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PTA gets funding from various sources
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: RACHEL S. CASTRO
Date: 1999-02-03
 
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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