyo di ba? Ibig sabihin need ito to perform…?
MJ: have training… Ryan: Opo. Opo. Lalo na po sa trabaho ng LGU. Kailangan ko po talaga siya para sa akin na rin Ryan: Yes po. po.
AC: They do a training na…(to Sir Ryan) ilang AC: Naghahanap rin po kasi ang tourist ng days? DOT… required to submit some papers katunayan na ikaw ay hindi lang sa pagsasalita para naman irelease yung mo ay… merong… minsan kailangan mong kanilang…accreditation ipakita na
MJ: Kasi kailangan naman ng accreditation… VL: …trained at certified…
AC: …yung ID na binibigay. May level po iyan. PS: Hindi tour guide lang. Bolero lang po ako. Katatapos lang nung community tour guides. Tapos yung regional meron. And then yung Ms. Nica: Magaling na ano eh no…bola national. So…sige VL: Kaya ibabalik ko po ito kay Sir Claravall eh. Ryan: Ayun po. Ang sinubmit ko dun…syempre Kasi ito po ang guru natin ng tour guiding eh. kailangan namin ng Certificate of Employment…
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BC: Acually tourism is an industry with several DOT, tourism industry skills program. Marami subsectors. And tour guide is my favorite sector. silang mga program for training skills. At isa Kasi I started my career as a guide. So, tama yung community guiding seminar na sa amin, yung sinabi niya. Wala nang national. You go ginastusan nila lahat yan. Forty participants. regional, and then community guide. And then Lahat gumasta sila ng nasa two hundred outdoor guide. Currently, only regional tour thousand for Mauban na ano lang… community guides are required to be accredited by the seminar-- training. And, yung kanilang certificate Department of Tourism. Currently ah. will come from the regional office. Yun po ay Community guides or site guides or local ginagawa na nila ngayon. Pero ang sitwasyon guides…LGU license only. And LGU have their natin ngayon ay, it looks na pili lang talaga. Hindi own requirements. lahat ay mabibigyan ng ganung training.
Situation is like this, during the national PS: Pilot-ing lang… convention of tour guides two weeks ago, the DOT presented the proposed revised rules for AC: …study nga nila siguro iyon accreditation. Kasama na ang community BC: The current situation is… guides sa accreditation. They are proposing two accredition--- aside from the LGU license, DOT AC: But good for me dahil… accreditation pa is required sa dalawa. Ang tanong ko ganito: They have difficulty BC: …the office of the industry and manpower accrediting primary enterprises. And they want development is developing a menu of training to get involved in accrediting our guides o local courses that will be made available to the guides all over the Philippines? Hindi mo nga stakeholders. Mamimili kayo. Oh ito gusto namamanage yung business establishments namin. Ganito-ganito. papasukan mo yung accreditation ng tao. Now, they will not conduct a training in your area So when you were presenting the issues unless they can see a potential of tourism. And identified ba…”implement first, and ask they can only see the potential of tourism if you questions later”. Then there’s another line that give them some figures. Ito arrivals namin eh. says “assessment of impact”. Pumasok agad Ngayon kung may training kami, we can get sa isip ko, isn’t impact part of the assessment more. So ano eh… dugtong dugtong yun. for the regulation. So bakit nagkakaganoon? Iniimplement ako saka i-aassess? Kasama yun AC: Depende nga po iyon sa… Sa amin, kasi bago mo idevelop yung… you should study the active ako, at ako lagi nagpapakita sa kanila… so assessment hindi ba…? napipili yung kami… Ang isa pa Sir na medyo concern ay yung sa TESDA – TESDA And then the next question that came into my accreditation. Kasi meron po silang binibigay na mind is…”Don’t you have a blueprint of accreditation hindi po ba Sir? developing regulations for national government agencies na sinusunod nila na ganito…?” BC: Sa TESDA ay certification. Sa DOT ay accreditation. Ms. Nica: Wala pa po. AC: Ah certification. Okay. BC: Then maybe we should come up with that recommendation. Para kasama na yung BC: Inaasikaso na po iyan. There is such a thing assessment bago i-implement….. Tapos mas as har-mo-ni-za-tion of training. Kasi TESDA madali na sa whoever has to verify the have their own, and they certify. DOT have their effectiveness of this… has the template to own, accredited. So finally, somebody upstairs check. Kung anong government agency man said: “Hoy, hindi pupwede iyan”. So there is a manggaling yun, pare-parehas ng output. My project called harmonization of training. So ano suggestion is gawan niyo ng ano yan… blueprint yan. Na-a- address na yang problem na ‘yan. on the development of regulation for whichever Time elapsed – 31:08 sector. To avoid this “implement now, ask questions later”… AC: Yung case naming, I got a TESDA accredited trainer for tour guiding. And then, hindi naman Ryan: Bago po kasi magstart ang tourism ng siya yung… (to Mr. Claravall) Ano bang tawag bayan ng Mauban… natin doon Sir… siya yung mag-e-evaluate fr BC: Aminado naman sila. Proposal pa lang ito. them to take the exam… They will conduct consultations… I was telling BC: (answering Ms. Calleja) Assessor myself, ipo-propose niyo yan eh hirap na hirap na kayo sa business establishments. Yan pang AC: …yung assessor. Ang hirap kumuha ng individual? assessor. Sabi: “Hindi ako pwedeng maging assessor Annie”. So we look for one. Nearest AC: Sir ah…They are doing it now. Nitong isang place is Lucena. So I inquired from the school, lingo ay meron na kaming seminar from the yung merong may TESDA. And hindi rin sila
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available. Andami ko na-train nang tour guiding LP: Pero bumalik ka ulit... from TESDA pero hindi pa sila na-a-assess. Ryan: Pero... kasi... na hindi pa ’ko nakabalik BC: Okay. For your information, on September gawa nga ng maraming trabaho sa office. 25-29, we or our group will train tourism industry assessors for travel and tours. Kasi sa AC: Yung kanya po ngayon hospitality marami na eh. We are always the Ryan: Yung sa’kin po ay nakisuyo... (laughs) last. They alsways start with hotel. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Pero may mangyayari na AC: …nakisuyo doon sa trainer nila. Pinag- diyan. asikaso naman siya.
AC: Sige po, maghihintay kami. VL: Saka time. Imbis na, kumbaga may trabaho na… RC: DOT po Sir Claravall? RC: Mag-l-leave ka pa… BC: Under the (inaudible) of DOT… AC:…dapat i-deposit na lang… AC: Yung sa TESDA Sir, ay may required rin na they should be cpllege graduate – at least 2-year LP: ‘Yung unang punta po niya ay hindi pa rin course. Sa amin, katulad niyan may mga natapos dahil marami pa ring kailangan. Dumagat kaming ti-ni-train, may mga ganyan. So, hindi sila pwede pumasok doon. PS: Kasi nga, walang checklist. Yun ang pinaka- importante. BC: Pero hindi sa community guides. Sa community guides walang i-t-take na AC: Ano nga yung mga requirements? Police requirements. clearance noh? Ta’s bayad nang bayad.
AC: Kaya nga po. Sa community guide sila Ryan: Yes po. napapasok. Yung sa TESDA-- BC: (answers to Ms. Calleja) medical BC: Basta tiga--- you have to be from the place. certificate… Tiga- Manila ka, mag-g-guide ka sa Mauban, hindi pwede. AC: Bawat isang step may bayad (laughs)
AC: (to another respondent) Kasi… Wala. Hindi ka PS: At saka hindi lang ‘yun. Sabihin mo, ito pa assess. Walang pang assessment yung sa’yo. kailangan mo… Eh magkano ‘yan? Hindi yung Wala. Hindi ka pa pasado. Kasi wala pang pupunta ka, “Ay!” assessment. Hindi ko pa kayo mapadala sa… kay RC: Kulang pera… kulang ng limang piso… ano kaya….7 Ryan: Tapos ang una po doon yung website eh. PS: Kaya tinawag na community guide. Dapat doon yung una eh. ‘Yun yung una. Yung MJ: Kaso kulang nga. ‘Di ba? website na mahirap pasukin.
PS: (to Ms. Jante) Pero kahit meron pa rin, VL: Ah online. Yung online. DOT nga yung kailangan tiga-roon. problema diyan…
MJ: (to Mr. So) Eh wala nga. Wala nga mabigay Okay. So, we have from the LGU, from tour sakin ng Clark eh. Ano, 700 yung pasahero ko. guiding, and then of course the concerns from Sir Claravall… from the travel agency? And the LP: (to Ms. Calleja) TESDA. Nag-training kami sa tour operators? Ano yung mag-a-accredit—not TESDA ng tour guiding-- accredit… Since accreditation naman yung pinag-uusapan natin…the regulation that really VL: Balikan ko lang si Sir Ryan. Magkano yung affects the nature of your business ginagastos mo doon sa pamasahe? Pupunta ka pa sa regional office. MJ: Actually, ang concern ko lang is, which is very vocal about it sa DTI is, the issuance of Ryan: Ah, ‘yun pong balikan ko is 1,000 (pesos). business permits to foreign tour operators.
VL: Baliikan 1,000. So ilang…ibig sabihin ilang... Response from the group: Ahhh bago mo makumpleto yun? Makakailang balik ka? Time elapsed – 34:55
Ryan: Ah, naka-isang beses nakong bumalik sa Comment from one participant: Bago naman to’ Mauban ngayon. Tapos… VL: Foreign tour operators…
7 Simultaneous conversations
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PS: Actually nasa negative list na tayo eh. As far ngayon… They will really kill us. Kasi dapat as WTO is concerned… partners slang sila eh.
MJ: Oo. Foreign tour operators. And then I told PS: Alam mo ang isa sa mga— him, why do we have to add more people in the Philippines? You will allow them to operate here MJ: They give their rates to the local agents and as… selling publicly, you know… You are killing the local agents will offer. Ang nagyayari kasi the local agents. So they should be parang ngayon, they directly offer to the public. partner lang ng local agents… PS: At ang laki ng kanilang puhunan. VL: So may incentive dito? Ibig sabihin they give MJ: Exactly incentive for foreign… PS: Itong isang ito, alam mo kung magkano ang MJ: I really don’t know… kanyang pinasok na pera? 178 million. PS: No. No. It’s not an incentive. The VL: Dollars? requirement of the DOT is that you have to have 200,000 dollars remitted to the Philippines, PS: Pesos. proof that it was remitted, and then you can already… You can already put up the travel RC: Are we talking about— agency, fully foreign owned. 100% PS: Paid up VL: Bago lang ito Sir? RC: So… which groups of foreigners are these? PS: That is already been there. The WTO in the… If you don’t mind me asking… Koreans ba ‘to? anong tawag dito… Nasa negative list na kasi ‘yan eh… PS: Japanese
MJ: Kasi fi-ni-favor. Fi-ni-favor kasi nung RC: Japanese? government. PS: They’re.. This one company already taking RC: Can you expound on that “negative list”? over all the Japanese commercial accounts.
PS: Pag sinabi mong negative list, ibig sabihin RC: Ito yung nagpasok ng 178? noon, pwede na sila. One participant: Yung mga pumapasok, hindi na RC: Pwede nang mag-enter yung-- dumadaan sa local?
PS: Lahat ng mga foreigners. PS: Yung local, dati sila nag-se-service ng mga Japanese companies… Wala na. Nakuha nang RC: --foreign players… lahat ‘yan. Kasi ang mga Hapon ganoon eh. You favor your own nationals. Ganoon din ang BC: But we have provisions in the constitution Koreans. The Koreans is not that big. that certain establishments— MJ: Kasi wala daw complaint from the PS: But they have signed as a part of the WTO – members… anong tawag nito – trade agreement nila and services. That has been there for the past… PS: Another thing again, DTI pa rin. Sa SEC, okay Siguro you could say, more than 10 years na yan. na. Pag ka nag-apply sila ng SEC, lumalabas na yung TIN number. Sa DTI wala pa. Sa DTI, sabi BC: Really? niya: “Eh, single proprietor syempre meron din na—” Nasaan? At hindi lang ‘yon. Kailangan , MJ: Kasi dati, dati kasi partner— meron na ring LGU dapat. Kasi ang prblema, is PS: Pero ngayon lang tumama lang talaga. akala ng iba, kapag meron ka nang DTI, pwede ka na mag-negosyo. Tapos doon nagkakaroon MJ: Dati kasi partners lang sila. Alam niyo ng malaking problema. Yung mga nasa naman yung mga professional travel agents facebook na nagbebenta, andami puro scam. they go on a FamTour (family tour) para at least Yung mga taga-DTI mismo na-scam din sila. they get partners there. And then alam mo na – tawag dito – yung mga business— Comment from one respondent: Ayan kayo. Buti nga sa inyo. VL: suppliers? PS: Yun ang sinasabi ko. Ngayon alam na nila. MJ: Being tourist there and they actually… ANo Nag-iisip na sila: “Papano gagawin?”. Dapat naman sila… Magbigay sila ng inbound mag-usap kayo ng local government. Na passengers ano. So ang nagiging problema, kapagka: “Oh, saan mo itatayo?” Alam na ng kung i-a-allow pa to ng government, local government na meron siyang binigay na dadagdagan pa kung ano yung meron tayo name para doon sa…company na ito. So
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hahanapin ni local government ngayon na: “Oh, AC: Totoo po ‘yan. ‘Yun po ang problema. Sa nagbayad na ba ‘yan?” Kailangan ganoon. Eh amin din ganyan. hindi eh. PS: Tapos hindi lang yun. Pagka-build, saka lang ‘Yun at least sa SEC, meron. Sa BIR meron na papasabit doon sa DOT. Pagdating ni DOT: “Ay noon. Pero hinihintay pa rin ng BIR na mag-apply hindi po pwede. Underside to. Kulang to. Mali sa kanya. Dahil ang style is, after SEC, you go to to.” Tapos sasabihin niya: “Pang five-star ang local government. After local government, you ginawa ko.” go to BIR. After BIR, you go to SSS, Pag-ibig, PhilHealth, and then yung sa pension. “Ay hindi ho. Three-star lang.” “Huh?!” Nagagalit ngayon ang may-ari. “Andami-dami kong pera VL: Asan ang DOT doon Sir Paul? Wala? sasabihin mo three-star lang ‘yan?” Doon nagkakamali. Kasi nga wala silang idea. They PS: Wala sa ngayon. KAilangan kasi matapos don’t understand the business. mo muna lahat to, bago ka pumunta sa DOT. Tapos marami pa, ‘pag ‘tayo na, hindi naman Comment from one participant: for marunong gumamit ng ika nga eh “marketing”. accreditation na lang yun… “Paano mo nadetermine ang room rates mo?” VL: Okay okay. For accreditation na lang. But “Eh kapitbahay ko yun din ang presyo eh. Yun din otherwise-- benta ko.“ Mali na naman.
PS: By that time… RC: Gaya-gaya lang...
VL: --pwedeng mag-operate na. PS: Kasi nga, walang idea. Right? And then another one, lumapit ngayon ang tour operator RC: So this is a trend na? sa kanya. “Bigyan mo ko ng special rate para PS: Yeah ibebenta kita.” “Magkano ba ang regular na pricing mo?” RC: It’s not a shot… “Dalawang libo.” “Oh ‘yan na lang. Dalawang libo PS: No. Yun na nga. Itong ito…Pagka na rin sa’yo“ corporation ka, ma madali kang makuha. Pero minsan DTI, wala eh. “Papano ‘yung commission; yung margin ko?” “Eh bahala ka na magpatong.” VL: Mahirap… Ang tanong ko ngayon: “Eh, pag dumating ang PS: Talagang napakarami. Kala nila nga may turista, magkano mo ibebenta?” “Edi dalawang DTI siya, okay na ‘yun. Yun pala kailangan pa ng libo rin“ “Huh?!“ local government. MJ: Walang protection ang travel agents VL: Register pa sa…So this is one of the current uhh…or present concern PS: Tapos hindi lang yun. Syempre dadating ang DOT. “Oh, kailangn ko ng 10 kwarto para PS: Kasi nga, wala tayong checklist. At saka, magkakaroon tayo ng road show para mapakita marami sa mga nag-nenegosyo, hindi alam yung natin sa ibang tour operator.” negosyo. “Malulugi ako niyan eh. Wala akong provision for LP: Nagnenegosyo lang that. Kaya bayad ninyo” Kaya yun ang isang mali. PS: Tingnan niyo yung mga hotel. Sa mga hotel na lang ah. Kasi ako meron akong hardware sa Isa pa, meron akong brochure. “Ah probinsya. Eh ang trend ngayon magpatayo ng magpapagawa ako ng brochure. Meron ako hotel. Kaya, tayo na lang ako ng hotel. Hindi ko niyan.“ naman alam kung ano yung papa‘no gagawin. Marami pa nga yung nagyayari, nauuna yung “Saan brochure mo?“ “Nandito. Ito oh. Ito. Ilan pagtayo ng hotel bago yung permit. Kaya nga kailangan mo?“ Nandoon lang sa hotel niya. tinawag na “building permit”. Nauuna yung Hindi mo—hindi ko kailangan yang brochure mo “building” bago yung “permit”. dito sa hotel ko. Dalhin mo yan doon sa sino yung target market mo. Doon mo ipamudmod. (Laughs from the group) Hindi dito.
