LAWS RELEVANT TO TOURISM PLANNING

1. Republic Act 953: Tourism Act of 2009

- describes overall tourism policy of the Philippine Government
- points to the preference of the government for sustainable tourism development
- describes the National Tourism Organization machinery
- mainstreams private sector representation in tourism policy-making
- accentuates a more active role for local government units in tourism planning and
development
- it makes compulsory for primary tourism enterprises to obtain accreditation from the
DOT.
- require every province, city or municipality, in which tourism is a significant industry, to
have a permanent position for a tourism officer.
- set incentives for tourism investors.
2. Republic Act 7586: National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992
- it provides that tourism may be allowed in protected landscapes or seascapes.
3. Presidential Decree 1151- Philippine Environmental Policy
- all agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government
owned and controlled corporations, as well as private corporations, firms and entities shall
prepare, file and in every action, project or undertaking which significantly affects the quality of
the environment a detailed statement on the environmental impact of the proposed action,
project or undertaking.
4. Presidential Decree 1586
- established the Environmental Impact System Statement (EIS) system, and the
Fisheries Code. EIS is the process of predicting the likely environmental consequences of
implementing a project or undertaking, and designing appropriate preventive, mitigating and
enhancement measures.
5. Republic Act 9729: Climate Change Act of 2009
- was enacted in line with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change.
- it as a response to address the vulnerability of the Philippines to the impacts of climate
change.
6. Republic Act 7611: Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) For Palawan Act
- this law is unique because while it is a national law, it is specific to the province of
Palawan, which is regarded as the Philippines’ last frontier.
- it spelled out Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN), which is a graded
system of protection and development control over the whole Palawan.
7. Republic Act 8749: The Clean Air Act of 1999
 - aims to maintain a healthy quality of air by controlling air pollution from vehicles,
industrial plants and area sources (coal or wood burning).
8. Republic Act 9275: Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
- aims to prevent pollution of water bodies from land-based sources (ex. Water
discharge)
9. Republic Act 9003: Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
- provides for the adoption of a comprehensive solid waste management program.
10. Republic Act 9710: The Magna Carta of Women
- this la emphasizes the value of gender equality and omen empowerment.
11. Republic Act 8371: The Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997
- this law protects the rights of indigenous peoples (IPs) on their ancestral lands and
ancestral domains.
- this law recognizes that IPs must be protected from discrimination and for their
customs, traditions, values, beliefs, interest and institutions to be respected.
12. Republic Act 7277: Magna Carta for Disabled Persons
- refers to provisions to tax incentives provided to private entities that employs Persons
with Disability (PWDs), and to private entities that improve or modify their physical facilities to
provide reasonable accommodation for disabled persons (ex ramps, toilets, parking space),
prohibition of discrimination in transportation facilities.
13. Republic Act 10866: Batanes Responsible Tourism Act
- seeks to promote and protect Batanes’ natural and cultural Heritage.
- declares the province of Batanes as a responsible, community-based, ecotourism zone
and shall be accorded priority development by the national government in promoting and
protecting the integrity of its ecology and environment, the richness of its natural and cultural
heritage, and the resilience of its indigenousness, social institutions and its people.