Big, small travel agents vital in tourism – Gordon

All Philippine tourism stakeholders, big and small, have vital role to play in the growth and development of the industry, according to Sen. Richard Gordon, a former tourism secretary.

Gordon, in a recent speech before travel agents, stressed this when he said “the government and the tourism stakeholders must work hand in hand to make the tourism law (Tourism Act of 2009) effective.”

“With the faithful implementation of this law, the nation can have a better institution to regulate and promote tourism and install the necessary infrastructures to make our country truly world-class,” he said.

Gordon cited the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies as one which should be included in the deliberation of issues as this biggest group of travel agents had and is playing a very important role.

Naitas was active in the drafting of the law, opposing the provision giving positions in new tourism agencies only to members of the Federation of Tourism Industries of the Philippines and the Philippine Travel Agencies Association to the detriments of other stakeholders, especially the small and medium operators.

Naitas also opposed the proposal to require hotels and hospitality establishments to charge each tourist an additional $5 as “tourism fee” which would have priced the Philippines out as a tourist destination.

He said that a “tourism related industry congress will be conveyed so that tourism stakeholders can choose the people who are going to occupy – not for title, but for development of the industry – positions in the Tourism Promotions Board and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.”

--Tonight

COURT ANNEXED-MEDIATION

The Supreme Court of the Philippines together with The Philippine Judicial Academy and Philippine Mediation Center conducted an Orientation Conference with Stakeholders on Court-Annexed Mediation (Zambales and Bataan Mediation Program) last December 2, 2008 at Legend International Resorts, Subic Bay, Olongapo City.

Olongapo City Mayor James ‘Bong’ Gordon Jr. delivered the opening remark. “This process will definitely help speed up the procedure of the justice system here in the Philippines” Mayor Gordon said.

The Program presented the mechanism of Court-Annexed Mediation and Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR) in the Philippines which aims in decongesting court cases in the Courts and offer alternative resolutions in settling disputes.

Court-Annexed Mediation is a procedure to settle cases with the help of a mediator. A mediator is an authorized officer of the court which helps identify issues and resolve disputes. However if the mediation fails, the case is brought back to the court and the Judicial Dispute Resolution (Pre-Trial) judge resumes Pre-trial proceedings.

The JDR (Pre-Trial) judge assesses the strengths and weaknesses of each party’s case and persuades them to reconsider mediation. If both agrees the JDR Judge facilitates settlement. On the other hand if parties still reject mediation, the JDR judge terminates the Pre-Trial process and court proceedings resume.

Cases under the coverage of mediation involve all civil cases, settlement of estates and cases covered by the Rule on Summary Procedure, except those which by law may not be compromised

The event was participated in by Zambales Governor Amor D. Deloso, Board of Trustees of the Philippine Judicial Academy, its members, Executive Officials, Heads of Offices, Academic Council and Judicial Reform Groups. Olongapo City Barangay and Government Officials, Judges, Lawyers and other stakeholders.

Pao/msm