PS: Natatawa kayo pero that is true… “Hindi maganda ito. Mahal pa pagawa. Kaya dito na lang.” VL: Hindi permit to build… (laughs) (Laughs from the group) LP: Totoo po. PS: Nakita niyo? Yun ang mga problema ng walang kaalam-alam sa negosyo. Kaya
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umaangal sila na ang mahal-mahal ng brochure, resort, agad sasabihin ko sa engineering office. ang mahal-mahal ng marketing... At sila yung magpapatigil. Submit lahat ng requirements ganyan. Kaso, relax. So, ako AC: Ang question ko is, whose responsibility it pinipilit ko sana na hindi mangyari yung sinsabi is? niyo Sir. Kaso yung mga papel na kailangan, I mean yung mga sukat lahat, nagdistribute na ‘ko PS: Actually nga yung ang tanong ko ngayon. It sa kanila ng galling sa DOT. Ito yung size, ito could be befo-- yung requirement. MJ: Meron namang mga association eh. Kasi sa amin naman, yung island ay private PS: Hindi. Hindi. Hindi nga nagpapasabi ang owned yan. So magkakamag-anak sila. Nag- mga ‘yan. Dahil-- uusap-usap yan. So pinamigay ko yung mga requiremnt na galing sa DOT office para mabasa AC: Ako po, may portion din ang LGU. Kung nila at macheck. Kaya ngalang ba, kapagka ho papano ang gagawin doon kasi ang ano doon talaga namang gusto lang nilang gawin yung eh-- ano… mapapa-ano… Ang LGU is tamad mag- check, tamad mag-monitor... MJ: Exactly VL: Dahil kulang ang tao? Ganoon ba iyon? VL: …kung sino ang may alam… PS: Kulang din sa tao ‘yun. PS: Alam po ninyo… AC: Hindi ko alam ang reason nila... May tamad AC: Sa case naming, naghahanap ako ng din… pwedeng mag-ano noon (laughs from the group) PS: Magtatayo siya. ‘Yun. Natatandaan mo ‘yun. Nagtayo siya ng isang hotel. 20 kwarto. Alam AC: …Hindi Maam. Hindi pupuntahan. Pagpikit namin agad: “Ah ito expansion ito.” “Pa’no niyo mo, kinabukasan ay nakatayo na-- nalaman?” Ibang klase na style eh. Another 10 rooms. PS: Mataas na pala… Yun nga yun. Tumataas is— Meron pang pangatlo. Another 20 rooms. Aba, 50 rooms na siya pero iba-iba. Wala siyang AC: Yung iba naman ay ano, very good ang planning sa room ano. Pumasok lang sa relasyon sa pinuno—ay sa pinuno… So isang negosyo kaya tuloy-tuloy lang sa pagdagdag malaking… AYan na naitayo na agad. Kasi pero… puro ano… Tapos lumalabas, iba’t ibang walang magawa. Kahit yung gusto. Let’s say kwarto, iba’t iba ang presyo. Yung 50 kwarto, 12 akong ang municipal engineer, I want to do it… ang rate. Pero, alam niyo naman ang pulitika. May mga ganoong case sa amin. Ayokong. Ayokong (Laughs from the group) mabanggit ang pangalan ko.
PS: So sino ngayon ang pupunta doon sa hotel BC: What you are saying. That is what happened mo? Dahil pag ako ng—12 rate ang tinanggap to Boracay. ko… Eh, papano yung nagbayad sa akin, eh pare- pareho ang binayad. Mag-aaway naman sila AC: Kaya nga po. noon. Ito gusto ko mas maganda, dito ako. Eh BC: That’s the provoke— bakit naman… AC: Kaya nga po— LP: Pag balik... yung ang naging problema sa accreditation PS: Ito pa isa…
PS: Kaya kailangan, bago pa mabigyan ng AC: --ginagawa ko ang trabaho permit to build, show me the proof that you have the plan – you have the marketing plan, the PS: Sa mga island, alam ba ng engineering at financial plan, sales and marketing. Yung mga saka ng local na government na PAVI and all ganoon. that na yung 25 plus 5?
AC: Sir ano, yung— AC: Yung case po sa amin. Yung nangyari sa Boracay ay isang bagay—malaking bagay para VL: Sir, at the moment, walang ganong government agency? Even at the local level…. PS: isang eye-opener
PS: Wala. Kasi nga sabi nila, “free” enterprise. AC: na magrespond ng positive ang mga resort owners. Pero, dahil nga, mukha namang AC: Sa case po naming, sa LGU, kung ako ang masunurin kaming mga Maubanin na kumukuha tatanungin, medyo may failure ang LGU. Dahil talaga ng permit. Eh kaso ang hirap naman sa kami, pag nakita namin na may nagtatayo ng
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DENR yung mga ECC, ang tagal. Talagang ang PS: Naku! tagal. RC: Aabutin ba ng… VL: But that is also part of a requirement... VL: Based on experience. Based on experience? PS: Yes AC: Merong taon…merong taon. AC: Kaso po ang tagal… VL: Taon? BC: Actually, that is the most challenging for a resort owner. DENR, yes. RC: Tinataon din noh…
AC: Awakening po talaga ang Boaracay sa amin AC: Matiyaga… tapos… Ms Nica: Tina-taon din (laughs). Parang sa VL: Pero bakit… Bakit challenging ang ano Sir… eleksyon… ECC? I mean for the resorts to take uh.. to get… AC: Nag-start kami… ano ba…. Sabihin na natin masecure yung sa DENR? 2010. Parang ngayon lang kami nakaka- PS: Kasi lahat sila… ngayong taon na ito’y may 10 na kaming at least na-issue-han. Pero antagal bago ma—yun bang VL: Because of violations? isa-isa. Isa-isa. Isa-isa. Yung isa pong nakaktulong—yun pong sa tingin ko ay PS: Hindi pa nga nag-uumpisa may violation na makaktulong, lalo na sa future, ay yung mga eh. resort owners naming na meron permits na ay nagbuo ng asosasyon nila. Meron silang VL: Kaya hindi sila maka-comply… SAC…merong mga ganyan. And sila’y aware na PS: Dahil nga, hindi nila— kainakailangang two-storey lang ang pinakamataas na ano… And nakasumbong yan. AC: At saka, mabagal din silang pumunta to Agad nakasumbong. Ang napansin ko naman check para mag-ano… katulad ng pinag-uusaan natin, dahil nga medyo hindi natin masyadong alam yung mga rules and PS: Because, again. Walang checklist. mga batas… Minsan nag-complain po kami sa barangay. Ay ang barangay naman captain LP: Pero yun pong daw… nama’y hindi naman naka-- wala… Hindi ko alam. AC: Ang tagal ng processing… Basta
VL: Pero sa planning yun di ba? Kailan sa BC: Kwan yan eh. Okay lang yan. Sige. planning before development may ECC ka na? AC: Passive talaga. Passive. Sabi ko sa kanila, LP: …kanila pong… Mayroon pong nirerequest ng kayo na po ang lumaban na barangay captain. DENR at saka yung sa ECC permit na yung Para mabago-bago yung gusto niyo mag…Kasi mahal na treatment? lahat ng sumbong, wala lang. Ngayon sabi ko, ang hindi nila alam, sila yung mga resort owners PS: Yes. S-T-P. Sewer Treatment Plan. na may aya at may mga aral, pero ang alam nilang procedure is to the baranagay captain BC: There are many ways of addressing that first. Nakipagmeeting sa’kin. “Hindi po sige. situation yung disposal of waste… Dadalhin po natin sa Sangguniang Bayan”. What Ryan: Isang malaking tanke talaga yan para sa… I mean is if nobody will be there in the middle… At sasab- katulad ng sinabi ko sa kanila: “Let’s AC: Pero hindi… May water system na required… go direct to the sangguniang bayan.” “Ay akala po naming sa barangay muna.” “Hindi po, BC: …Pero the main problem there is, Sangguniang Bayan na po tayo. Sasamahan ko napepending yung project kasi hindi na po kayo.” Dapat may ganon. pinupuntahan. PS: Actually, meron naming ganoon na PS: So-o-obrang tagal. nakalagay pero hindi nila gustong gawin dahil… In the end, alam mong hindi… AC: Ang tagal. VL: Ahhh. Baka mapag-initan… BC: Nagbabayad ka nga ng contractor. Materyales po nakatengga lahat iyon. Tendency PS: Mapag-initan eh. mo, ako nang bahala. AC: Isang bagay din po iyon. Sobra po ang PS: Kaya, under the table lahat. usapin ng tungkol sa pulitika. When it comes to permits? Ahh. Oh my God.. RC: Ga’no po katagal yun?
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VL: Pero balik ako sa tour operators and sa PS: Hindi. Sila. Mismong travel agency travel agencies. Ang accreditation ba, Ma’am ginagawa… Marlyn at si Sir Paul, is it really affecting—how does it affect your business? Accreditation from MJ: Tapos nanghihingi sila 2,500. Naniningil sila DOT… ng 2,500...
MJ: Uhm, actually, yung may mga outbound PS: Sa umpisa, 2,500. Pagka na-engganyo na operators lang, purely outbound lang yung yung tao, another 10,000. By the time he knows ginagawa, uhm, hindi na nila kailangan ng DOT it, that person have already paid half a million. accreditation. MJ: And then they will just give you a… Pag nag- PS: Actually, hindi naman. Merong konti. apply ka ng permit…Oh home-based pwede ka na, total naka-link ka naman sa’min. MJ: Pero nagpapa-accredit pa rin. PS: At may GDS sila… PS: Bakit? Kasi gusto nila, sa kanila bilhin yung tour papuntang Hong Kong ng mga estudyante. MJ: Actually yung GDS – the Global Distribution System…They have it. And then pwede silang VL: Ahh CHED mag-book using…
PS: Kasi merong requirement ang... VL: The account?
AC: DepEd MJ: The account of that travel agency who trained them. PS:…ang CHED, ang DEpED, ay yung bibilhan mo ng tour packages…Ay kailangan meron dapat RC: Kumakabit yan. PS: Oo VL: But with the-- VL: Parang yung sa LTFRB na ano to… MJ: Pero walang regulation na ganoon… MJ: Which is..kaya nga ako very particular ako RC: Meron po na…
MJ: Nasaan? ‘Di ba… PS: Libo na ngayon ang naloloko noon.
RC: Sa CHED… MJ: … the government…especially the issuance of permit… should require proper training bago MJ: Hindi, I mean sa DOT. ‘Di ba. Sa CHED, oo. ka maging travel agent. Yun lang naman yung ini-air ko. Matagal na din naman yun eh. PS: Kasi nakapag-ayos na si DOT because of the… PS: At saka kailangan, yung nag-t-training, certified. VL: Several incidence… MJ: Certified PS: Yes. VL: But with regards to the Tourism Act of 2009, MJ: Eh yung concern pa naming isa. Meron kasi RA 9598… Di ba in a way ay… ngayong mga travel agencies na nag-coconduct ng training para maging travel agent ka for like LP: Pero di pa rin chineck…tayo LGU two hours, four hours. RC: Di ba mandatory… Time elapsed – 52:26 VL: In a way…to protect the interest of, you MJ: Dapat hindi ina-allow… know…common--
PS: Travel agency ganoon. Wala rin kasi silang BC: Accreditation is required… But the regulatory function… Department of Tourism doesn’t have the resources to actually implement. Wala pa. Ilan MJ: Dapat hindi sila ina-allow na magconduct ang travel organization sa Pilipinas. Hanggang ng training para maging travel agent ka, kung regional level lang sila. wala kang permit… PS: But there’s bungal… PS: True BC: Kaya if you come up with a regulation that MJ:…to train. cannot be implemented, what’s the use? VL: Ano ‘to?... Time elapsed – 54:26 RC: Saan nila kinukuha? Sa TESDA? (Legend: M= Male; F=Female)
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M: Wag na lang. True. Totoo yun. M: Nakasakay sila sa public boat, tapos hindi sila dumaan sa harap, hinabol ko. Sabi ko, M: Walang silbi. payment po, para sa environmental fee.
M: This accreditation of DOT does not affect or M: Ang tatamaan du’n is DOT. ‘Yung local the impact within, uh, to operator, not, not much. government. I mean whether you accredit it or not M: Hindi sila lang. F: May pogi point ka eh kapag DOT accredited, ilalagay mo ‘yan kapag nag-s-submit ka ng mga F: Sa case po ng cooperative, ay ganu’n din pala, proposals sa mga kliyente mo, ilalagay mo ngayon ko lang na-ano habang nag-d-discuss diyan, ilalagay mo ‘yan, ilalagay mo diyan sa tayo, nag-form ‘yung travel agent, uh, ‘yung tour profile mo, accredited by DOT. ‘Yung trust, mas operations namin, mobile travel and tours mabilis. cooperative, iniisip ko kung paano tayo nakakuha ng permit sa CTA. Simpleng-simple M: May advantages. lang, wala ‘yung katulad ng government.
M: You appear in the official website of the F: Hindi po ba ang Mauban Travel and --- government. F: Pero kasi cooperative eh. Pwede naman F: Eh kaso naman ang daming DOT accredited kasing nasa area, supported ng LGU ‘yan. Ang na nanloloko. intention ko, to have that, is kasi dahil ‘yung mga staff ng tourism, dahil alam ko namang nakuha M: Ohhh. nila ‘yung mga papa’no ang tourism, ay pagka F: Like ‘yung mga, DOT accredited ‘yang mga natanggal sa trabaho, pag natapos na, ay yun, ay seminar na 2,500 ah. di sila, na ako’y doon aasa na ang Sistema ng tourism ng Mauban ay nag-c-carry out nu’ng M: Yes. Okay. So what’s the downside? So we mga na-train, dahil sila ‘yung may employment have this, you’re in the website, um, credibility, -- after. Lalo na ngayon malapit na. So, ‘yung mga staff na hindi permanent, at kami naman ay a- F: You have credibility. You have credibility if you apat na permanent sa office, ay ppwedeng are DOT-accredited. pumasok doon.
M: All of them have their own websites. Pero F: Hindi po ba kayo, ay baka magkaroon sa inyo most of their websites, are ng impression na, kaya hindi ninyo ina- “www.facebook.com/--". Kaya si DOT, sabi ni acknowledge ang mga tour operators katulad ng DOT, that is not a legitimate website. Ang sabi Anta, eh ay dahil meron kayong Mauban Travel ng DOT, kailangan ang website mo, sarili mong and Tours Cooperative? domain. Eh, sabi, “meron naman ah?” pero nakakabit sa facebook. Dapat hindi facebook. F: Hindi po. Naipaliwanag ko na po ‘yun sa Maraming naloloko sa ganu’n. Isa pang naloloko kanila, na we are arranging everything, na ngayon, naririnig niyo ‘yung joiners? Ang dami, inaayos namin ‘yun lahat, so aayusin po muna dumarating du’n sa inyo, joiners lahat. Isang namin ‘to and we will welcome you. Itong taon van. na ito, sabi ko, you can come, mag-usap-usap tayo and how we are going to, and para pag- M: Iba-iba sila, isang bus, tapos magkakasama usapan kung paano i-s-sell ‘yung ano. sila sa iisang bus, pupunta sila sa isang lugar. M: So basta tandaan ninyo ang isang vague sa F: Para mas mura. law natin, na your operation, your license is Calamba. You’re gonna send people to Mauban. M: Ang binabayaran actually lang is ‘yung van Am I allowed to operate tours in Mauban? lang. F: Of course not. F: Pamasahe. M: Ah you have to— M: ‘Yung guide wala. F: I have to get my package-- M: Pupunta sa isang lugar, na-encounter ko ‘yan, “hindi kami tourists”, pupunta kayo sa isang F: Sa Mauban lugar na hindi kayo tourists? Imposible. F: --Sa destination. Ako kasi I ano eh I always go F: Domestic tourists kayo. to a local tour operator.
M: Tapos ang mga sakay po, mga foreigner. M: ‘Yun ang hindi naiintindihan ng mga bagong operator. M: Maraming mga ganu’n. Kasi nga para makamura. Ika nga hindi pa rin nila nakikita F: Yes po. ‘Yun ang dahilan ko kung bakit nag- ‘yung, delikado na pagka may nangyari. train kami ng mga tour guides locally, local tour
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guides, kasi ang aking pakiusap sa kanila, ‘yung M: Yes po. Pampadagdag ng confidence sa mag-papasang travel agency is, ibibigay niyo sa sarili, tapos hindi ka na mahihiyang magsalita sa amin ang turing sa mga tao naming, kasi I iba. experienced one time, nu’ng bago-bago pa kami. Eh nababalita ‘yung Camp Balete, nagpadala F: Parang tinatanong mo rin ‘yan professor, na ‘yung isang hotel, nagpadala, may kasama “bakit ka nagpapa-accredit sa PTAA? 600—we siyang tour guide. Eh biglang nagkaroon nga ng have like, close to 700 members. Why? Ano ba gaywaling, ‘yung nakukuha para maging member ka ng PTAA? We have *** Time elapsed – 59:25 Time elapsed – 1:01:52 hindi sila nakapunta ng camp balete. So ang isang staff ko nagsabi na, “ah meron po kaming tours, the *** tours will really help them para, to rizal park” medyo parang mga Chinese sila. Sabi network with local operators and point-tour ko, sige bring them sa mga monuments, eh operators. Right? Kasi we do that, we ‘yung monument ni Rizal nasa ibabaw na, coordinate, sa mababang halaga nakaka-*** national historic site na siya. And they went tour sila. Okay, kasi meron kaming support also there, umakyat sila du’n, tapos hindi pinagsalita from tourism. And then ano pa ang nakukuha ang aking tour guide. Ang nagsalita ay ‘yung tour mo? You have close encounter with the VIPs, guide nu’ng kapag meron kang hindi alam, kapag may GMM kami we have that secretary of tourism, but not M: na kasama nila? in my term. (laughter) but secretary Bernard promised me that she will be attending the F: Na kasama nila. At saka nagpapaliwanag, GMM, okay. And then, by the way, Secretary tinanong. Sinumbong na sa ‘kin. “Ay tita, Bernard, second day of office niya pinatawag pinakilala po nila si Rizal, ay kung bakit daw po niya ang private sector kaya tuwang-tuwa kami, nandu’n ‘yung ating rebulto, kasi raw lahat ay okay. Anyway, umm, pangatlo, ‘yun ‘yung may nasa harap ng munisipyo sa Pilipinas. Sa mga dahilan eh, meron kaming GMM sa hotel, Pilipinas, sa harap ng munisipyo ang rebulto ni hindi lang naman puro glam war; PTAA, that’s Rizal. Sa amin nasa, ibabaw ng bundok. also community service, meron kaming binigyan Tinanong siya nu’ng isang tourist, ang sinagot, ng mga school supplies, marami eh. They get kasi wala siyang alam isagot, „ay kasi nagpunta something from PTAA dito si Rizal“. Hindi ka lang ba— M: Ma’am the fact that you are also giving out M: Kalokohan ‚yun. accreditation, does it mean that DOT accreditation system is weak or lacks F: Tinawagan ko talaga ‚yung nagpadala sa credibility? kanila, „sige ma’am, ano po ganito ‚wag niyo pong uulitin ‚yan. I-transfer niyo po sa aming tour F: No. guide.“ Kaya ‚yun po ‘yung dahilan ko kung bakit inayos ko po ng maigi ‘yung mga tour packages M: Not naman? bago ko i-offer sa ganu’n. F: We are a private association, and it just M: In any case ah, just quickly, is accreditation happened na ang mga siguro that trust is there, important? In your business? kaya nagpapa-accredit sila.
