SEVERAL members of the House of Representatives have expressed their support for an increase in the budget of the Department of Tourism (DoT).
DoT’s National Expenditure Program (NEP) for next year includes an allocation of P3.394 billion, with the Office of the Secretary (OSEC) accounting for 83 percent, or P2.84 billion.
The DoT had requested P13.4 billion for 2025, which included additional funds to support major tourism projects under the Marcos administration.
Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez lauded Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco for an “excellent” presentation of the DoT’s successes and emphasized tourism’s performance in 2023.
“How can the Department of Budget and Management explain that you’re only given this when the President says we have to accept the challenge of tourism, experiential tourism, and it should be given support?” Rodriguez said.
Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo said DoT’s initiatives demonstrate their steadfast commitment to promoting the Philippines as a top global destination.
“Tourism is not merely a source of national pride; it is a critical pillar of our economy,” Quimbo said.
The House Minority also expressed support for the DoT, as Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas inquired about the list of destinations that benefited from the agency’s Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP) convergence with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as well as tourism cooperation signed between the Philippines and other countries.
Also expressing their support for the DoT’s budget are Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino “Inno” Dy V, Aklan 2nd District Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr., Bulacan 5th District Rep. Ambrosio Cruz Jr., Bulacan 6th District Rep. Salvador Pleyto, Lanao del Norte 1st District Rep. Khalid Dimaporo, Misamis Oriental 2nd District Rep. Yevgeny Vincente Emano, Baguio City Rep. Mark Go, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon, and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro.
“The esteemed members of the House of Representatives, with 12.9 percent of the entire national workforce employed in tourism-related sectors, mean that 13 out of every 100 Filipinos directly benefit from this vibrant industry,” Frasco said.
“Therefore, investing in tourism is not just a wise decision but a transformative one,” she said.
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