Senators OK tourism bill

SENATORS unanimously approved the proposed Tourism Act of 2008 on third reading before adjourning on Wednesday, voicing hopes this would bring large chunks of tourist dollars into the country and provide relief to millions of Filipinos reeling from inflation that soared to 9.6 percent in May.

Sen. Richard Gordon, its principal sponsor, said the Tourism Act has been potential to bring in billions of revenues to the country.” And by sending a signal to the whole world that we have a new tourism bill, we are creating landmark change in getting tourists into our country.”

“We must realize that prices will continue to go higher and our people will either have to tighten their already tight belts or depends on handouts from government, like the one-time P500 power subsidy,” Gordon added.” But jobs are the need of people.”

He said, “The important feature of the tourism bill is that we can now uplift the regulatory capability of the Secretary of Tourism as well as uplift our marketing capability.”