F: Yes. M: So added value ‘yun?
M: Are you accredited by DOT? F: Yeah. Added value.
F: Yes. Sabi ko nga sa ‘yo upgrade credibility. M: Kasi they can network kasi with us.
M: Sir Paul? F: Sa card mo, kapag nakalagay na PTAA, parang may tiwala ‘yung client. Kasi they know M: You open up your horizon to foreign tourists. na medyo, lalo na si Sir Paul, medyo mahigpit Because when they go into the website and they siya pagdating sa compliance ng requirements find that, nakikita, for renewal, and of course bago ka maging member, mas mahigpit ‘yan. So hindi kami nag- M: So you have to make sure that the standards, a-accredit ng home-based. quality of service and the standards are being applied. Cannot have very good service here, but M: Just-just haha then here, lousy service. Somebody has to make sure that the quality of delivery is there. That’s F: And if ever na mag-accredit kami, kagaya why we need accreditation. niyan meron kaming, to tell you honestly, nagkaka-problema rin ‘yung ibang members, M: Sa tour guide, kailangan bang maging nagkakaroon din ng parang hindi naman scam, accredited? but reklamo ng mga ano, kasi, pag medyo hindi
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nasunod ‘yung itinerary nila, kami ang F: Syempre ano rin sila, kasi bumibili rin ‘yun. nilalapitan. So tinatawag naming ‘yung Hostage. Regulatory capture. attention, at it helps kapag ‘yung PTA na ‘yung tumawag sa member. M: Alam ko diyan sa may Shaw Boulevard, meron diyang mga nag-aabang lang na van, so M: So is it possible that in the future, your own ‘yun nga pupunta ka, you don’t know each other system of accreditation could replace DOT pero may estimation na. accreditation? Or ibang bagay ‘yun? M: ‘Yun journers ‘yun, talagang kadalasan, F: Government kasi ang DOT, private kami. So, hating-gabi para makarating ka doon ng ala- actually— singko, ala-sais ng umaga, you have the whole day, para at night makauwi na rin kayo. M: -- de kasi pwede naman kayo mag-self regulate. F: kung mag-a-apply ka online, sasabihin mo kung ilan kayo? F: Actually ang PTAA gusto ko ipa-ISO eh. Kasi gusto ko magkaroon ng quality manual, para M: Parang ganu’n din, act on act off, daw ang kapag meron kang titignan, “o ayan nasa tawag. procedure ‘yan bakit um-ano ka sa procedure” ‘di ba? Kasi ‘yung quality procedure manual is really F: May matrix po ‘yun kung ilan po kayong important, tapos pogi points na naman ng PTAA kasama tapos kung ilan po ‘yung babayaran. ‘yun, the first organization to be certified. ----break---- M: We also have a problem with ‘yung siguro, Resume 01:12:00 local governments. Nilalapitan namin, hindi lahat ng local government, cooperative. They M: Sa next project ng PTAA, dapat Travel Tour will, you could cite examples, one local government said na they have moratorium, but F: Pep rally, pero meron kaming lakbay Pilipinas now apparently looks like wala ‘yung ngayong 26, ‘yun ‘yung theme ng general moratorium na ‘yun. Lumalabas na pinalitan nila membership meeting namin. So ang ano diyan, ‘yung pangalan nu’ng dating term na ginagamit. regional ang mga suot diyan. Ginamit nilang panibago, so kahit sino pwede na. Pero hindi pa rin nila sinasabi na wala nang M: At meron kaming mga tabletop, so a’yun moratorium. Kaya yun ang problema. F: Pwede tayong sumali ano? M: Eh lahat ito this is based on trust, kaya kapag M: 5,000. may dating ka, may tiwala rin, you can get more business. F: Sofitel.
F: Yeah, kasi may mga clients tayo na eleven M: Gaano kalaki? years na, twelve years na, sa amin pa rin. M: Isang mesa. Yun yung regular networking. M: May I ask if I can get some coffee? F: Tapos ano nga nagpplano ako na magkaroon F: May I ask if I can get a break? ulit ng meeting, iimbitahin ko ‘yung mga LGU, (break) mga nag-i-issue ng permit. Hindi pa kami makakuha ng confirmation, gusto ko para M: Nakakasiguro ako wala ring LTFRB ‘yang malaman nila kung ano ba ‘yung concerns ng mga sasakyan nila. mga members. Kasi maraming nainis diyan. M: Kapag na-flag down sila, sasabihin nila “hindi M: Lumalabas ba na hindi alam yung ano lang, barkadahan lang ‘to” requirements ng LGU or ini-ignore lang nila? M: Oo ganu’n lang. Eh ang daming palusot, ‘yun M: Hindi, lumalabas na, marami sa kanila, hindi ang problema. alam ang ano, kasi ang LGU, bawat LGU, may M: Ang laki kasi ng fine eh. kanya-kanyang requirement.
M: Kaya ang sabi ko, maraming mga kalokohan M: Well at least doon sa tourism officers ano, sa negosyong ito. Kawawa kapag nagka-aberya. walang permanency. Parang sa isang Kapag walang aberya, nobody complains eh. administration, iba na naman ang uupo. “Wow murang-mura ‘yung tour ko” F: Yun yung isang problema sir, kung bakit M: Oo hit na hit ngayon ang Banawe. nagkakaganyan, kahit yung pollution officer...
M: Alam mo ang ginagawa ng mga journer M: Kahit yung plantilla. operator na ‘yan „ganu’n ha, hindi na kami M: Hindi siya plantilla totally sir. magdadala ulit“ e ‘di tinatakot mo ‘yung mga.
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F: Sa amin po, department na kami. M: Let’s say they have joint updates.
M: Madalas kasi, sir yung nakaupo diyan si, F: Let’s make the industry more professional at asawa ni Mayor. para maiwasan ang scam.
M: Kapag tapos na ang term ni Mayor, wala na. M: Exactly. Sir Claroval, you were saying?
M: Yun ho ang problema sa LGU. M: Yeah, I was about to say, in the presentation of the proposed requirements for accreditation F: Basta may pambayad ng business permit, by the Department of Tourism, one requirement tanggap lang ng tanggap eh. which is not there but should be there, is when accrediting foreign nationals as tour guides in M: Kaya yun ang problema sa local government. the Philippines, there has to be an InterPol M: Working merienda po tayo para matapos Clearance. Kapag may problema yun sa bayan natin, I hope you don’t mind. And by the way, niya, dito siya nagtago, tapos ginawa niyang kanina minention ko pala itong ating interview hanapbuhay yung pagka-guide dito sa language consent form, dahil uh, hindi po tayo mga nila. So, wala yun. I think we should consider superman, hindi po natin ma-r-recall ang lahat getting that. ito so we are also recording this. But of course, F: Kung ako lang hindi ko i-a-allow mga foreigner ano, kung gusto niyo pong off the record, maging tour guide sa Pilipinas eh, kaso kapos pakisabi lang po. But the identities of the people tayo eh. Kahit nga sa DOT ilan lang uma-attend who will be speaking, will be sharing whatever eh. they want to share in this discussion, ay hindi po namin kayo i-q-quote that will put you in a bad M: Kapos tayo eh. Ilan lang nga ang foreign light. language speakers natin. Sa ngayon nga ‘yung mandaring speakers natin kulang. Meron M: Of course you will cite in the text? naman tayo ah, pero tignan mo ‘yung mga M: Opo, we will acknowledge the performance. mandarin-speaking, ang tatanda. Honestly. Mga valuable inputs naman ang nakuha natin, M: Hindi na pwedeng mag-guide. okay po. Since we already looked at the different organizations, affected industries, organizing F, M: Oh. business, and how this impacts your profitability, competitiveness, and all, ano. So as F: I want to share this with you ano, okay. Last mentioned kanina, sabi ni Sir Paul, dapat eh may year meron akong passengers. Marami, firing ganito, may knowledge, dapat bago magsimula. competition, diyan ko sila sa Clark pinag-stay. So, what other regulations do you think, might Ang nakuha kong tour guides na marunong have been overlooked, na dapat meron for your mag-Indonesian Language, Bahasa, matatanda. businesses? Na dapat meron nito eh, pero hindi Yung mga bata, hindi marunong. So kailangan kasama eh so ngayon may problema tayo. ko magdala, kasi ano yun eh, ASEAN rifle competition yun eh. Eh kaso ‘yung marurunong F: Ako gusto ko talaga bago ka bigyan ng ng language, kung hindi bungi, naku, hirap na business permit, meron ka munang seminar in maglakad. Tapos yung iba salita na ng salita, travel and operations. parang dire-diretso lang magsalita, yun pong tumatanda na kasi. So ang sabi sa akin ng M: Which is given by DOT? coordinator, Ma’am Len, bakit ang tatanda ng F, M: Certified by DOT. nakuha niyo? I said wala akong magagawa, yan lang ang marunong mag-Bahasa, Vietnamese, F: And then, kapag nag-renew ka ng permit, yan lang yung marurunong. You know what I dapat continuous pa rin ‘yung education. did? I got 14 students from Letran, yung matatangkad na magaganda na mapuputi na M: Dapat annual? mga OJT ko, dinala ko sa Clark para bawat isang bus may taga-hawak ng Flag. Kasi, sasabihin F: Oo, kagaya namin, we just – nila, kahit matatanda ‘yung nagsasalita, M: Kahit for every three years, kahit di naman magaganda naman yung nakikita nila. Di ba? annual. Pinag-T-shirt ko ng mga puti saka maong, kaya may hawak silang Flag, kaya yung mga foreigner F: Tapos we just had a geography seminar, yun nay un, susunod sila doon sa sexy; kahit pwede ‘yun at least ibig sabihin continuous magsalita ng magsalita si matandang tour ‘yung education mo. And then yung mga tours, guide, hindi na nila pinapansin basta doon sila local palm tours, pwede mo ring i-ano yan di ba. sa magaganda. Naisip ko agad yun eh. Binayaran ko yung mga bata para hindi ako Time elapsed – 1:16:33 mapahiya.
F: Dapat talaga mandatory. M: Tignan mo lang, that’s the reality. No choice.
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F: Yun lang naman eh, tignan mo ngayon yung pwede lamang gumawa noon ay yung taga-roon, mga tour guides natin. ay napakahalaga po noon. Ako po’y laging nandoon sa pagtuturo ng local history kasi hindi M: Child abuse yan ah. po kayang gawin iyon ng DOT. Yun po yung napakahalaga. F: Hindi siya child abuse, kasi--- M: Ako may isa pa akong nakikita. Siguro isa rin M: Sasabihin ko ano eh, creative problem na hindi nakalagay doon sa DOT regulations solving. ano, when you go to a certain place, you have to F: Hindi naman sila nahahawakan, e di suntukin let the local operator take over. ko sila di ba. Basta sila, tagadala lang sila ng flag F: Hindi po dapat na-r-rule over. kung saan pupunta yun, walang tulugan yun sa briefing ko. M: Even my Ilocos, ganun din eh. Alam nila, maraming pumupunta pero walang M: In-demand ngayon ang ASEAN languages. nakikinabang doon. M: Anong mga languages yung in-demand? F: To share with you po, meron akong 32 pax sa M: ASEAN. Mandarin, ASEAN, Thai, kasi nga Ilocos, pinapaayos po sa local operator, kay yung ASEAN— Angel Lao. Siya ang kinuha ko, at least hindi ako lumampas na “o Angel, member ka namin”. M: --Maraming Pinoy ang pumupunta doon, at Member siya ng PTAA, si Angel Lao, Tourism least tayo solve ng English speaking, pero sa Officer din dati ‘yun eh. Ngayon, member siya ng kanila, malaking problema. Yung demand PTAA, siyempre kailangan may pax kami galing ngayon, ASEAN languages. ng Maynila i-c-course through naming sila. We have the local agent also. F: Pero, magagaling naman ‘yung mga matatandang tour guide. F: Opo, dapat naman talaga i-transfer.
M: Buwis lang nila ang binabayaran doon. M: Opo, that has to be embedded into the rules and regulations. Time elapsed – 1:21:19 F: Ng Local? F: Clark, kabisado nila. Kung ano yung tinayo dito, kung ano yung tinayo rito, kabisado nila. F: Ng DOT? Nakikinig ako eh. Yung knowledge hindi mo naman ano, yun nga lang medyo bumagal na. M: No, no, for operators, na basta’t saan ka magpunta, kailangan meron ka niyan. M: Magka-*** yung training eh kung may mga bungi eh. Mahirap na maglakad. F: Yan din ang cry ng member natin sa Bicol, natatandaan mo? Nagsabi siya bakit hindi ako Time elapsed – 1:21:36 natutulungan.
M: Pass all the knowledge! M: Kahit saan. Baguio. Everybody goes to Baguio, meron ka bang kinukuhang guide doon? F: Tapos meron pa ngang inatake pa doon eh, na matatanda. Pero ang galing-galing niya. Iba F: Wala! talaga, hindi mo matatawaran. F: Ang kailangan lang nila siguro, hindi travel M: LGU naman. Si Ma’am Annie kanina ay agent. Wag kang basta papasok sa isang lugar, nagkwento tungkol kay Rizal at bakit nandoon ayun yun ngayon eh. Alam namin yung process sa bundok. Haha. So anong regulation naman sa ng inyong travel agency, and get in contact with tingin niyo ang dapat meron, in that sense, kasi us kung talagang magdadala kayo. Yun po ‘yung knowledge about the place, siyempre, purpose ko du’n sa MPTC. Para sila ‘yung mag- kailangan. Anong regulation sa tingin naman catch, eh parehong nagkakaproblema. ang kailangan? Na hindi present ah. M: Another one is yang LTFRB na ‘yan. F: Yung sabi ni ma’am, dapat may ganyan. Buong Pilipinas may ganyan, bago magbigay ng M: TISA, for the Tourist Transport. permit, talagang may awareness at lahat. M: Itong mga travel agency, mga operator, mga Though kami ginagawa naming yan, kaya nga gustong magkaroon ng sariling sasakyan at yun sabi ko bago magdaan diyan sa process eh ang gagamitin. Pinaiikutan sila ng pinaiikutan at daanan muna sa amin. Kasi kung minsan pinaiikutan at pinaiikutan. Pumunta ka sa binabaliktad nu’ng ano, nu’ng facts. Pero yung LTFRB. Hala, isang taon na wala pa. mahalaga rin po, yung training, binibigay ng DOT. Maganda po yun, gusto ko yan, ‘yung F: Tatlong taon na. community, technicalities ng pagiging tour guide binibigay. Pero yung local history, na ang
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M: Kung anu-anong hinihingi, para lang M: Yun nga, yun nga, equal opportunities, yun mapadali, bibigyan mo na lang. Kalokohan eh. nga.
