QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 1478)
Republic Act No. 1478, enacted on June 15, 1956.
The Secretary of Commerce (Chairman); the undersecretaries of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Justice, and Public Works and Communications; the President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce; and the President of the Philippine Tourist and Travel Association.
To regulate international travel and tourism with a view to the development of a Philippine tourist industry.
(1) Coordinate government agencies concerning international travel and tourism; (2) promote removal of unnecessary barriers to travel and integration/simplification of requirements with efficient, fair, courteous enforcement; (3) develop tourist attractions and provide/maintain essential facilities where private enterprise is not prepared; (4) organize and support promotion and publicity to attract foreign visitors; (5) regulate and license travel agents; (6) supervise facilities/services for foreign travelers to ensure high standards, reasonable charges, courtesy, honesty, and efficiency.
To promote expeditious, pleasant, and hospitable reception by ensuring efficient, fair, and courteous enforcement of travel regulations and requirements.
The Board exercises supervision over the operation of all facilities and services that cater to or have anything to do with foreign travelers and tourists, to ensure maintenance of highest possible standards, reasonable charges, courtesy, honesty, and efficiency.
It may take necessary steps to cancel or recommend cancellation of permits of offending parties or prosecute them, if warranted.
No individual or firm may engage in the travel agency business without being licensed by the Board of Travel and Tourist Industry.
It shall be fixed and collected at an annual amount not exceeding one hundred pesos (PHP 100) a year.
A tax is collected on all fares of passengers leaving the country, as well as fares for those returning or coming in if payable thereunder (as written). Under Section 4, carriers and travel agencies issuing foreign travel passenger tickets collect the tax from passengers.
Carriers and travel agencies must remit their collections within the first ten days of every succeeding quarter to the Board.
Not more than 50% accrues to the Board’s funds for development of tourist facilities and promotion of tourism within and abroad (especially foreign publicity/advertising). The other 50% accrues to the general funds of the Government and is accounted for and delivered by the Board to the Treasurer of the Philippines.
Exclusively for development of tourist facilities and promotion of tourism both within the country and abroad, through well-known media, but especially through foreign publicity and advertising.
Section 228 of Commonwealth Act No. 466, as amended.
Examples include: suspending payment of visa and visa application fees for foreign tourists; exempting foreign tourists from taxes on food, drinks, cigars and cigarettes consumed and amusement taxes during their stay; allowing foreign visitors leaving the country to carry or have shipped locally purchased Philippine souvenir/gift goods free of export licenses, taxes or fees within 60 days of departure (subject to a value limit of PHP 1,000); and transferring to the Board control and supervision of helpful facilities/services/rights/properties owned/operated/maintained by other government agencies.
The Philippine Tourist and Travel Association, Inc. (PTTA), which is the exclusive agency of the government in promoting the tourist industry under RA 710, is the instrumentality of the Board in carrying out the objectives of RA 1478.
Five days before the opening of the regular sessions of Congress, the Board must submit a verified detailed report of collections, disbursements, and activities (including those of PTTA and accomplishments) and a copy of the plantilla as of December 31 of the preceding year.