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Philippines |
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PTA gets funding from various sources |
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Source: Manila Bulletin |
Author: RACHEL S. CASTRO |
Date: 1999-02-03 |
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From the travel tax collection, the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA ) receives only 27
percent, 40 percent is given to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) while the
remaining 10 percent is given to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA),
as authorized by Republic Act No. 7356 and R.A. No. 7722 dated Apr. 3, 1992 and May 12,
1994 respectively.
The PTA also gets its funding for its projects from the 10 percent hotel room tax that used to be
split up evenly by PTA and the Philippine Convention Visitors Center (PCVC), DOT's marketing
arm. Banayo said with the adoption of the EVAT (Expanded Value Added Tax), both the shares
of PTA and PCVC from the hotel room tax now goes directly to the national government. It is
with these problems that PTA has sought other creative means in getting funds for its projects.
Angelito Banayo, the head of the Philippine Tourism Authority who has teamed up with the
Aklan provincial government cited the pivotal role that the government has in developing these
infrastructure projects. They should learn how to develop on their own using their creativity and
natural resources instead of always asking for funds from the national government.
The PTA, an autonomous corporate entity attached to the Department of Tourism (DOT) was
created on May 11, 1973 under P.D. 189. It serves as the DOT's development arm. DOT handles
policy and marketing while PTA is in charge of infrastructure development and operations for
the tourism sector. PTA's other tasks include implementing policies and programs drawn up by
the DOT pertaining to development, promotion and supervision of tourism projects; developing
tourist zones; operating and maintaining tourist facilities; assisting private enterprises in
undertaking tourism projects and preserving and restoring natural, cultural and historical
attractions.
From the time it was established, PTA took the lead in developing now famous tourism
destinations like Banaue in Mountain Province where there are more to see than the famed rice
terraces; Mactan in Cebu; Camiguin, where practically all the infrastructure and roads were put
up and rediscovered by PTA; Samal Estate tourism project in Davao and Panglao in Bohol.
"Our role really is to pioneer then afterwards leave it to the private sector to add or enhance the
tourism devt. of certian places in the country," Banayo said.
Aside from putting up certain infrastructure projects and replicating the Boracay project with the
use of bond floats in certain areas like Davao, the PTA head plans to market domestic tourism.
"We want to be a little more aggressive in marketing tourism," Banayo said. He has already
devised creative means in accordance with these goals such as a travel now pay later scheme
that would begin with governemnt employes who have not gone around the country and another
is to use music to promote domestic tourism. Infact, a big concert is already coming up with most
of the country's hottest singers and bands set to jam together at the Picnic Grove in Tagaytay.
"We'd like to get Filipinos to appreciate Filipio music whether it is indigenous, tribal, pop or
even rock. Let us place it in touristic settings I the context of developing a demand for domestic
tourism in the country. After all, tourism is highly related to culture and the arts," Banayo said.
Banayo urges all Filipinos to rediscover the Philippines. "Maglakbay tayo. There are so many
beautiful places that even I am now just beginnig to discover. Perhaps, all of us should be in this
adventure of rediscovering our country," he said adding that traveling around the country fosters
nationalism, national unity and love of country through tourism.
Banayo, a native of San Pablo Laguna is the secretary-general of the Laban ng Makabayang
Masang Pilipino (LAMMP). Prior to his appointment as head of the PTA, Banayo managed
several private companies but maintained consultancies with government officials like Sen.
Marcelo Fernan, then Sen. Orlando Mercado, former minority floor leader Rep. Ronaldo Zamora
and Rep. Hernando Perez. In 1998, he served as assistant chief of staff in the office of former
vice-president Salvador H. Laurel and as postmaster general of the Bureau of Posts during
former president Corazon Aquino's term. Banayo also worked for Benigno Aquino, Jr. as research
assistant in Fellow Harvard University in Cambridge Massachusetts in 1981 to 82.
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