F: Ang tagal ng process eh. M: Yung sa LTFRB na ‘yan, that should be put across all hotels as well. Maraming hotel mismo M: Prangkisa ito ano? ang nagkakamali na tumatanggap kasi siguro hindi alam ng management na yung kanilang tao M: Prangkisa. sa baba, mga kolorum na, mga kolorum na F: Ah, ganito po sir ‘yung meeting namin tours, puro kolorum yan. Kasi bakit nabebenta kahapon, umm, sa PETS DOT. Kinausap, or yun? Ang laki magbigay ng tip, mga commission nagpadala daw po sila ng letter or request sa doon. Sino ba ang nag-b-book? Yung mga LTFRB to issue promisory permit—ay teka ano concierge, yung mga bellboy. Yung mga ganu’n, ngang process ‘yun? Provisionary permit. Kasi ‘yun ang humaharap sa turista, hindi ba? Sila nga kung ikaw ay tourist van, halimbawa mag-a- ‘yung naabutan. Eh pagka, LTFRB, wala na. apply ka sa region, ch-check na ng region ‘yung F: Pero di ba sinabi na natin yan sa Tourism? sinakyan mo’t lahat, pupunta sa DOTC, dadalhin sa LTFRB, pero na-check na ng region. Ang ano M: Hindi nga nakikita ng management, sa taas. du’n, bigyan sana ng provisionary permit kasi napakatagal ng proseso nila. Ako’y tuwang-tuwa F: Dapat ho iparating ‘yan sa taas. sa amin, na may isang grupo talaga, kooperatiba pati ang gusto nila. Pero nawawalan na sila ng M: Pero gusto naman magpa-legal na pag-asa, kasi magdadalawang taon na. Eh prangkisa. lumuluma na yung van noon. M: Malamang siguro nahihirapan sila. M: Meron akong naisip. F: Ay sir. M: Ah, sige sir. M: Bili ka ng bagong sasakyan. M: Again tour guides na naman. Doon sa F: Dapat kasi brand new. Lahat ng tumatakbo sa provisions, proposed requirements for atin ngayon, hindi na mag-q-qualify para sa accreditation issued by the office of standards pagkuha nu’n. Ang isa pang problema du’n, pag and regulations, sabi doon “LGBT, cross- brand new, ang tagal-tagal ng proseso. Ang isa dressing not allowed” office of standards and pa, sa amin naman, hindi mahuhuli ‘yan, kasi regulations, same department as DOT. Dito may naka-control, kapag mahuhuli raw ‘yung naman sa kabila, office of industry manpower taas, ang sabi lang du’n sa nakatago, walang development who oversee the conduct of nangyari. training, uh, “we accept transgender, old, fat, young, ugly” wala kaming discrimination. So I’m M: Alam na nila. telling myself, you accept transgenders for training and then you don’t allow them for F: Nakakatawa lang po, may huli daw. Tapos practice when they apply for accreditation. ‘Wag naman, may connected sa LTO, nasabi na. Ang niyo nang tanggapin. Du’n pa lang, ‘wag na. bilis! Ang bilis ng pasada sa amin. Tapos yung Sorry. isa talaga tricycle mula Mauban hanggang Lucena dahil lahat ng balsa ay wala. Dahil M: Sorry, yung office ano yun? kolorum. Meron kaming isang grupo nga ‘yung sinasabi ko, na nag-secure ng accreditation, ang M: OIMD, They oversee the training of tour tagal naman, e ‚di hindi na sila makakibo. Nakita guides, so we conduct interviews. Don’t ko nga kahapon nang bigyan sila ng provisionary discriminate. Your sexual preferences are yours. permit na hindi pa nila alam ang sagot. M: Doon sa accreditation, bawal ang mag-cross M: Naalala ko lang, bilang binanggit mo ‚yang dress. There must be some sort of— tricycle, naalala ko ngayon iniisip nilang M: -- They have their lies up. ipagbawal ‚yung tricycle sa kahit anong service. Eh paano yung mga bata, palalakarin niyo? Isipin M: It’s not fair, to these individuals. Then we go niyo muna ang intel. Bawal, hindi pwede? Ano, to the other side, na hindi tanggapin kasi ano maglalakad yun hanggang school? Tell me how. nag-c-cross dress ka. That’s it, very concrete examples, kasi sabi niya we will conduct public F: Ang isa pa po nating sa transport, ang hearings, etc, but I was telling them, eh bakit paggamit ng habal-habal. Sa amin, sa island tumatanggap ng transgender sa OIMD? Sa nu’n wala talagang ganyan. Ang problema, dahil training? Ngayon pinagbabawal niyo mag-cross nga sa bagal ng assistance ng daan, ang, dress? kagbalete po kasi, masyadong malayo yung low tide. Malayo ‘yung low tide so you have to walk. M: Sa ano ah, pressing issue, ano, ah, gender Tapos may isang daan na pwedeng lakarin ‘yung sensitivity. likod, so hindi talaga maayos ‘yung daan doon.
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Eh ito merong mga tao sa community na hindi document, kung nasaan na ba, pupunta ba ako mapigilan, sabi nila guide, sabi namin hindi, mga dito, ganito, kung kanino bang opisina, kanino porter ang tawag sa kanila, tagabuhat. So bang ano? kinlaro ko po yun one time, so dadaan sa likod. Tapos na-discover nila na pwede pala ang M: Requirement, pagka meron ka noon, ilalagay motorsiklo, so nagsulputan nga, ang dami na mo lang doon ano, ilang araw lang. Tapos kasi ngayon. Tapos may nagpapautang pa sa kanila, ang problema nga walang transparency. Hindi so lalo na nagpa-press. So kumikita naman sila. mo na tuloy alam kung nasaan na. Everyday tayo Kaso lang nakakatakot, kasi nu’ng simula yan, dito. ang daming naaksidente, kahit anong pigil mo. F: Sir merong ano, sinusunod naming ‘yung isa, Tapos ito pa ang darating, saan kayo nakakuha yung isang araw atsaka may citizen’s charter ng permit, hindi kayo permitted? Linawin natin ang bawat opisina so naaayos po yun. ano, number one, hindi naman talaga kayo pambiyahe. Wala naman talaga kayong M: Sir Ryan, based on your experience, pupunta lisensya, so paano sasabihin kung ganu’n? ka ng DOT regional office para sa mga kailangan Tapos sabi niya, eh pinayagan na po kami ni mo. Alam mo ba kung nasaan na ‘yung mga konsehal. Eh diyos ko. Tapos na ang kwento kailangan mo? Kung gaano katagal pa ako? doon. M: Ngayon po ay, yun. M: Wala na. M: Balik na natin bukas. F: Nakabantay na sila sa akin. F: Kasi prinocess yung ID niya last year, ngayon M: So ito po ay, thank you, thank you po sa hindi niya nakuha dahil nga siguro sa distance. inyong shared information, para mabilis lang. Pinapaki-suyo niyang kunin. Hindi na makita. Boy Abunda style ito ha, fast talk. Ano po ba, agree o disagree, so magtatanong po ako, well M: That's a problem. maraming tanong ito, issues, at sasagutin niyo po kung do you agree or hindi po. And then later, F: That was in 2017. Kaya lang, tapos na 'yung we will try to expound kung bakit agree kayo or ano na 'yun. Renewal na siya. disagree. Local ordinances that are passed M: Renewal na. without due consultations with the affected sectors. Agree, disagree, sir Paul? F: Naging mabuti naman dahil nga nu'ng kaibigan niya 'yung nag-training sa kanila, so M: Local ordinances, it has to be consulted. "binayaran mo na ba, o sige next week, M: Hindi eh, it is an issue now. May ganyan, ano, makukuha mo na" Pero to get it, ay pupunta ka walang konsultasyon. sa Calamba. Ipapakisuyo kung may mapapadaan, katulad ng nangyari ngayon. M: Sir Paul, do you agree na may mga local ordinances na hindi kino-consult ‘yung mga M: There is a, hindi lang decentralized, there stakeholders? should be a system where it can be sent.
M: Yes, kailangan talaga ma-consult. F: Kahit LBC man lang.
M: Ma’am Arlene? M: Miski ba bayaran mo na lang 'yung mailing na lang nu'n eh. F: Dapat talaga eh may batas po yun, dapat may public consultation kapag ordinance na, ang ano F: Pero sir, alam kong pinipilit nilang i-address du’n, ang control of who will come, pero during yan, parang nagiisip sila na maglagay ng office the meeting. mismo doon sa malalapit sa municipalities. Or sa isang province na maraming tourism. M: Pero meron po bang nangyayari na ordinance Pinaguusapan nila yan. without consultation? M: Okay ah, third question, si ma'am marlene, F: Wala naman sa aming ganu’n, pero ang agree po o disagree, boy abunda po ako ngayon nangyayari diyan, napipili mo lang yung mga eh, malapit na akong makalbo. Yes or No, Local nakikinig sa iyo para agree. Ordinances that are passed without due consultations with the affected sector. M: Para mag-agree lahat. F: Without? F: So luto. So klaro sila sa batas. M: Sa PTA, yes, without. Meron bang mga local M: Nalulusutan. Sige. Lack of transparency? ordinances na hindi na-c-consult halimbawa? Meaning, eh ‘yung papeles ko hindi ko na alam kung nandito na ba, nandiyan, so basically, alam F: Yes. mo kung nasaan na ‘yung dokumentong pinasa mo for accreditation for whatever need of a M: O, meron. Agree. Yes. Of transparency?
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F: Yes. F: Sa immigration naman. Tapos by ano rin, PSA. So sa DFA naman, hindi namin makita M: Third question, redundant submission of 'yung point ngayon kung bakit kailangan requirements. credited kung hindi ka naman nakaka-process ng passport? Yan ang hindi namin maintindihan F: Yes. kay Secretary Cayetano. M: Submit ako rito, may manghihingi, submit na M: Pero pinagbayad na sila. naman. F: And he is the first DFA secretary na ayaw M: Ilang beses ba ako magpapa-xerox? tumanggap ng courtesy call from the private M: Hindi na natapos. sector.
F: Nag-register na tayo, kailangan ko na naman M: Really? Secretary Cayetano? mag-submit. M: Busy siya. M: Kinuha ko na 'yung clearance, kukunin na M: Need for multiple business permits? LGU, naman dito eh, isa lang 'yan! pupunta ka sa region, may mga ganu'n pa, M: Ang gusto nila 'yung original 'yung ibibigay barangay permit, municipal permit. nila, eh paano 'yung isa. F: Of course, barangay permit is a requirement. M: Kagustuhan ng original, okay. Conflicting M: Basic. views on law, iba-iba interpretasyon? F: Para makapunta sa LGU F, M: Yes, agree. M: But before you operate a travel agency, M: Iba ang interpretasyon ang iba doon sa maraming permit, marami ba? Or isang ano Manila. lang? M: Need for multiple accreditation? F: Barangay permit. F: No. M: 'Yun lang? M: It's something that happens na po, agree. M: Sanitation, Fire, F: Travel agency, di ba kailangan natin DOT. F: Ang kauna-unahan ay assessor, engineering, M: Kunwari kung Tour Operator ka, meron kang NPDC, Fire, barangay, CHED, meron kang DepEd, meron kang DOT F: Kasi ang barangay ma'am, kailangan 'yan para accreditation. malaman naman ng barangay na nag-opisina ka F: Educational tour ka, kailangan mo ng CHED. du'n.
M: Sa akin nag-start ako sa mababa, nag- M: Nakakatawa, minsan hindi nga kami nag- community ako then nag-ano sa regional. health certificate.
F: 'Yung regional kailangan 'yun kasi. F: Kailangan po 'yun.
M: Magkaibang functions 'yun eh, so hindi 'yun M: Eto ang problema, nakakatawa, hiningi sa multiple. amin ay parang pap smear ba.
M: Is that multiple? F, M: **laughter**
M: Kahit umakyat ka sa region, panibagong M: Hindi nga. Pap smear. accreditation 'yun. Iba 'yun. F: X-ray lang dapat. F: Oo, kasi level na 'yun eh. M: Ito ang sunod na tanong ko rito eh, capricious M: Para kang nag-level up. requirements from LGU, pwede siguro pumasok 'yan eh, pap smear. Halimbawa, sasabihin sa F: Hindi, parang sa travel agency, na there are inyo, every six months, may ganitong members who are DFA-accredited. So malaki rin compliance, ngayon, mag-r-renew ng ganito, 'yung requirements ng DFA ah para maging health certification, every month, every quarter. accredited ka. F: Kaya nga mas gusto ko 'yung sa DOT eh, kasi M: DFA, department of foreign affairs? meron silang basic, progressive, depende sa requirements. Dapat lang talaga kapag ganyan, M: Tapos sa airport, iba na naman sa airport. meron ka lang minimum requirement.
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M: But is there? Is there, yes, or no? Parang, "ano F: Dapat kita, na kami kakaiba, na kami nakikiisa ba ito, hindi naman kailangan every six months, kami sa inyo. 'Yan po 'yung sabi nu'ng isang every quarter?" Wala, wala? bayan sa amin na, hindi na kami kukuha nu'ng DOT permit? Bakit po? Kasi naman, tignan mo, F, M: Wala naman. pare-pareho lang kami.
M: For now, okay let's go on. Lack of capacity of M: Pumapasok naman 'yung mga turista eh. agencies to enforce compliance? F: Ang ano du'n, ippromote sila dapat sila. 'Yun M: Yes. naman talaga ang purpose ng accreditation.
M: Very common kanina na walang tao. M: Okay, unrealistic requirements? Meaning, halimbawa, titignan ko kayo ng santambak na F: Walang alam 'yung tao. papeles, dokumento, BIR, kung anu-ano. Wala M: Walang alam, yes. naman?
F: Kasi, tanggap ng tanggap dahil nga sa M: Meron. Humihingi ka pa nga ng bond, kung political ano niya. anu-ano.
M: Poor communication? Meaning-- F: May mga ano pa nga eh, meron, saka confidential naman kasi 'yung audited financial M: Yes. ano.
M: 'Yung example ko kanina, transgender, cross- M: De may isa kasing case na nabanggit doon dressing. sa isang study na, 'yung nag-m-manage ng sarili niyang travel agency, hinihingian niya ng M: Saka ang hirap tawagan ng telepono. certification from TESDA about his managerial capabilities. Maski manager ka na, hihingian mo M: Tamaaaa. pa ng ganu'n 'yung co-owner mo? M: And internet? kanina, sabi ni sir, kahit F: Oo. assessment man lang para alam mo na kung ano 'yung kailangan. F: Sa PTAA, ino-offer namin sa members, binigyan namin sila ng free, kami ang sumagot, M: Proceed, lack of tangible benefit to the kailangan lang pumunta sila sa assessment sector. Meaning, kapag nag-accredit ba ako... center, ng sinasabi nating national certificate 2, M: Hindi nga nai-translate du'n sa kanila na para sa travel ano, NC2. kapag nag-accreditation ka sa amin, eto na ang F: 'Yung ano, sa progressive, 'yung regular, magagandang -- wala. kasama 'yung sa travel agency. Kailangan po M: Wala, hindi communicated. 'yung manager ay may training, na as manager. Kailangan po certified. M: Isa pa, ewan, 'yung website laging sira M: 'Yung sinasabing travel services NC2, para F: Sa amin po, 'yung sitwasyon ng mga resorts doon sa staff na 'yun. Pero ang problema, 'yung na accredited sa amin, sila 'yung pino-promote pinadala namin sa assessment center, hindi namin. No booking, no saling. Please book dito naman pinerform 'yung dapat niyang gawin. sa mga resorts na ito. Minsan may nagtanong, Hinanapan na, marunong ka bang gumamit ng teka muna, tumuloy ako diyan sa agho ah, bakit GUS? Parang nagkwentuhan lang sila, okay ka hindi mo ako nilista diyan? Sabi ko, ah, nag-p- na. Kasi 'yung mismong assessor, hindi rin siya process pa po sila ng papel. marunong siguro. Baka mabuking.
M: Hindi mo pa rin sinasabing, hindi. F: So kailangan talaga, galing talaga sa industry ang assessor. F: Ang tanong nu'ng isa, 'yung next question is, eh bakit wala diyan 'yung aqua ganyan ganyan? M: Questionable tuloy ngayon 'yung assessor na Sabi ko, ay, hindi na ako makasagot kasi ang 'yun. napakalaki niya. So tahimik na po ako. Ganu'n din ho ang sagot. Ang hirap po kasi na hindi F: Binalitaan ako, mayroon na raw mga galing sa natin ipapaalam na accredited sila. And ano nga industry na assessor. naman 'yung difference, may permit sila? May M: 'Yung MTMA, 'di ba? 'Yung MTMA is master nag-response po ng, "hindi na ako nag-renew" trainer, and master assessor. Bakit? Wala namang kaibahan. F: Yan nga, sabi ko nga sa 'yo, professor Vanni, F: Kaya nga dapat kasi may benefits na lahat kaming nagtayo ng travel agency, nakukuha. hanggang ngayon, buhay pa 'yung certificate ko,
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siya pa 'yung instructor ko. Hahaha. So, bata pa ang kinukuha ng local government, nasingil mo ako nu'n. Siya pa instructor ko nu'n. na sa kliyente mo 'yan eh, based on your, gross receipts mo. Kaya nga kasi, hindi sila marunong M: Ah, meaning, mahusay, ma'am marlene ah. gumamit ngayon nu'ng, box ng BIR, nakalagay Earlier in the industry. doon oh, VATable, non-VATable, so makikita mo dalawang service. Makikita rin ni BIR eh. So M: Mabanggit ko lang si Sir Claraval. ASEAN doon sa nakita mong service fee, doon ka lang assessor. magbabayad ng VAT. But, kailangan may M: Okay, isa pang tanong. High compliance maipakita kang resibo dito sa mga ginastos mo. cost, meaning, mahal ang mga binabayad na M: So with these um, the way we see, or we hear, fees at kung anu-ano. And, even, opportunity ay reasonable ang ito ngang cost that we are cost. Tatlong beses babalik dito, so imbes na talking about 'no, to comply, to operate a kumita, magtrabaho, you know, do your work business, to be accredited, to be certified. So and earn, hindi nawawala, nag-l-leave kahit hindi ito mahal in a sense? Hindi unreasonable? minsan without pay. M: Hindi, pero the thing is, many of the people F: Uy mahal talaga binabayaran namin sa still feel that the cost of doing business is too permit. expensive. M: Magkano 'yun? F: Kasi ayaw nilang magbayad. Kasi nga po M: Ballpark. kulang sa education and awareness.
