Benefits of DOT- accredited Mt Prov stakeholders cited

By Francis B. Degay

SAGADA, Mountain province -- The Dept. of Tourism of the Cordillera Administrative Region conducted an orientation on DOT accreditation system to tourism stakeholders in Mountain Province on May 30 in this tourist town.

Mayor James ‘Payko’ Pooten expressed his gratitude to DOT-CAR for bringing and conducting the seminar in Sagada.

“The training expenses were income of the business sector and indirectly the municipal government in terms of revenue from taxes of the business establishments,” he said.

Pooten said the tourism industry brings money to the community, but it also contributes to problems such as increase of waste and shortage of water.

He urged trainees to abide with local regulations and national laws.

Angela Fagutao of DOT-CAR discussed the tourism regional situation and progressive accreditation system of tourism enterprises especially on requirements and non-monetary benefits.

Among the non-fiscal incentives of tourism establishments if accredited were the following: inclusion of company profile to the official DOT websites, entitlement to subsidized human resource development seminars and endorsement to LTFRB for the grant of certificate of public conveyances for tourist land transport of accredited tourist land transport companies.

Other incentives: endorsement of tourist infrastructure projects to appropriate government agencies such as BOI or TIEZA for availment of incentives such as reduction in applicable real estate/income taxes, endorsement of accredited tourist land transport companies to Metro Manila Development Authority for exemption of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or the number coding scheme under certain terms and conditions, endorsement to LTFRB for exemption from regular franchising process for accredited accommodation establishments to use a maximum of two shuttle service vehicles for free use of house guests and customers under certain terms and conditions and endorsement to DFA for grant of accreditation as preferred travel agents servicing passport-seeking clients.