Philippine Tourism Authority
| Established: | May 11, 1973 |
| General Manager: | Mark T. Lapid |
| Website: | www.philtourism.gov.ph |
The Philippine Tourism Authority (Filipino: Pangasiwaang Pilipino sa Turismo), abbreviated as PTA, is an agency of the Philippine government under the Department of Tourism responsible for implementing policies and programs of the department pertaining to the development, promotion, and supervision of tourism projects in the Philippines.
Overview
Republic Act No. 9593 or “The Tourism Act of 2009” declares a national policy for tourism as an engine of investment, employment, growth and national development, and strengthening the Department of Tourism and its attached agencies to effectively and efficiently implement that policy, and appropriating fund thereof.The Act supports the establishment of Tourism Enterprise Zones (TEZs) which will contribute to the accelerated creation of employment opportunities by encouraging and supporting investments in the development and operation of these zones.
These TEZs will be the centers of tourism development in the country and are created with the objective of providing the necessary vehicle to coordinate actions of the public and private sectors to address development barriers, attract and focus investment on specific geographical areas and upgrade product and service quality.
The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority or TIEZA (formerly Philippine Tourism Authority), an attached agency to the Department of Tourism, is mandated to designate, regulate and supervise the TEZs established under this Act, as well as develop, manage and supervise tourism infrastructure projects in the country. It shall supervise and regulate the cultural, economic and environmentally sustainable development of TEZs toward the primary objective of encouraging investments therein.
The TIEZA is governed and its powers exercised by a Board of Directors (TIEZA Board) composed of The Department Secretary, The TIEZA Chief Operating Officer, The Tourism Promotion Board Chief Operating Officer, the Department of Public Work and Highways Secretary, the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Secretary, the Department of Internal and Local Government Secretary, and five (5) representative directors that will be recommended by the Tourism Congress.
It is mandated by the DOT as:
•To designate, regulate, and supervise tourism enterprise zones established under R.A. 9593
•To develop, manage and supervise tourism infrastructure projects nationwide
•To provide technical and financial assistance to qualified tourism projects, investors and proponents (both government and private)
•To generate revenues to fund both national and corporate developmental needs and/or undertakings
•To exercise PTA functions under P.D. 564
The TIEZA is envisioned to be the recognized leader and authority in tourism development at par with international standards, responsive to cultural, environmental and social concerns that will generate investments, foreign exchange and employment to mold an enhanced sense of national pride for all Filipinos.
Committed to support the establishment of cultural, economic and environmentally sustainable TEZs; to attract investments on tourism development undertakings through effective management of TEZs, effective service delivery, and to continue to pioneer, develop and improve tourism destination through a more expansive private sector participation and aggressive pursuit of tourism infrastructure development.
TIEZA has been committed to its corporate thrusts for CY 11. Those are:
•Establish the necessary groundwork for the smooth transition of PTA into TIEZA based on the approved reorganization plan and in accordance with the organization’s new mandates as provided for in R.A. 9593;
•Promote local and foreign investments in tourism through the Tourism Enterprise Zones; and pursue projects and programs to make the Philippines as one of the top tourist destinations in the Asia-Pacific region;
•Harness and develop potential tourist destinations to spur socio-economic development, particularly in less developed regions, through tourism-related infrastructure projects;
•Encourage the local government units and the private sector participation in the formulation and implementation of tourism sustainable projects and programs;
•Intensify efforts to project TIEZA image as an effective developer of tourism destinations;
•Strengthen the organization’s information and communication technology systems for operational efficiency; and
•Further enhance the organization’s human resources through special trainings and scholarship programs.
As the infrastructure arm of DOT, TIEZA has been managing and operating several establishment. Among those operational are:
- Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel
- Hilaga Northern Philippines
- Club Intramuros Golf Course
- Rizal Lights and Sounds Museum
- Balicasag Island Dive Resort
- Gardens of Malasag Mountain Resort
- Zamboanga Golf Course and Beach Park
To date, TIEZA is headed by Mark Tadeo Lapid, a former Pampanga governor and son of Senator Manuel Lapid. The ex-solon took his oath before then DOT Secretary Joseph Ace H. Durano on June 6, 2008 as Acting General Manager with former local elections running-mate and son of a business mogul in their native Pampanga, Paul Tristan Laus as his Chief-of-Staff. To provide assistance in handling documentary works, Abigail Falguera was hired as Lapid's Secretary who resigned in June 2011 for personal reasons after rendering nearly 3 years of government servic
On November 2010, Lapid sworn into office as Chief Executive Officer of TIEZA with the Laus as his Technical Assistant and Falguera as Secretary. Lawyer Joy M. Bulauitan, former Deputy General Manager for Administration has been named Assistant Chief Operating Officer for Tourism Enterprise Zones.