F: Uh, umaabot din ng 60 to 100k, pero kapag M: Itong isang pinapakita ko na mga mas malaki, mas ano pa. nagbebenta ng roadside highway, eateries. Pagparada ng bus ng ganun, bubuksan ng M: No, no, no, 'yung 60 to 100k, kasama na kasi driver. Pagbaba mo papasok 'yung alikabok sa 'yung local government tax nu'n. pagkain. Cost du'n, dapat malinis 'yung area na 'yun dapat. Ito na namang CR, tatanungin nu'ng M: That's a year, annual? du'n sa konduktor. Magtatanong saan 'yung CR, tapos sasabihin, ma'am, pagbaba mo, maaamoy M: Oo annual. 'Yung problema kasi ng local mo na. Hahaha. Masisinghot mo na, ano pang government, ganito. Tinitignan niya 'yung local tatanungin mo doon? Kaya nga dumadami 'yung sales mo, tapos 'yung total sales mo, yung mga highway eateries katulad ng mcdo and percentage, may tax. Based on the gross, eh jollibee pero bakit hindi humihinto 'yung mga marami kasi din sa mga private sector kapag driver doon? Kasi akala nila, hindi magbibigay ng nagsusulat siya nu'n, kasi ang kliyente gusto pagkain 'yung jollibee at mcdo sa kanila. niya, kapag nagbayad siya nu'n, magkanong Actually lang, nagpapakain din sila. SOP na 'yun. binayad mo? 100k, sulat mo du'n sa OR, 100,000. Kasi kung hindi mo sinulat 'yung M: They are aware. 100,000, hindi dinaya mo 'ko. Ngayon, ang tingin ngayon ng local goverment, ang laki ng kinikita M: 'Yung CR doon, aircon pa. Eh nasanay na sila mo, 100 thousand, eh sa totoo lang, service fee sa ganito. lang ako doon. F: And hindi po tinutulungan ng government. F: Sa 100 thousand, ang kinita mo lang doon, mga 2,000, 3,000 pesos. M: Una sa lahat, hindi nga pine-pave 'yung pavement eh. Ang dumi. Naiiinis ako na ganu'n. M: Ngayon, kapag sinulat mo 3,000, ang laki pa rin ng tingin niya na kinita mo. Kapag pinakita M: Hindi ba sa kanila din 'yun, 'yung ibang mo 'yung three thousand, tatawaran ka na eateries? naman. O eh papano? M: 'Yung iba. But not all. M: Sinong tumatawad? M: 'Yung dito sa may diversion, na 'yun talaga M: 'Yung kliyente. kanila 'yun, magkabila, du'n 'yung paradahan, du'n 'yung CR, pero nandu'n ka pa lang, amoy mo M: Akala nila ang laki ng kinikita, pero 'yung na 'yung CR. JAC Liner. 97,000, binabayad mo sa lahat ng services. M: Those are the cost of doing this. M: 'Yung 3,000 na 'yun sa 100,000, umaangal pa siya. Ang sabi ko, kapag ikaw nagbayad du'n sa M: Hindi regularized. SM, nagbayad ka ng 50,000 doon sa appliances M: Meron siyang janitor, pero hindi nila mo, humihirit ka pa ba? Wala na. Yun ang mga nalilinisan. problema. Tapos ang sabi naman ng mga taxpayer na 'yan, ang laki-laki ng kinukuha ng M: Kulang sa tubig kasi, walang tubig. national. No! Hindi niya iniisip na kung ano man
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M: Naniningil, 5 pesos. Nakaupo lang siya doon F: bakit po wala? sa mismong CR, naghihintay lang ng bayad, hindi naglilinis. M: Hindi nga nila alam kung paano ang tourism.
M: Okay, so just quickly again, 'no. Agree or F: Kasi nga po walang tourism na staff, walang disagree, regulation is needed. Regulation is tourism na department, and so, maraming necessary. napupuntang mga turista. So 'yun 'yung problema. Ang sitwasyon namin, kitang-kita F: Yes, necessary. kung magkano ang naipapasok namin sa munisipyo. Iyon po ay nasasabi ko dahil ako po M: In the Philippines? You really need to. ay involved sa maraming tourism officers ng Implementation? is needed, too. quezon. 'Yung iba hindi nila alam how they will earn from tourism. So tumatakbo na 'yung M: Ayun, so regulation, and then, proper turista, ang daming turistang dumadating, implementation. How about benefits to your magkanong kinikita, pasok halimbawa sa own sectors? Can you see that the regulations munisipyo, "wala po", or halimbawa, merong, offer benefits? may kita man, lahat ay papasok sa general M: Should offer. funds,
M: They should, but hindi offered, sir. F: Magagamit na sa lahat.
M: They are supposed to. But not everybody F: Yun pong sinasabi ko, is because, the LGU gets that benefit. Kapag malakas ka, okay ka. doesn't know how the industry should run, so Kapag hindi, wala ka. Tama? dapat turuan po 'yung LGU. Pasok lahat doon, hindi man lang nila i-divide, tapos ang problema F: Dapat may dialogue din sila sa private sector pa, 'yung accountant, gusto niya, general funds eh, kagaya nito. Para malaman nila kung ano lahat ang pasok. So, uh, kung hindi nga po 'yung concern. Kaya nga tinatry namin ma-invite merong mamamagitan, ay kailangan pong 'yung mga business permit para sa townhall ganito, ay ipapasok niya na talaga 'yan. meeting. M: It's okay kung pumasok sa general funds, M: Sir Paul, sabi mo, kapag okay ka, makukuha mo 'yung permit. So ibig sabihin, palakasan din? M: Pero it's properly recorded, saan nga ba Automatically given na 'yun? galing ito. Saan galing 'yan? Natural doon din ang bagsak, pero the receipts for M: Oo, pupunta ka du'n sa office, let's say sa documentation, as well as its disbursements. tourism office. Ngayon ang brochure, ay wala. Pagdating du'n, ay, 'to 'to 'to. Hindi, kunwari, F: Hindi po, ang sitwasyon po natin, wala nga pupunta ka doon sa isang lugar, kailangan mo pong department ng tourism. And so kung, ng brochure, pero hindi ka mabibigyan madalas. sinong mag-h-handle ng money supposedly for Bakit? Kasi lagi, eto alam ko noon ah, ginagawa that? So 'yun po 'yung problema din, let's say nila, ni-r-reserve nila 'yan para kay secretary. lagyan natin ng project du'n, pero 'yung tao na Hindi kasi, ayaw silang ma-bojak ni secretary. gagawa, wala. Yun po. Hindi masyadong Kapag nanghingi ng brochure at wala, bojak. natututukan, samantalang ang community ay Bakit wala kayo niyan, e nahingi niyo na lahat masyado nang involved sa industry. eh? Hindi ppwede 'yun, kapag kay secretary M: Ang kulang kasi diyan is the tourism satellite laging meron. accounting, which is also dapat ibigay yun sa F: Parang sa atin naman laging marami. local government.
M: Pero kahit gaano karami 'yan, laging kulang. F: If I may share, ano ito lang recently galing kami ng new zealand, sa bagay kaunti lang F: Budget, budget talaga. Limited ang budget ng naman kasi ang population nun, pero pagpunta DOT. mo du'n sa kabila, sa may pagdating sa bay, ang laki ng mga brochures nila, kukuha ka na lang, M: Nakikinig ho ang DOT. Ang mga brochure na available. Pagpunta mo doon sa kabilang street, 'yun, makikita na lang namin kapag past na. mayroon na namang stand ng brochure doon, pagpunta mo doon sa isang store sa labas, F: Ganito po ang sitwasyon ng local meron na namang destinations. government. Dahil po, ah hindi pa marunong ang local government mag-earn through tourism. M: Sa hongkong, sa airport. Punta ka dito sa That's why kapag gagawa ng brochure, na-h- atin, wala! Bakit? Ang sagot ko diyan, handle 'yan ng budget from the general funds, information is what we call power. So dito sa kasi hindi nila alam papaano papasok sa loob. atin, kapag hindi mo alam ang impormasyon, Sa amin, ganito po, halimbawa puro LGU pine- saan ka pupunta? present nila ay sa tourism, eh wala naman silang budget para sa pagpagawa ng brochure. F: Kailangan may service fee.
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F: 'Yung LGU po naman, hindi po nila alam paano government ang dapat i-tap. Hindi lahat private gagawin 'yung promotion. Ang totoo niya naman eh. pati ang isang dahilan, hindi naman basta-basta gumawa ng brochure, mahirap din gawin 'yung F: Ang laki ng bill ko sa museum du'n, 700 'yun. brochure. Merong wala talagang gagawa. Ang laking business nun. Mahalaga po 'yung taong nakakaintindi sa F: Pero private po siguro yung ano. bayan, kasi kung hindi nga, hindi siya makakagawa ng brochure ng walang alam. M: Alam ba ninyo kung ano, lagi kasi niyo, eto Tapos, dating na ng dating ang tao. nakikita niyo lagi. Walang pondo eh. Lagi 'yun.
F: Naiinggit kami kapag nasa ibang country F: Wala ba ma'am. kami, inggit na inggit kami lagi naming sinasabi sana sa Pilipinas ganito. Sana sa Pilipinas, F: Sa amin meron. Sa iba hindi ko alam. ganu'n. Sa Singapore, mas marami pang turista kaysa sa locals. M: Wala sa lahat, maghanap kayo from within. Sinong nakikinabang sa tourism doon? Yang F: E pero dito po sa Pilipinas tapos pag-uusapan mga supplier niyo. San Miguel, Coca-Cola, yang po 'yung Tourism Promotions Board, 'di po ba, mga yan, yan ang hanapan niyo. trabaho nila 'yun. Kaya ng ako, ang sinasabi ko sa local-- F: Tayo po'y babalik doon sa problemang una, hindi po lahat ng LGUs ay marunong M: It's not the work of ano, ang sa TPB, ang alam magpatakbo ng tourism. So yun po ang dapat ko, ang kanilang mandate is to market from na, ako sarili kong karanasan, ito pong mga, outside to bring them in, sa local. hindi po ganito, sa part ko halimbawa, ang daming trainings sa DOT, halimbawa, doon ako F: Sa local, kaya iba-iba rin. natuto. Pero isa pong naging struggle ko, from the beginning, ay 'yung kaunawaan nu'ng mga F: Pero naniniwala ako na ang mga travel agents kasama kong mga department heads, and ang talagang ambassador ng tourism. Kasi during that time ako po ay isang ordinaryong, kami lagi ang lumalabas e. Pag meeting kami, ako po ay item na mababa. So ang hirap kong two-way, ang tourism is a two-way traffic abutin sila kasi sila po'y mga pinuno. So 'yun po situation. Di ba parang padala kami rito, padala 'yung set-up sa local, so ang ano po, itong mga ka rin, kaya nga sabi ko napaka-kailangan, department heads na ito, ang alam nila hindi napakaimportante ng private sector eh. Dapat tourism. Alam nila 'yung mga regulars, si budget, talaga ang private sector at ang government si assessor, si ganito. But to bring tourism sa should work hand in hand. kanilang linya ay hindi napakadali. F: 'Yung pong situation sa amin, ang nag-initiate M: 'Yang mga tourism puro PR-PR lang 'yan, ng pagpapalago ng tourism ay ang LGU. And so, puro gastos 'yan. saka lang lumabas ang private sector which I found out na napakahalaga. Hindi ko kayang F: When I was beginnning, we started with bilang tourism officer sa LGU, hindi ko kayang cultural development, ah hindi nila ako idiretso 'yan ng wala ang private sector, so ang maunawaan. Sabi ng Mayor namin, tigilan mo na involvement po muna, dapat mangyari, 'yung 'yan, tourism naman, tapos ngayon, nakita niya partnership, talagang sa local. And the next 'yung ibig sabihin ng cultural tourism, we are thing is, kung handa na nga po, ay to open it sa going to have, so ang dami ng tao sa Cagbalete, mga katulad ninyo. Kasi napakahalaga-- so ang daming turista na. Tapos sobrang, hindi ko na alam kung anong pipiliin, walang F: Ma'am kasi, tignan mo ah, 'yung sa Clark, 700 tutulugan, so sabi ko, magkakaroon po tayo ng pax yun eh, pinatira ko sa * inland tour, and the inland tour is the heritage Time elapsed – 1:59:53 sites. See, pinipigilan niya 'kong 'wag mo nang gawin 'yan, 'wag mo na i-declare namin 'yung * 'yung iba sa Midori. Naghahanap ako ng tour mga sites, 'yung mga national. So sa kanya ko guide, so walang available kausap ko si Dan. naunawaan na what I'm doing is tourism, but Dan paano ba 'yung tourism diyan, pwede ko just having the foundation built. So ngayon, bang makausap? Eh baka natatakot, malaki nakita niya, meron kaming island tour, may 'yung delegation, baka natatakot na hingian ko inland tour, may ganu'n na. So, uh, 'yun po 'yung ng sponsor. 'Yung ganu'n, iisipin nila hosting nangyayari. dinner, imagine hosting dinner at least for ASEAN people, I mean ASEAN 'to, hindi 'yun M: Lagyan niyo ng entrance fee, tapos. Pilipino! Vietnamese, lahat-lahat, Indonesia, F: Ayun na nga po, nagrereklamo nga po sa Malaysia, sabi ko, baka naman iniisip niya amin. hosting. F: Meron pong mga bayan na hindi nila alam F: Pero tingin ko po 'yung sa case ninyo, both papaano sila hihingi ng environmental fee. du'n sa private sector and du'n sa local
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Nakakahiya po, may mga testimonies na F: Ang national accreditation, kung magpapa- "nakakaawa po 'yung turista, 'wag po natin i-ano" accredit ka sa local, should be lowered, 'di ba? aba, hindi na. Meron point na sasabihin nila na, Halimbawa sinisingil ka ng 60,000, halimbawa, ako na lang po kung tungkol lang sa pera ng dapat mga 10,000 na lang. turista naaawa raw sila. Eh bakit nakakaawa, may kinakaawaan ba sa Amerika ang daming M: Ang problema nga ito eh, sabihin ko sa inyo, ginagastos. Kinakailangan kong i-justify, hindi ba sumisingil ang national ng 12% VAT? Eh ipaliwanag. So 'yun po 'yung hirap, kapag bakit may mga local government ngayon, nagsisimula, lahat ng kasama mo, walang alam naniningil na naman ng local tax? sa tourism. Ikaw lang talaga. Yun, so sige po. M: Ah, hiwalay? M: Okay, so isa na naman tayong quick M: Yeah, meron na. question. Agree o disagree? M: May ganu'n? M: No. M: Eh kasi inetchapwera na yung era nila eh. F, M: **laughter** M: Wala nang kita, kaya inipit nila 'yung pera sa M: Quick eh. local government. M: Or kung may suggestions kayo. Kasi kanina M: Because they can do this sa local ordinance. sa mga based du'n sa mga na-input share ano, Tama po ba 'yun? during some of the questions eh may mga concerns tayo regarding multiple recognitions, M: The local government can do taxes eh. accreditations, and all, although na-mention na ni Sir Claravel na DOT and TESDA are working on F: Pero sir the national, require the local, before a plan to harmonize. Remove multiple you go-- accreditations, agree or disagree? Or any suggestions? M: True, true.
F: Kapag may isang accreditation ka, F: Hindi mo mapipigilan 'yun, kasi ni-r-require tatanggapin ka ba ng ibang government offices nila 'yun. sa accreditation, 'yun ang tanong ko. Kasi kung M: So kailangan talaga, kung meron nang hindi, 'di kailangan magpa-accredit na. national, common-- M: Bottomline cause, the government requires. F: Na meron din po sa ibaba, yeah. F: Pero hindi enough 'yung accreditation. M: Ito, nakikita ko sa San Juan City. Sa San Juan, F: Kapag in-honor nu'ng isa, tapos 'yung makikita mo 'yung jeep ng San Juan, may requirements nila ay pare-pareho naman, e 'di nakapaskil ng jeep niya, permit ng local dapat isa na lang. government, kaya dumaan du'n sa local government. Pero actually, LTFRB na 'yun eh, F: Parang national ID. ano bakit ba meron pa nu'n?
M: In the line with that national ID, consolidate M: Sa Makati, ganu'n din. documentary requirements, so eliminate redundancy? M: Isang question 'yun.
F, M: Yes. F: Eh kasi po para nga kumita 'yung local government. M: Kumbaga, isa na lang, patakbuhin mo na 'yan. Oo. Okay, isahan na lang. Remove the filing for M: Dapat kasi du'n sa binayaran mo sa LTFRB, local permits if already nationally-accredited. meron na dapat share eh. Kasi, una LGU, tapos iba pa 'yung sa national. M: Hindi na nga napapaabot sa kanila. F: Filing of what? F: Hindi napupunta sa kanila. M: Local permits, so halimbawa, meron ka na sa M: Kaya gumagawa sila ng panibagong pera. local government, tapos hihingian ka pa ng national. 'Wag na uulitin pa ulit. M: Okay, so on average, how long is the validity of a permit, accreditation, or certification? Two F: National, naunahan siya nu'n? Ibig sabihin years? One year? dumaan ka na sa local. F: Ang permit, one year. One year lang. F: Papayag ba ang LGU? Kasi sir, 'yung income. M: Accreditation from DOT is two years? M: Ang suggestion, babaan.
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F: No sir, depende doon sa program kasi nila, F: Ganito po, one-stop shop, by January 'yan. ang basic is one, ang regular ay two, premium Tapos meron na rin po ang DTI, naglagay sila ng three pataas. office diyan, negosyo center. So 'yung aming DTI, doon na lang sa Mauban, naglagay sila ng M: Pero lumalaki din 'yung fees nu'n, kasi kung tao. four years, four-year fee ang sisingilin kaagad sa 'yo. F: Meron din sa enchanted kingdom.
M: Ang tanong dito is ano, are you okay with F: DTI project po 'yan, hindi sa LGU, kaya lang lengthening the validity? Paano 'yung passport? pinipili yata nila ang mga LGU.
