The Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office and the City Tourism Office (CTO) are conducting a week-long mobile accreditation and ocular inspection of tourism-related establishments (TREs) in Puerto Princesa.
Aileen Cynthia Amurao, city tourism officer, said the five-day operation that started May 27 until May 31 aims to assist the owners and operators of TREs to process their accreditation with the DOT.
“Iyong tinatawag na mandatory DOT accreditation, actually, that is intended for the tourism-related establishments which are included in the primary enterprise of tourism… this is actually to maintain standards in the tourism industry kaya nire-require sila ng Department of Tourism na sumailalim doon sa accreditation system,” Amurao said.
She said her office is ready to help establishments in the accreditation process with the national agency.
The accreditation is in compliance with Memorandum Circular 2019-17 of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) or the “Accreditation of the Primary and Secondary TREs” issued on February 6.
Based on the documents shared by Amurao to the media on Monday, DOT regional director Danilo B. Intong gave them prior notice through Memorandum Circular No. 2019-02-04 to conduct the activity that is in line with Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009.
This act mandates the compulsory accreditation of primary tourism enterprises and voluntary accreditation of secondary tourism-related enterprises in every locality.
Earlier this year, Secretary Eduardo Año of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) sent a memorandum to every local government unit in the country reiterating its mandate to require all the primary TREs to secure accreditation from DOT for the issuance of the license and permit to operate.
In this memorandum circular no. 2019-17 or the “Accreditation of the Primary and Secondary TREs,” Año noted that under the primary tourism enterprises (PTEs) are hotels, resorts, inns, and other accommodation establishments.
Puerto Princesa City has 6,000 TREs of which 1,000 belong to the primary category, records show.
Those classified in the primary category those involved in accommodations, tourism agencies, all kinds of tourist transports except for the tricycles, and tour guides, she said.
“Sila ‘yong apat na kinakailangan, sabi dito sa memorandum circular na inilabas ng DILG, bago makakuha ng business license kinakailangang meron silang DOT accreditation,” Amurao pointed out.
Restaurants, spas, and other tourism establishments are classified as secondary.
