The Department of Tourism (DOT) is optimistic on the recovery of the tourism industry, following the approval of Senate Bill 1564 or the Bayanihan To Recover As One Act on its third and final reading on Tuesday.
Tourism chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat deemed the approval of the bill a welcome development that would help tourism recover from massive losses brought by the pandemic.
On Tuesday, the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) also urged Congress to immediately pass Bayanihan 2, as well as the ARISE bill filed at the House of Representatives.
“Both pieces of legislation have provisions contained therein which can help a badly ailing Philippine tourism industry. We have been virtually closed for the past four months and will remain so for the foreseeable next few months,” TCP said, stressing that the prolonged lockdown threatens further closure of tourism businesses.
“That assistance will be vital to the industry’s survival and thus, very vital. We need this now,” it added.
Also known as Bayanihan 2, the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act was approved by the government in March. The bill allocates P140 billion as the government’s additional response to the pandemic, including a P10 billion stimulus package for the tourism industry.
Puyat said this will be used to implement the DOT’s plans and programs under the Tourism Response and Recovery Plan (TRRP).
“We are very thankful to the Senate finance committee chair and the Bayanihan bill sponsor Sen. Juan Edgardo 'Sonny' Angara, the rest of the esteemed members of the Senate for the passage of this important bill. This is instrumental in the DOT’s mission to help the critically impacted tourism-related enterprises, mostly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), get back on their feet,” Puyat said.
“We have a daunting task ahead of us, but the collective support we are getting from the national government, LGUs, and stakeholders is very reassuring and serves as the DOT’s motivation,” she added.
The DOT previously said tourism fell in the first half of the year due to massive border restrictions, with projected losses of around P80 billion.