F: Siyempre naman. Of course. M: Ang problema, meron ngang DTI, pero hindi naman nila alam 'yung mga responsibilidad. M: For tour guides ano, ang current rule is one year. But we propose, three years. F: It's the responsibility of DTI, para ituro sa kanila 'yung mga 'yun, at saka ng LGU siguro. M: Bakit, driver's license, three to five years. Passport from license, from five to ten. Marriage M: Yung checklist na naman ang hanapin natin. license, ganu'n din dapat. F: Dahil meron kaming negosyo center, kahit F, M: *** laughter *** 'yung mga local waivers, dahil nga may mga orders ako minsan, so pinag-d-DTI so may F: May expiration! tumututok lang sa amin which is under ng product development ng aming opisina, kasi M: Walang expiration sir, ang marriage napakarga na sa akin. certificate! M: Kapag nag-l-livelihood kayo, tinuturo ba ninyo M: That's why they'd change it to marriage ang tax awareness? contract eh, dati license siya 'di ba? F: Meron pong training na ibinibigay, ang-- F: Isang taon pa lang expired na! M: Hindi, ngayon, may tax awareness? M: Sir 'yung marriage, may expiration ba? F: Hindi pa, wala pa po. F: Renewable na lang! M: Ilan lahat sila? Lahat sila, wala. Kaya nga M: Exempt from Mayor's Permit for micro and lahat sila umaangal, taas-taas ng tax. Hindi mo small businesses? nga alam 'yun eh. F: Ako ayoko. F: 'Yung sitwasyon ng cooperative, wala 'yun. Sa M: Kailangan bang i-exempt na ang Mayor amin, 'yung sarili kong ginagawa, may level 'yan. Permit? O meron pa rin? Una, mag-f-form sila ng isang grupo, tapos pagka medyo ayos na, nag-c-cooperative. Kaya F: Meron pa rin dapat. Meron po dapat. 'yung dating boat, na dati isang grupo, ngayon kooperatiba na sila. Ayun po. At ang aming M: As far as the local government is concerned, tourist vans ay kooperatiba na rin. kawawa sila. M: Kasi nakakakuha kayo ng tax exemption. F: Kailan 'yun? Kasi kapag walang permit, kahit ano gagawin niyan. F: May benefits parati po sila as cooperative. Meron pong tax exemption. F: Magulo na po, hindi nasusunod. M: Wala kaming natanggap na cooperative tax F: That's one way of control, sir. Wag na lang holiday, kasi sabi niya ang laki-laki niyong taasan masyado 'yung fees. kompanya eh. Anong malaki, 30 million pero dalawang eroplano 'yun. M: Issue a single business ID recognized by all regulators? Hindi lang isang permit, hindi lang F: Ang aming pong LGU nu'ng kami po'y standard permits, even the ID? nagsimula ay nagbibigay ng tax holiday na five years. Pero tapos na 'yung five years na 'yun; F: Yes. 'yung lahat ng magsimula ngayon ay hindi na M: Establish a one-stop shop for licenses, binibigyan. When we were starting, 'yun po 'yung permits? incentive ng LGU.
F: We are doing it na sir, it is happening na. M: O ito po, reduce red tape? January. F: Yes. M: Ma'am nangyayari nga, pero 'yun na nga ang problema, hindi cohesive.
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M: Siguro naman 'no, kailangan pirma ni ganito, F: Yes po. pirma ni ganito, sa opisinang ito. M: Kailangan meron? Okay po. M: Isang pirma lang ano? M: But do they have the manpower? M: Hindi, bago mo pirmahan ito, compliance na siya. Checklist na naman ang hanapin natin. F: Laging manpower ang problema diyan kahit Kahit sabihin mo 100 items 'yung checklist mo, laging pataas ang power. hindi bale. M: In the light of modernizing regulations, do F: Sa amin may checklist. you think producing new regulations would be necesary? M: Kailangan talaga. F: Mag-evaluate po muna, assess po muna. M: Kaya nga kailangan nandu'n sa website nila. Anong negosyo gusto mo? Kapag ni-click mo, M: What new regulations do you think should be nandu'n na lahat 'yung kailangan. Bumubulaga. in place?
F: Dadaan sa start, sa assessor, engineering, M: 'Yung sinabi ni ma'am, trainings. MenRo, MPDC, Fire, Treasurer's office, F: 'Yun po 'yung una. Trainings, kung LGU kasi. engineering. F: Saka po 'yung mag-a-assess talagang mag- F: Isang table lang po 'yung dadaanan nila. *** 'yun. M: Ano 'yun, ibibigay niyo na lang ipapasa niyo Time elapsed – 2:15:48 na lang? O pila-pila? F: Training certificates from accredited training F: 'Yung one-stop shop namin ah, dapat within centers. the day tapos. 'Yung lahat ng sinabi ko kanina dapat okay na. Ngayon 'yung sa tourism, bago M: Accredited and licensed. Separate ah. Hindi mag-process 'yun, papupuntahin. Kasi kapag porke travel agency ka na, pwede ka na mag- nagsimula na sila mag-process, pipilitin nila training. Hindi. tapusin in one day kasi may violation sila. F: Ang nangyayari po kasi diyan pa, initiative M: Ano ba 'yan, sa anti-red tape act ba 'yan o sa nu'ng mga LGU. Kung hindi ganu'n 'yung civil service act? initiative, hindi ganu'n 'yung kaayusan pero hindi ganu'n 'yung industry. 'Yung tourism, hindi F: Civil service po, pareho lang po. mapipigilan. F: Talaga pong, tuwing January ganu'n sa amin. M: Pero sa akin ah, it cannot be just the initiative. M: Meron bang sa local government, meron na Cooperation siya. Follow, whether you like it or ba silang, percent ng offices na meron na? Kasi not. Sa Pilipinas ano, kapag hindi siya regulation, alam ko, in so many days, kapag hindi mo hindi siya susundin. sinagot 'yan, it's considered approved. Kaya nga F: Yan ang nangyayari ngayon. hindi very clearly stated eh. M: Minimum compliance kasi. F: Sa SB lang po 'yun, ang alam ko ay 'yung kapagka sa approval ng resolutions and M: Okay um, how about talking about outside, ordinance, na kailangan kapag hindi napirmahan NPAA would like to go to be ISO-certified. Do you ni mayor, it's considered approved na po. think this is necessary? Like parang outside, hindi lang po government certification. F: How long? F: International. International Standard F: 30 days. Organization. ISO. M: Very long time. M: Is it necessary? F: Kasi may first reading, second reading, third M: For PTA ah, I suppose. reading pa po. F: Para maka-compete po tayo sa iba. F: Sangguniang bayan po, tapos kay Mayor ang final. kapag hindi po napirmahan ni Mayor after F: Yes po. 30 days, considered as approved. 'Yun 'yung batas nila. M: For the LGU, kailangan din?
M: Okay, isang question pa. Well marami pa pala F: Yes po. 'Yung sa amin, local, pwede namang ito. Create a regulatory review agency to mahalaga 'yung sa next level na agency, hindi evaluate regulations by the government.
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naman katulad nu'ng sa international. Pero M: Ang nagbibigay ng presyo kasi rito, is 'yung kami, dapat nga progressive. mga airline na nandito. E dito, siyempre, dito ang presyo eh, kung nandu'n, international 'yan, F: Kasi i-s-sample ko sa inyo ah, meron akong worldwide yun. 'Yung dito sa atin, kaunti lang maliit na training center ng mga seaman, kaya 'yung market of consideration. lang ang requirements ng mga manning agencies, na kailangan ng training provider nila, F: Parang 'yung hotel din natin, mas mahal kaysa is ISO-certified. So hindi sila mag-a-accredit ng sa ibang bansa. training center na hindi ISO-certified. M: True, true. M: Oo kasi according 'yan to IMO. International Maritime. M: Okay, talking about being open-minded in terms of evaluation criteria, kailangan ba strictly F: 'Yun ang hinahanap ko sa industry natin. 'yung mga standards? Like what I mentioned kanina ano, strictly, tourist arrivals lang ba ang F: Para namang ginagawa nina Sir 'yan. basis natin to implement certain programs, particularly how to improve tourists M: You have to be careful ah, when you start in destinations? international, because the Philippines is not very known for adhering to international standards. F: Actually kailangan sustainable, you have to adopt the sustainable tourism practices, yun M: Meron tayo, tayo-tayo lang. lang naman yun. Saka 'yung case naman kasi ng M: Even then, WTO and all of these, hindi nga tourist arrivals marami tayo nu'n eh, ang tayo nag-a-accreditation. sinasabi natin kasi is foreign tourists atsaka domestic tourists eh. F: Pero kami po talaga we cannot be not certified, kasi ang accrediting body namin is F: True. DNB, TUP, 'yan ang mga ano namin, kasi 'yan F: Actually mas marami pa rin sa ating domestic ang requirement ng client namin overseas. tourists sa atin eh. M: That's because of the IMO. We're not known. F: Kumikita tayo sa domestic. M: So we're talking about the maritime industry. M: Bilang ba bilang mo naman 'yung mga As fas as I know, travel and tourism, and the dumarating na foreign. maritime industry are two different industries, follow different rules. F: Especially that Boracay is closed?
F: We have also travel agencies na ISO na. F: Sumasakit ang ulo namin.
M: We have maritime training agencies who F, M: ***laughter*** adhere to IMO rules. That is why, what I'm trying to tell TESDA, hindi basta-bastang travel F: Opo, gawa ng ABS-CBN. services. You have to introduce a maritime travel services because we have more than half M: In relation to what you mentioned kanina 'no, a million seafarers who works under travel 'yung disclosure of information that will be agencies, which works completely different needed by various businesses? Ano bang from the travel agency is done. Maglagay kayo problema natin du'n? Dapat be may sharing of it, ng maritime travel services. Ang dami-daming formation, hindi lang exclusive particularly seafarers ng pinas, tapos walang nagtuturo sa about one of it should be diretsuhin na natin, kanila to arrange maritime travels? income. Kagaya ng sabi ni Sir Paul, 2000. O ibebenta, 2000, e papaano ngayon 'yun. F: But these accredited maritime travel agencies, meron din silang problema ngayon. F: Hindi ko na lang ibebenta 'yan kung hindi ako Kasi ang mga kanilang principal agents, hindi, kikita. 'Di ba, kaya nga ako nagtayo ng business kay ano na pinapadala 'yan, or kay Kingstone nila eh. pinapadaan. Yan nagkaproblema ngayon ang M: 'Yung problema naman kasi nga, maraming mga members natin na nag-c-cater sa maritime. nag-n-negosyo na hindi alam ang negosyo. M: So the question arises, why are the principals Kapagka nandu'n na sa loob, saka na kumakapit now, do their tickets on their selves? Bakit hindi sa patalim, kahit ano na, pwede na. Kahit nila gamitin ang affiliation? There must be a nasisira na rin ang negosyo dahil sa kanila. reason. F: Sa amin po ay pababa ng pababa sa M: Maybe they get better rates. bracketing.
M: Oh, so sino may kasalanan du'n? Maritime M: Pababaan ngayon, yes. travel. Now, hindi pwede 'yan.
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F: May mga IATA agents ngayon na gumagawa you become certified? Meron bang ibang paraan ng tours. I cannot mention the name, kapag nag- na do you think na should be in place, instead of publish 'yan, Singapore, okay, pinakamababa just the usual training, or maybe more beneficial kasi may magandang offer ngayon si PAL, so than the training itself? Singapore, 4 days, 3 nights, 23,300 kapag, ang publish niyan, 23,800+. Pero kapag may M: Romeo Papa Lima, RPL, Recognition of Prior dumiretso sa kanila na client, kasi the 500 goes Learning. Even if you were not trained, but to the travel agents na kumukuha sa kanila. because you are experienced, you can be Kapag dumiretso ang kliyente, 23,000. Yun yung assessed and certified. RPL is the correct term isa sa mga practices na parang unnecessary. for that.
M: Hindi niya na nga alam 'yung negosyo eh, F: Sa DOT, meron kaming invitation sa mga banat ng banat lang. Para lang makuha 'yung private sector to attend like this and like that, market. ang napansin ko lang, wala kaming certificate.
M: But in that particular aspect, okay, balikan M: Really? natin that surface earlier, the certification, the F: Parang one day kami du'n, minsan from 9 to NCII, it could be like another way to, hindi naman 5. circumvent, but to comply with a particular requirement of a travel agency. Would there be F: Baka po delay lang, ma'am. other ways or means to be NCII-certified? F: Sana kapag um-attend kami ng forum, sana M: No. meron naman kaming ano 'no, kahit parang certificate na we attended it. M: So kailangan talaga dadaan sa TESDA? F: Minsan na-l-late, ang sure na ibibigay sa inyo F: TESDA. ay certificate of appearance. Hihingiin niyo sa M: whether you like it or not. kanila.
M: Dadaan ka sa assessment, but I don't F: Parang sangkatutak na na-attend-an ko eh. necessarily have to be trained. I can have F: You can also ask sir, participation. experience and then I get the certificate. F: Hindi siguro, ano, during with our courtesy call F: Ako may NCII ako. Si Paul, kumpleto ni sir for secretary Puyat, I will touch this ano. 'yan. F: Ang naka-prepare nila parati appearance. M: So not necessarily because you were trained, 'Yung magandang sertipiko, wala. Na-l-late ho but because of experience. talaga. M: Pwede, pwede. F: Minsan nallate ho talaga 'yung certificate of F: Kaya nga 'yung ginawa namin, Prof Claraval, participation minsan. na ano, yung mga gusto ko, OR official M: Can I ask a few more questions? representative atsaka alternate representative, ang binigyan namin ng free. Kami magbabayad M: I'd like to know the status of the application sa assessment center, just go there, register, of the NCs? National Certification, like in terms and be assessed para lahat ng owners ng mga of available assessors, we have the number, we members ng PTAA eh may NCII. have the qualified people,
M: Correct, correct. M: Just a shortage.
M: Requirement na 'yung NCII? M: Definitely a shortage of qualified.
M: Ah, well, sa bagong rules ng DOT, yes. F: "Busy ako eh, busy ako. Gusto ko sana kaso busy ako." M: Ah, yes, mandatory. M: So when you say shortage by let's say a M: They must have at least one NCII travel ballpark figure. Ano bang number natin dito? services within the organization. M: We cannot issue a figure because we don't F: Meron pa nga pong mga tourism promotion. know the demand. Why we know that there is a M: Sir in that light, will there be any other shortage because we ask the training providers qualifications that may be seen to comply with who only offer tourism services, travel the particular certification standards from promotions, TESDA, or from DOT, or from the LGU, na not F: Eh kaya naman pala bihira, ang dami nating only trained in a sense? Hindi mo kailangan, hinihingi eh. dumaan sa ganitong training, and then after that
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M: Wala tayong makuhang trainors, walang F: Ang sitwasyon namin, openly training ng makuhang assessors. travel and tours du'n sa ano. Kaya lang matagal na 'yan. F: Sir, kasi raw ang daming hinihingi eh, sinong magtitiyaga? Kagaya ko sir ah, kagaya ko, busy F: Pwede mong kay tourism promotion, NCII. ako. Siyempre, PTA president ako, meron akong NCII ng tourism and promotions. Pero sa travel travel agency, hindi ko na malaman minsan, services ma'am, naku mag-a-attend ka pa ng meron pa tayong mga dialogue na ganito 'di ba, marami.
***laughter*** F: Hindi namin linya 'yan, 'yun pong linya na lang namin ang tignan. F: Ilang beses ako uma-attend ng dialogue, ang dami, hindi lang ito. Kung hihingian pa ako ng F: Ako ma'am di ba, not tourism promotions. maraming requirements, ay 'wag na lang. M: For tourism offices, 'yun ang kailangan. M: I do not disagree, there are a number of requirements, because we have to assure the F: What I mean is meron para sa amin. quality of the trainors, because what is M: 'Yun ang kailangan sa 'yo is tourism happening now even individuals even without promotion services. tourism industry experience are being tourism trainors. How can you teach a task if you have F: 'Yun ma'am. not actually done it yourself? Totoo 'yun, marami, we want this, we want this, pero basta. M: You don't need a travel services because Hindi naman pwede 'yung ganu'n. you're not making travel reservations.
F: In passing kasi napag-uusapan namin 'yan, F: Maybe somebody else will do that. Maybe "tumulong tayo sa industry, ano tayo mag-apply 'yung assessors sa inyo kukunin, pero 'yung kayong assessor". Ang dami ng requirements tipong sa amin, e 'di 'yung nagbigay sa amin eh, paano naman 'yan? Ganu'n, mga industry doon. Kasi mukhang mas maayos na ano, saka experts 'tong sinasabi ko ah, in the business for kami nakatutok. Sa isang banda sinasabi ko so many years. They really wanted to help lang 'yan, pero sa dami ng trabaho ko, ay 'yun po. tourism industry, but the problem is, 'yun nga, 'yung sobrang dami. F: 'Yun nga ma'am, gustung-gusto kong tumulong, hindi ko lang makaya. F: Eh sir, 'yung tanong ko, 'yung case ko, how about 'yung mga tourism officers na i-train din M: Calendar niyo na, September 25. 'yan as assessors, sa tingin ko ayoko, pero sa M: Ibig sabihin, parang centers for these tingin ko dapat ay matignan din 'yung kalagayan assessments, kulang pa rin 'no? namin. Dahil kami ay ma-t-train ng todo diyan sa ano, kami 'yung experiensiyado.. We are the best M: Well training centers, no. There are enough assessors, 'yun ang tingin ko. training providers. And there are enough training centers, ang kulang, assessors, kasi they don't F: Pero kasi ma'am, kapag nag-assess ka po, offer these programs kasi walang makuhang kailangan mo po talaga ng experience na trainors. But they're in lot of TESDA-accredited lumabas ka ng country, nandito ka sa local ano training centers, they don't offer travel services, natin, naikot mo na 'yan, and then you should well they cannot or would not offer kasi wala know how to actually create a package. silang nmakuha. F: Kaya nga ma'am, so, ang ibig kong sabihin, M: Ang kulang lang sa mga training centers is ang pwedeng tignan ngayon ay 'yung tourism marami pa rin akong nakikitang pagkukulang. officers. F: Sa case po namin, ang daming TESDA-trained F: Permanent na po sila. talaga. Walang assessor. Kaya, hang 'yung mga F: Kung requirement mo po 'yan, ay titignan ko nag-training, natatagalan. 'Yun po 'yung kung meron ako nu'n. Kung halimbawa, sitwasyon namin. Ako naman, hindi ko naman kailangan ng foreign travels o kung ano man, so naiintindihan 'yung nandu'n sa TESDA, so meron ding level or progressions, halimbawa ito naghahanap lang ako ng assessor kaso busy rin bansa lang ng Pilipinas ang napupuntahan, ito 'yung assessor na pinakamalapit. Lucena, sige naman marami. So ito 'yung pwede nating pupunta na kami ng Lucena. ilagay, kaysa nahihirapang humanap kung saan- M: Anong qualification ng assessor na saan, e 'di i-tap natin 'yung nandu'n na sa hinahanap niyo? industry na tourism officer. F: Sa tour guiding po. F: Tapos ma'am pag-aralan mo 'yung GDS, kasi ma'am may command 'yun sa pag-b-booking, F: Sa tour guiding po, kasi nag-train kami ng importante 'yun kapag nag-a-assess ka. TESDA, ang mangyayari kasi,
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M: Gusto mo padalhan ka na namin. tour guide, tag-1-100 dollars binigay niya du'n sa tour guide, sabi ko sana sa 'kin na lang 'yun, F: Last year at 'yung kasunod pang year, so ano, nadagdagan pa sana kita ko. Malaki pa 'yung uulitin ko na naman 'yung training, kasi may kinita ng tour guide kaysa sa akin. itinerary, may ganyan-ganyan, ay kaya nga hindi kami nakaka-come up, and I have 9 TESDA- F: Totoo 'yan, mas malaki pa minsan ang tip trained at pasado. Uh, kaya lang 'yung iba hindi kaysa doon binibigay. na nag-p-practice, ganyan ganyan, we come up on another group, two batches, na hirap na F: Pinoy ang kliyente ko, Pinoy ha. akong kumuha ng assessor, kaya dalawang F: Mga assist-assist po. taon na 'yung nakaraan. Ang susunod na training ko na ngayon ay yung community tour M: Wala kaming tour package, mag-a-assist ka guiding bigay naman ng DOT. lang going to port, ang pinakamahinang tip na nu'n is 500 pesos. F: Ang hirap po magkaroon ng maraming tour guide. M: Talaga?
