THE Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday expressed its gratitude to the House of Representatives (HOR) appropriations committee for its proposal to reconsider and increase the budget of DOT and its attached agencies for 2024.

House representatives who are members of the appropriations committee manifested support to the DOT’s plans and programs, after Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco presented the DOT’s performance and accomplishments in the past year.

Frasco also tackled the necessary resources enclosed in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for next year, which consist of an allocation of P2.99 billion, 20 percent lower than its P3.7 billion budget for the current year.

She said adequate funding is needed as the DOT embarks on the objectives and strategies toward the transformation of the Philippines into a tourism powerhouse in Asia as envisioned by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and for the country to finally be shoulder to shoulder with its Asean neighbors as far as tourism growth is concerned.

“I would like to preface my answer by stating the goal for the Department of Tourism for 2024, which is at 7.7 million international tourists at its baseline and, therefore, we are going to aggressively pursue that number, if not in excess of that number, in our earnest desire to return to pre-pandemic levels sooner than what is predicted,” Frasco said.

“Arming the Department of Tourism with the additional budget would help us greatly in the flagship programs that have been identified by the Marcos administration that seeks not only to benefit our key destinations, but our emerging destinations as well,” she added.

Tourism as economic driver

Making the DOT’s case before the House committee of appropriations, Frasco reported on the promising recovery rate of the tourism industry under the Marcos administration.

Among the most notable milestones presented by Frasco is the country’s international tourist arrivals from January to July 2023 of 3.427 million, which is a 66.33 percent recovery rate compared to the same period in 2019 and surpasses the 2022 average growth rate of 54 percent in Asia Pacific, according to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer May 2023. The number comprises 71 percent of the DOT’s baseline target for 2023, which is 4.8 million foreign visitor arrivals.

Meanwhile, the DOT also recorded P368 billion in revenue from international visitors from January 1 to July 30.

While the DOT was able to launch its flagship programs through budget augmentation from its attached agencies, including the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Frasco said: “The Department of Tourism being the agency chiefly mandated for the development and promotion of the entirety of the tourism industry, it is in dire need of a budget that is equitable to its contribution to the coffers of the national economy.”

Lawmakers support budget hike

Delivering her opening remarks at the briefing on behalf of Committee on appropriations Chairperson Elizaldy Co, Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, the committee vice chairperson, noted the importance of the country’s tourism industry, which “is undoubtedly one of the most dynamic and vibrant sectors of the modern world that has the power to stimulate and propel economic growth, cultural exchange and social development within a nation.”

During the interpellation, several lawmakers have pointed out the need for a higher tourism budget to support the DOT’s efforts to develop tourism and sustain industry milestones gained so far under the Marcos administration.

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez underscored tourism as an “indispensable element of the national economy and an industry of national interest and importance,” moving to provide a bigger budget for DOT to finance roads leading to tourism destinations across the country.

“That is why I am here today, to support the DOT budget, and to support Secretary Frasco. We are very proud of you. You are a very competent, diligent, and hardworking Secretary,” Rodriguez added.

Bohol 1st District Rep. Edgar Chatto, who co-authored the said law, prefaced his interpellation by commending Frasco.

“Congratulations Secretary Frasco, you have been really leading the DOT in a way that has also brought all the laurels in the country in terms of our recovery efforts, and we are so happy with that.

It cascades down to the local government levels, where our tourism industry is also picking up. We are feeling that in the Province of Bohol, through the increase in international arrivals, with international flights as well, and so on. Thank you once again,” Chatto said.

Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino “Inno” Dy, a staunch supporter of the DOT who defended its budget for 2023, also expressed admiration for Frasco’s leadership.

“Since last year, your direction is to bring out the beauty of our destinations. I also commend your decision to reinvigorate the tourism industry, through a new slogan; Love The Philippines, it is simple and a powerful phrase and it encapsulates the beauty of our country,” Dy said.

Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman also manifested his support to the DOT by alluding to the enhanced tourism campaign, Love the Philippines.

“With the innumerable and pristine tourist destinations and attractions of the Philippines, I’m certain that the Filipino and foreign tourists will Love the Philippines. We cannot go wrong with love,” Lagman said, adding that “with the hope that at the proper time, with the approval of the Majority, we can increase the budget of the DOT, the Department of Tourism, if not to equal this current level, to exceed it, in the commission of its performance.”

Zamboanga Sibugay 1st District Rep. Wilter Palma also commended Frasco’s leadership while offering suggestions to emulate successful tourism projects, such as the Suroy Suroy Sugbo program of Cebu, to grow the country’s domestic tourism.

“Keep up the good work Madam Secretary, and I hope you can copy the good practices of the good Governor of Cebu, the Suroy Suroy Sugbo, and replicate it here in the entire tourism sector,” Palma said.

Frasco shared that DOT has benchmarked Suroy Suroy for the flagship Philippine Experience Program which will be launched across the country’s regions.

The first launch was done in the Davao regions in late June, with the DOT inviting members of embassies with existing travel advisories against the Philippines to “allow these countries’ representatives to see for their own eyes the real peace and security situation of Mindanao that is ready and its viable for international tourism,” the Tourism Chief said.

Other lawmakers including Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Bernadette Herrera shared the same sentiments with Lagman over the decrease in the DOT’s budget for 2024.

“I’m concerned with the decrease of the budget of the Department of Tourism, especially since as mentioned, 3.4 million visitors while of course it’s higher than last year, but still far away from our 2019 and pre-pandemic levels of 8.6 million tourists. So, from 3.85 billion US dollars, 9 billion US dollars pa ang hahabulin natin if we want to go to the pre-pandemic levels. So, decreasing it is really unwarranted,” Herrera said.

Underscoring the necessity of developing roads leading to tourist destinations, Rep. Jose “Bong” Teves Jr. also manifested his support to the DOT and Frasco, saying “kung kakailangin nyo pa ang dagdag na budget, susuporta po kami.”

Commending Frasco and officials present at the budget hearing including TPB chief operating officer (COO) Marga Nograles, Quimbo acknowledged the “huge sacrifice” that comes with the responsibilities at the Department.

“I commend you for a job well done and when I look at Secretary Christina (Garcia Frasco), of course, my very good friend, (TPB) COO Marga (Nograles), you’re mothers of very young children. So, in addition to the very hard work, I’m sure this comes with huge personal sacrifices. So, congratulations, and thank you very much for all the things that you do for the country,” said Quimbo.

Full budget utilization

As she expressed the DOT’s gratitude for the lawmakers’ outpouring of support and backing for a higher tourism budget for 2024, Frasco also took note of their suggestions and concerns, including on DOT’s utilization rate for the current year.

The DOT chief likewise assured that stringent measures have been put in place toward the full utilization of its 2023 budget by the end of the year, as part of DOT’s commitment to uphold transparency in its undertakings.

Recently, the DOT received from the Commission on Audit an unmodified opinion on the fairness of the presentation of the financial statements as of December 31, 2022.