F: Mahirap. F: Exactly.
F: Or baka naman maliit kasi ang offer. M: Pinoy talaga.
M: Okay lang po. M: Pero sa foreign, makaka-tip ka sa kanila, once na matutuwa sila sa 'yo sa ginawa mo. Like F: De, okay po. uh, meron akong guests na pinicture-an ko, F: Bakit ayaw nila? magkatipan sila, so nag-ano ako na, sir picture, do you want me to take a picture of you two? M: Sa Pamana Walking Tours, 500 pesos po. Tapos pinapwesto ko sila sa unahan, tapos sabi Three hours lang 'yun. ko, ganito kayo ma'am, hawak ka sa leeg ni sir.
M: Parang minimum wage na 'yun. F: May direktor ah.
F: Eh may mga tips pa. M: Yes, tapos sabi ko, tingin ka sa mata ni sir. Tapos a'yun na, 1000. Sa foreign, kapag M: Iba pa po 'yung price ng pagbalik namin, nagustuhan nila. Pero sa Pinoy, a-assist mo lang pagbalik namin, it's 700 pesos. sila, mag-t-tip na talaga sila.
F: 'Yung mga tips pa? F: Napansin ko 'yan sa Pinoy. Sa tagal ko sa negosyo, mas bongga ang pinoy mag-tip. M: 1000 pesos, kapag nagustuhan ka. F: Ang isa pa palang mahalagang ma-ano ay F: Sa aking ano, dahil ako'y nakakapagdesisyon, 'yung awareness nu'ng naka-konektang mga o sige 500, tuwang-tuwa na sila. Tapos 700 sa departments, what is happening. Katulad nu'n, kagbalete day tour 'yan. Kung matutulog, saan naging problema 'yung mga batang ganyan. Meron mga resorts na sumusunod na naghihingi, o tapos dala ng mga turista, natuto doon. Ang totoo niyan, wala naman kaming sila mag-itsa ng coins. Sabi nila, please, 'wag. basis kung papaano, iniisip ko lang 'yun. Isa 'yun, Natututo 'yung mga bata. Minsan, katalo ko walang basis, I just did it, kaya lang kailangan na 'yung DSWD, dapat maintindihan nila 'yung po lagyan ng basis 'yun. Kaya kong ibaba 'yun eh, responsibility nila. Ang sabi nila, "ay nagka- wala namang batas na ibaba at itaas 'yan. turista, nagka-ganyan na tayo" No. What M: Tanong mo sa wage board. triggered you, What triggered that thing, ay gumising sa katotohanang may poverty. Kaya M: Matagal ang hearing, sir. lumabas sila kasi may mahihingian. So therefore, dapat gawin niyo 'yung trabaho niyo. F: Sa tingin mo, ang tinu-tour guide mo foreigner Parating may diskusyon sa amin, dahil kung at local 'di ba? hindi dumating ang mga turista, hindi mo maiintindihan, aba, may hinihingian ang mga F: Yes po. bata. Ilan lang naman 'yung sitwasyon na 'yun. F: Sino mas bongga mag-ano ng ano? M: Okay. M: Tip? F: Nag-trigger du'n sa mga pangyayari sa F, M: Pinoy. tourism, pero may poverty talaga. Sige po sir.
M: Mayabang ang Pinoy. M: I don't know if you can answer this, pero what do you think is the status of compliance du'n sa F: Ikkwento ko sa inyo, Vietnam, Saigon, Ho Chi DOT accreditation? Percentage wise, let's say Minh city, nagulat ako sa kliyente ko, sir, ito 'yung
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du'n sa mga tour operators and du'n sa mga M: No, there is now an increase? travel agencies? M: Ah, there's an increase? M: Among the members? M: Because of the requirements of CHED, M: Kunwari, PTAA. All of you are DOT- TESDA. Kung hindi approved 'yun, hindi pwede accredited? mag-CHED. So naglalabasan ngayon 'yung mga kolorum, that's a good indicator. Saka nainggit F: No. eh kasi 'yung mga dating non-accredited nagpa- accredit kasi malaki na ang kita. Uy, magka-ano M: Mga ilan, ma'am Marlene? 'yung DOT at CHED, so it's changing. Pero, few F: Around 80%, mga 70% siguro. Mga ganyan. years ago, hindi ganu'n. Pero ina-ano na namin sila actually, kasi minsan. M: So ilan po 'yung na-train niyo na ganu'n? M: Binigyan na namin ng awareness na "o, kung M: So if you say uh, 25 per batch, and we started gusto niyong umangat 'yung inyong antas, kaya 2010, so that's in two years we have two nga nagpabigay kami ng travel services. batches, so mga one hundred and fifty? F: Pero minsan sa DOT, may pahirapan din M: Ma'am sa PTA, ilan ang members niyo? diyan. Aminin mo at hindi. F: Around, 653 members tayo ano? 653. Pero M: Anong mga requirements ba? hindi ko pa yata naisama diyan 'yung nag-oath F: May pahirapan din 'yan, pababalik-balikin ka taking nu'ng GMM, so meron pa kaming mga hanggang sa tamarin ka na lang. members na bago.
M: Oh, sige. M: And this is nationwide?
F: 'Yung signage? Paano naman kung ayaw F: Yes. Sir, pagdating sa mga tour guides, nu'ng building magpalagay nu'ng signage? actually Secretary Teo was still there, si Patty Meron ka namang signage sa bago ka pumasok Chong (? 2.41.23), she offered her services sana ng office mo. Dapat 'yun accept-in 'yun ng DOT. sa DOT, to teach mandarin. Mandarin, anyway, Halimbawa 'yung building, sasabihin "hindi kayo kahit morning lang pwede ako magturo. Alam pwede mag-lagay ng signage" o, Haynako hindi mo ang problema sir ng DOT, hindi niya pa ni- pwede magdagdag. So maglagay ka ng signage take seriously. Hindi nila tinawagan, si Patty pagpasok mo ng office, dapat acceptable sa Chong was actually waiting for the call kung DOT 'yun. pwede siyang magturo, pero walang tumawag sa kanya. I didn't know ang requirements ng M: 'Yung mga matigas ang rules nila. DOT.
M: Hindi flexible ang rules. M: I know that TESDA has a language center, and I know that they offer free online. So she can F: Ang tagal mo na nag-o-operate wala kang consider that. complaints, compliance, from anybody, dapat oo. M: Siguro ang ano rin natin is, 'yung higher education. Kung magkaroon ng mga foreign M: Sir sa tour guiding? languages na talagang pupukpukin, oo. Saka alam naman natin 'yung mga pangangailangan M: Sa guides, before, we set a problem, kasi eh, Mandarin, Korean. Japanese hindi na maraming educational tour guides, sa mga masyado, pero meron pa rin. Bahasa? schools. M: Thai, Vietnamese. M: Hindi nga tour guides eh, coordinators lang 'yan sila eh. M: Ma'am sa inyo 'yung accreditation status, okay ba? M: So ilan ang percentage sir na accredited by DOT? More or less? F: Uh, ang nag-fail du'n DOT. Nu'ng nangyari po na nagsisimula kami ng accreditation and M: I cannot give you any figures, but what I can bumisita ang DOT and hindi na binalikan, and say that out of the number of individuals we naghanda-handa ng papel 'yung mga resorts train, in the four-five years, so about 80% goals namin, so ngayon very silent na sila about sa for accreditation. Pero before it was higher ah. accreditation. Kahapon ni-raise ko 'yung M: Oh? problem na 'yun, dahil hindi na po binalikan, at naghanda naman po sila. So maganda ngayon, M: Yes. Yun ay marked improvement. progressive, at magkaka-agree tayo. Though after a year dapat talaga mag-advance ka. M: So what is the reason of the decline? Ngayon po ang naghahabol ng accreditation ay
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'yung vans at mga tour guides namin. So medyo M: That what he was trying to say kanina. Rules parang paayos na naman, siguro dahil nga and regulations, and they don't have the nagaayos na kami. resources to implement. Pero then again, region 4A's substantial, ang laki niyan. M: Parang pabugsu-bugso. M: Sir du'n sa region 4A office sa Calamba, ilan F: 'Yun po 'yung problema, kasi kung maayos na, ang nakita mong staff doon na in-charge sa matagal na kaming may accreditation. accreditation?
M: 4A kayo 'no? F: Tatlo o apat.
M: Yes po. M: Four.
M: Mainland. M: Kasama 'yung driver? 'Yung nasa office?
F: Kahapon po 'yung sinabi kong problema, hindi M: Mga lima lang. niyo po kami binalikan. At ang mga resort owners namin, nagpupumilit sa online, hirap na M: Lima po 'yung kasama ko sa training namin. hirap. Ang ginagawa ng province, tumutulong na rin, nag-c-call sila ng progressive training, so F: Ah noon? nu'ng Friday tumawag sila, tinatawagan 'yung F: Kahapo'y tatlo? mga ano ng province, tapos hindi dumating sila. Pero nabanggit ko na po 'yun kahapon. M: Mahigit ma'am, pero kulang 'yun, sa lawak po ng probinsya. Sa bilang na lang po ng probinsya, M: 'Yun pong mahirap pumasok sa online, dahil limang probinsya 'yun, 'di tig-iisa lang, mamatay po ba mahina ang signal sa inyo o dahil sa sila. kanila? M: In effect du'n sa Mauban, 'yung accreditation F: Kanila po. is almost zero. M: Hindi lang ma-connect, tapos 'yung kanilang F: Zero, except 'yung tourist spots, kasi website ay mahina kulang sa updating. Subukan inasikaso, at pumunta sila. Kaya nasa LTFRB, mong tignan kung sino 'yung mga regional 'yun na nga po 'yung case at saka nga 'yung director, hindi nila makikita 'yan. travel. F: Ang katotohanan po niyan, hindi naman lahat M: Tiningnan lang ng LTFRB du'n. ng mga resort owners ay magaling sa paggamit ng internet, isang factor 'yun. Kailangang- F: 'Yung sinasabi mo ay sa DOT, pero 'yung kailangan talaga may assistance. Kung aming boat ay marina. Mabilis ang Marina. kailangang gawin din nila 'yung ginagawa namin Sumulat kami for mobile registration and they sa permits na one-stop shop, ay 'yun 'yung okay. came, at nag-offer ng mas mababa. 'Yun po ang maganda doon, naibaba nila 'yung fees. M: 'Yung user-based na lang? M: From how much to how much? F: Marami pong ganoon. Pero, ang sagot po sa akin ng DOT kahapon, kasi sabi ko, siguro po F: Hindi ko alam, pero malaki ang ibinaba. kami'y mag-a-ayos niyan, nu'ng nakita namin Meaning kaya, tapos kaya po sila naging Marina- ang ginagawa nilang programa, baka po accredited. pwedeng ang mauban ay puntahan ninyo. Lahat ng ano, sabay-sabay, at sabi nila okay naman M: So 100% po 'yun na Marina-accredited? 'yun. At hopeful naman kami na hindi na mangyayari 'yung dati na hindi na binalikan, and F: 'Yung mga sa tourists spots po. 'Yung mga so wala talagang na-accredit. Nadala na 'yung maliliit na bansa, mga 3000 tonnage, nasa isa ano ko doon eh, saan na 'yung ihahanda. lang, so nag-create naman kami, kasi naghahanap din ng trabaho tapos nag-t-transfer M: So would you agree, na kulang din sa expert sila ng tao sa bayan which is not permitted pero assessors ang DOT? takas, so ang ginawa ng aming.
F: I think so. M: Kolorum?
M: They don't call it assessors. F: Ang ginawa po ng aming punong-bayan kasi hindi talaga sila bibigyan ng Marina, 'yung mayor M: Evaluators. namin ang nagbigay ng permit. Ang ginawa ko naman ay nag-mapping po kami ng kagbalete at M: Yes, something like that. Licensing and ginawa ko naman 'yung pwedeng gawin. And accreditation 'yun. katulad nu'n na hindi namin alam na pwede nga F: Hindi ba inspectors? pala na San Jose River, so 'yung mga maliliit na bangka ang napasok du'n. Rock formations, so
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pwede. Kaya nabuo rin 'yung aming small boats Nu'ng nagka-turista, e 'di nagpapasakay sila sa association. Pero nu'ng binigyan sila ng permit fishing boat hanggang sa i-report na namin. Ang ng aming mayor, tinitignan na rin sila ng Marina, gusto niya maayos, eh ang ginawa po namin, dahil kailangan nila. Yun po ang mga accredited humingi ng letter. Ang sabi ng Marina, eh kung sa amin. magpipili kayo, gusto niyo ba ang bangka ninyo ay fishing boat or tourist boat? Ang difference, M: 'Yung mga marina-accredited, ilan po sila? ang tourist boat can be a fishing boat. Kapagka lean season, pwede kang manghuli ng isda, F: 75? 85? 85 po ata. Ang nagiging problema na hindi ka huhulihin. Pero kapag fishing boat ang namin ngayon ay itong public boats ay nakikipag ginawa mo, hindi ka pwede. So choose the siksik at nakikipag-agawan na ng turista. Ang higher, 'yun ang ginawa nila, sinabi sa kanila. aking nililiwanag sa kanila, 'yung mga turista dapat nakasakay sa tourist boats. Nagawa sila F: Ang problema na ngayon kasi, sa amin eh, ng paraang agawin eh, ang problema kinausap ayaw na nga nila mangisda. ko 'yung coast guard, ang problema 'yung coast guard nagawan nila ng paraan rin 'yung public M: Mas sustainable nga naman. transpo. Alam niyo naman. M: Ganu'n na nga ang nangyari sa El nido. F: Ibig sabihin hindi rin sila mahigpit. F: Ganu'n na po kami. F: Coast guard? Napakaluwag. M: Ang mga nandu'n sa el nido, wala ng F: Hindi ba dapat may sticker 'yung boat, na fisherman, wala ng isdang mabili, wala ng isda meron silang certificate of convenience? sa ibang bayan kaya.
F: Pero may malalaking bangka na public boat F: Ganyan kami ngayon, ang kwento ng ilan na sila talaga 'yung nag-o-operate, tapos ang kasing tao sa community ang gustong mag- nasa isip nila, pwede rin sila. Pwede po kayo business, "mag-fish na lang kayo". 'Yan pong kung gusto ng turista sumakay sa inyo, pero ang aming small boats, pang-fishing 'yan. Ngayon, turista ay sa tourist boat sasakay. Kaya lang mas prefer nila na mag-tour. gagawa talaga ng paraan, kaya bago, lagi po kaming may diskusyon with the coast guard. M: Kasi mas malaki ang kita kaagad.
M: 'Yun po bang mga tourist boat po ngayon, F: Ang pinagtataka ko, bakit hindi mahigpit si requirement po sa kanilang isuot ang kanilang Marina na walang permit, because hindi ka life vest? pwedeng tumakbo sa barko na wala kang permit. Hindi ka pwedeng tumakbo sa barko F: Yes, sila pong lahat. Sila pong lahat ay may kung wala kang certificate of convenience. capacity na sinusunod po nila. Ang Marina ang nagbigay, tig-iisang life vest at bawal na F: Meron po sila ma'am, 'yung sa amin meron. magsobra. Ang reason, insured sila ng 150,000. Ang problema nga 'yung public boat ay nag-t- Kung sampu isasakay mo, nine ang capacity, turn out as-- kung may mangyayari diyan. F: 'Yung nga po ma'am, 'yung public boat, bakit M: Lahat wala. wala silang certificate of convenience?
F: Ang coast guard ay nag-c-check din, F: Ay hindi ko po alam, sa amin po meron. Ang depending on the capacity of the boat? hinahabol lang namin na problema namin sa coast guard ay 'yung pagpapaalis ng public boat F: Basta ang requirement ng Marina ay sa mismong oras. 'Yun lang 'yung hinahabol sinusunod naman. Nagkakaproblema kami sa namin sa kanila, na gagawa po kami ng violation mga public boats kasi nag-i-insists na sila ay, at kami po ay irreport kayo kasi halimbawa, 'yun nagpipilit lang. Ang sinabi po sa akin ng coast pong permit nila ang biyahe nila is 10am and guard na katatapos lang ng usapin, ay kulang 3pm. Ngayon po ang ginagawa nila, pinapa- lang ng awareness, i-aware ang lahat ng turista biyahe. At napayag sila na sitahin ang isang na talagang 'yun ang sasakyan nila. Ang grupo ng turista. Ang sabi ko, ay mali po talaga problema, eh dagat naman 'yun, eh maliit lang 'yun bakit niyo pinatatakbo. Ang lahat ng ang pantalan, e 'di madaling mahila. bangka, hindi pwedeng tumakbo without the clearance from the coast guard. Eh bakit maling F: Hindi kasi ayaw nilang ipa-assess 'yung oras pinatatakbo niyo? So nag-ayos po kami, bangka nila, hindi sila mag-qualify, e 'di tanggal tapos pinatatakbo nila, violation. At may case po sila. na, dahil kumikita na sila, ang ano du'n is, simula po doon, hinihingi po namin sa inyo 'yung permit M: Configured ang seats na pang-turista. Yung nila, para malaman namin kung anong oras sila iba, pang-malakaya lang. dapat bumiyahe. Kapag bumiyahe sila ng mas F: Yes po, ganito po 'yun. May choice po na ang maaga, violation. Amin nang irrecord ngayon. isang bangka noon, lahat kami fishing boat. Kapag peak season, pwede. At 'yun naman,
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pwede. Ina-allow kung pabalik-balik sila. Kapag F: Of the standardization and accreditation lean season, tapos ang nakalagay, 'yun lang. process. Du'n na lang po 'yun eh. Ang nakikitang Ang problema ay nagpapalusot. Dalawa lang problema ay implementation. dapat biyahe, magkanong kikitain nila diyan? 50 pesos pero alam namin na may ganu'n, kaya M: Encompassing na. alam namin na maluwag sila. Kapag hindi rin M: Sir sa tour guide, kay Sir Claraval? kikibuin ng national ang mga coast guard na ito na ni-a-assign, sakit sa ulo po. M: Sa tour guides, wala akong off-hand 'no, but I'm still would like to repeat my suggestions M: Talaga po palang may monitoring. earlier, that the impact assessment should be F: Iyon ang ibig kong sbaihin po. Lahat ng mga done prior to the implementation of the agencies that are connected, halos lahat, ay regulation because if you do that, you resolve a dapat pakialaman, and i-inform sila na this is lot of problems. So sa akin ah that's very very tourism. May standard kami, sila ang ginagawa important. Sa tour guides naman, I guess TESDA nila, dati kasi sila'y sanay na ganyan ang and DOT have the situation under control. It's ginagawa, tapos biglang nagka-turista, not gonna be resolved in the next two years, give nagkaroon sila ng kalaban na tourist boats. them time, before 2020, plantsado na 'yan.
F: I'm sure hindi lang 'yun sa Mauban M: Accreditation is needed for tour guides? nangyayari. M: Yes. F: Ang nangyari lang po sa amin, mahigpit, at M: Ikaw Ryan, do you subscribe na kailangan? maraming tourism nakatingin, ang amin pong bayan. Ganu'n po. Kaya laging ikaayon. M: Yes po.
F: Pamumuno po. M: Ma'am Marlene? Do you think kailangan, although 60, 70% are members of PTA are M: Good governance talaga, political will. accredited, they should be accredited if the rest F: 'Yun ang dapat tignan. Ang problema natin, of 30, 40%? kapag pulitiko, mga bagong nakaupo, hindi nila F: Yes. Sa business permit, i-insist ko pa rin na alam 'yan. kailangan talaga may travel and tours F: Baka may komisyon sila du'n sa mga bangka. operations you know, seminar, before. Should be one of the requirements by an accredited and F: 'Yun ay katotohanan po doon. Kung gaano licensed training center. karami 'yan, 70 ang capacity, gagawing 100. 'Yung ganu'ng tipo. Pero nakatulong ang M: And then again ang licensing, the local tourism dito dahil nakahigpit kami dahil sa government has to be hastened. Licensing, alam capacity. mo, sa amin na lang oh, binibigyan na lang namin 'yung mga members namin ng M: Okay po, so last question, sabi ko dahil 5pm pagkakataon na makapagdala ng papeles, ang dapat tapos tayo. dami nang January 20 ang last day di ba, hindi nabibigay ang papel, resibo lang. Hanggang F: I can contact him, si Administrator Guerrero ngayon ang dami pa ring nahuhuli. for your concerns. F: May delays sa release ng business permit. M: So ito pong ating mga na-discuss, mga suggestions at mga na-bring up na concerns, M: Lahat ng local government ganu'n, para bang particularly on the regulations, certifications, balewala sa kanila, bayad na eh. accreditations, ano ba sa tingin ninyo 'yung talagang necessary? 'Yung talagang kailangan? M: Nakolekta na. 'Yung kailangang-kailangan talaga? In your M: But they can be operated? sector? M: Meron kasing resibo, pero wala 'yung papel M: Ibig sabihin, 'yung iba pwedeng hindi na na nagsasabing permitted na sila. Wala. Pero muna, pero ito priority na meron tayo nito. alam namin, nagbayad na eh so siyempre F: Accreditation. permitted na. Pero siyempre gusto naming makita ang papel. F: Standardization, 'yun ang mahalaga, the reason why we want to be accredited dahil F: Kaya ngayon meron kaming communication mahalaga 'yung standardization. So mahalaga sa members namin na they should submit the 'yung implementation. ano, they are required to submit the business permit. M: Strict implementation. M: What does that tell you, what they have just mentioned? As long as they have the money, the
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papers can stay there forever, they don't even F: Pwede ko ulitin? Regulate the issuance of ano look at them, hindi pina-process basta permits to foreign tour operators. nakapagbayad na. F, M: 'Yun, 'yun. F: 'Yung sa amin naman ay hindi. M: We just also emphasize that here 'no, to M: Exception ang Mauban. protect the local travel agents.
F: To avoid unprofessionalism in the industry, F: Everything foreign tour operators, travel hindi dapat home-based. Walang permit sa agencies, bahay. M: That is detrimental to the economy, because M: Paano namin malalaman 'yun, humihingi if the foreign exchange stays there. kami sa local government, ito bang address na ito, residential or commercial? 'Yun lang naman M: Dinadala du'n. 'yun, simple lang 'yun eh. M: Chinese operator 'no is owned by chinese M: Dapat talaga may monitoring sa taas. operator in the Philippines.
F: Kasi paano kung kapag agency, kagaya nu'ng F: Okay ba? Tapos na ba natin? nakita ko, may karenderya pa du'n sa tapat. M: Ay, very fruitful and very informative. Your Nagtitinda siya ng ulam tapos nag-t-travel siya, participation and sharing of well of course ohmygod. things that will be beneficial in the study of M: 'Yung isa naman, beauty parlor. modernization and regulation. And of course, by deepening study of tourism. F: Laundry, samantalang ang hirap-hirap mag- maintain nu'ng sarili mo pa lang. Kapag M: Actually we came here with very minimal humarap ka sa client, ang dami mong expectations like we were focused in investment. Damit, make-up, kailangan naka- accreditation as an issue, pero through the kotse ka para hindi ka mag-amoy araw discussion ang dami talaga. It opened a pagdating mo sa client mo. Ayun o, tapos pandora's box. And this is very helpful 'no for makikita mo magbibigay lang ng permit, sa future policy recommendations, and as things bahay naglalaba lang pwedeng mag-travel work out in the country, take time, but at least agent? Habang nag-l-laundry? I don't we have given them substantial inputs, with that, understand. Kailangan talaga professional. we'd like to thank you very much.
M: Atsaka 'yung office niya. F: Thank you for having us, actually.
M: To comply with the standards. M: Hopefully you will not deny us, and an opportunity let's say to clarify certain issues. M: 'Yun po ang minimum eh. Pinapayagan ng local government, kulang sa standard eh. Tapos F: Of course you can call us. halu-halo pa 'yun. Sabi ng DOT kasi. M: Can we have a group photo? M: Okay, with that? F: Kailangan namin 'yun.
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Value Stream Maps
Value Stream Map for Starting a Tourism Business Document Required Mayor’s Business TIN Employee Employee Registration Accreditation permit Name R Registration Registration of Corporations/ Partnerships LGU DTI BIR SSS PhilHealth SEC DOT 1 Locational clearance 2 Barangay clearance 3 Fire safety certificate 4 Electrical inspection certificate 5 Sanitary permit 6 Cultural Tourism Affairs Office Clearance 7 Lease contract 8 TRN Acknowledgement Form 9 Treasurer’s affidavit: Statement of Assets and Liabilities 10 Deeds of undertaking 11 Board resolution on business name registration 12 Mayor’s permit 13 Business Name Registration 14 Articles of incorporation 15 List of officials and employees 16 Registration data sheet of stockholders and directors 17 SEC Registration (copy) 18 Audited financial statements 19 Bank certificate of deposit of paid in capital 20 Comprehensive general liability insurance 21 Proof of working capital Total documents per 7 9 4 4 3 6 6 Agency Total number of 39 documents
Requirements for Accreditation of Primary Tourism Establishments Establishment Requirement Basic* Regular Premium Accommodation 1. Valid Mayor’s Permit/Business License * * * 2. Valid Comprehensive General Liability Insurance * Policy (min. coverage P500,000) 3. Valid Comprehensive General Liability Insurance * Policy (min. coverage P1,000,000) 4. National Certification for concerned staff * 5. Quality Recognition Awards from reputable * institutions Travel and Tour 1. Valid Mayor’s Permit/Business License * * * Agencies 2. For the General manager: Proof of 3 years’ experience or proof of passing travel and tour * * course by DOT and accredited training center 3. Notarized list of names of officials and * * employees (with designation and nationality) 4. Audited financial statements and Income Tax Return of preceding year (with minimum capital * requirement of P500,000)
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Requirements for Accreditation of Primary Tourism Establishments (Continuation) Establishment Requirement Basic* Regular Premium 5. Audited financial statements and Income Tax Return of preceding year (with minimum capital * requirement of P1,500,000) Travel and Tour 6. Membership of good standing in recognized * Agencies associations 7. Commendations or awards from recognized * institutions Tourist Land 1. Valid Mayor’s Permit/Business License * * * Transport Operator 2. Valid LTFRB franchise for the vehicles * * 3. LTO Certificate of Registration for the Vehicles * * 4. LTFRB Confirmation of vehicle units for the * * current year 5. Proof of attendance to DOT seminar for the * * drivers Online Travel 1. Barangay clearance * Agencies 2. Valid Mayor’s Permit and/or Business License * 3. Contract of lease/title for the office * MICE Organizer 1. Valid Mayor’s Permit and/or Business License * * * 2. General Manager: Proof of 3 years experience or * * attendance to PCO training 3. Notarized list of names of officials and * * employees (with designation and nationality) 4. Company profile/portfolio * 5. Audited financial statements; minimum working * capital of P500,000 6. Audited financial statements; minimum working * capital of P1,000,000 7. Proof of successful organization and handling of * at least five domestic and international events; 8. Proof of membership to a recognized MICE * organization 9. Award or commendation from reputable * institutions MICE Venue 1. Valid Mayor’s Permit and/or Business License * * * 2. Notarized list of names of officials and * * employees (with designation and nationality) 3. Valid Comprehensive General Liability Insurance * Policy (min. coverage P500,000) 4. Valid Comprehensive General Liability Insurance * Policy (min. coverage P1,000,000) 5. Quality Assurance Award from a reputable * institution
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Regulations Dashboard
MGR Program Dashboard
Regulatory Matrix Name of Regulation Type of Regulation Regulatory Agency Regulated Entities Business regulation Command and control LGUs. DTI, SEC, BIR, Single proprietorship. PhilHealth, SSS, DENR, Corporations, DOLE, BID partnerships Accreditation Command and control Department of Tourism Primary tourism enterprises Procedure Number of Steps Documentary Duration Requirements Setting up tourism 15 or more 21 or more 38 days with Philippine business Business Registry 52 days--Normal Renewal of business 15 or more 0-6 Tourism enterprises Accreditation 5 3-9 depending on type 30 days for 46% of of establishment stakeholders (Perception Survey)
Summary Dashboard Number of agencies covered 17 Main agency Department of Tourism
Secondary agencies Securities and Exchange Commission Department of Trade and Industry Barangay LGU Municipal/City LGU Bureau of Internal Revenue Social Security System Philippine Health Insurance Company Department of Health Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Land Transportation Office Department of Environment and Natural Resources City Environment and Natural Resource Office Municipal Environment and Natural Resource Office Department of Labor and Employment Bureau of Immigration and Deportation Technical Educations and Skills Development Authority Number of regulations covered 2 Economic Business regulation Tourism regulation (accreditation, renewal, revocation) Number of documentary 21 or more for general business regulation requirements to comply with 3-9 for DOT accreditation regulations Number of steps required 15 or more for general business registration 5 for DOT accreditation Number of unnecessary Potentially one – DOT accreditation /burdensome regulations
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Assessment of Regulation Regulation Factors Affecting Compliance Influence of Influence Enforcement on of Compliance Sanctions Accreditation How well What are the Is there How likely is What are Are there any does the benefits to comply? regular that non- the sanctions to industry monitoring? compliance measures non- understand - Quality control for will be to monitor compliance? the the tourism -No, discovered the regulation? industry Inconsistent other than an industry? -Yes, monitoring official downgrading, - -Access to (40% investigation -DOT has cancellation Moderately promotional according oversight of familiar training to -60% based committee; accreditation, (59%) Perception on survey, but since cannot (Perception -Promotional Survey) but DOT lack register or Survey) opportunities enforcement manpower renew is irregular periodic business. -Endorsement to (90% of inspections embassies respondents) are But irregular or enforcement -Networking with seldom requires the fellow accredited performed. cooperation entities of LGUs because DOT has no police power.
Indicator Recommendation Impact Matrix Recommendation Decrease in the Decrease in the Removal of Others cost of securing total time of redundant permit processing documentary requirements Do nothing 0 0 0 0 Abolish accreditation 1 1 1 3 Strengthen accreditation 1 1 0 2 (e.g. Automation)
Score Equivalent Impact Score Positive impact 1 Neutral (net effect) 0 Negative impact -1
Recommendation Score Matrix Recommendation Decrease in Decrease in Removal of Others Total cost of the total redundant Score securing time of documentary permit processing requirements Do nothing 0 0 0 0 Abolish accreditation system 1 1 1 3 Strengthen accreditation 1 1 0 2
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Regulatory Impact Analysis/Statement Template
Title: Regulatory Impact Analysis Type of regulation: Command and control Lead agency Date: Since 2009 Stage: Full implementation with modification
What is the result of the proportionate analysis? POLICY PROGRESSION OF QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS DEVELOPMENT 1. Identify 2.Describe 3.Quantity 4.Partially 5.Fully STAGE (quality of monetize monetize services) Development Options Consultation Final Enactment
Level 1. Description of Groups Affected/being affected (targeted and not targeted)
• Primary tourism establishments • Secondary tourism establishments • DOT Office of Tourism Standards and Regulations • Tourists and travelers
Level 2. Description of impacts
• Primary tourism establishments – abolition of accreditation requirement as business permit requirement, zero fees • Secondary tourism establishments – low impact as accreditation is voluntary • DOT Office of Tourism Standards and Regulations – loss of function and possible laying off of personnel • Tourists and travelers – potentially lower prices, substandard facilities and services
Level 3. Quantification of effects
Level 4. Partial monetizing
Level 5. Full monetizing
1. What is the problem under consideration? Why is government intervention necessary? Why did government intervene?
• Accreditation was made mandatory as a requirement for business permit by virtue of RA 9593. • The rationale for accreditation were: o to encourage global competitiveness, o to strengthen data gathering and research on tourism, and o to facilitate the promotion of individual enterprises and the industry as a whole.
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2. What are the policy objectives and intended effects? Are the original/identified intended effects of the regulation happening? Describe the before and after situation.
• There is insufficient data to conclude that accreditation was able to achieve the intended effects. • Accreditation as a process does not have the indicators to measure the achievement of the objectives. • Furthermore, the DOT lacks the authority, manpower and material to administer, monitor compliance, and enforce sanctions on non-compliant enterprises.
3. What policy options have been considered, including any alternative to regulation? Justify preferred option.
• The options are to abolish mandatory accreditation, allow self-regulation among by certain groups of entities, such as five-star hotels
4. Provide and explain the summary table of the cost analysis.
• Accreditation fees vary but could go as high as P8,500 for a 5-star hotel Sticker fee of P300 • Plaque fee of P2,500 • Variable opportunity costs for absences in the office to do the legwork • Plus compliance costs for security, environmental clearance, providing PWD-friendly rooms, architectural and construction costs to adjust room size
5. Provide and explain the summary table of the benefit analysis
• The benefits to the industry are intangible: Access to DOT training programs (that one might not need); promotional activities like sales mission abroad which one might not need if target markets are domestic; endorsement to embassies, and other government agencies but the agencies may not be particular about whether services and facilities are accredited or not.
6. Provide and explain the summary table of the comparison of costs and benefits.
7. What consultation tools have been used? What consultation tools have been used to evaluate the current regulation?
• Focus group discussion, public consultations, and key informant interviews
8. What are the strategies for enforcing and implementing the regulation? What are the strategies employed for enforcing the regulations? Is there a penalty? How is the penalty implemented/collected?
• Currently implementation and enforcement are weak due to insufficient resources by the DOT in terms of staff complement, office presence in the provinces, and shutdown of automation. • DOT itself has no police powers; it relies on the LGUs to implement the sanctions of non-issuance of business permits to non-accredited establishments. • DOT can only monitor the accredited establishments. It has no control over the non- accredited ones. DOT just warns the public of the disadvantages of patronizing non- accredited tourism enterprises (lack of insurance, possible lack of physical office which makes it impossible to run after fly by night establishments • The penalties are downgrading and revocation of accreditation.
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