WHEREAS, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is a priority development area in the Luzon cluster of the Philippine Tourism Master Plan because of its unique features and the existence of key tourist centers such as Sagada in Mt. Province for its natural caves, and Banaue in Ifugao for its rice terraces;

WHEREASWHEREAS, among other objectives, the CAR Regional Development Plan intends to:

• Disperse tourist arrivals to the provinces and increase year round visits and
• Spread eco-tourism benefits to local communities not only for employment generation and poverty alleviation but also for the sustainability of the tourism industry;

WHEREAS, the attainment of these objectives involves the planning and monitoring of tourism development in these areas through a database to measure tourism growth and effectiveness of tourism-related programs;

WHEREAS, Executive Order 135, issued on November 1993, entitled, “Providing for the Establishment of a Well-Coordinated Local Level Statistical System,” enjoins Local Government Units to collect and compile statistics following the statistical concepts, definitions, techniques and methodologies prescribed by the National Statistical Coordination Board in the establishment of their own databases for planning and monitoring purposes;

WHEREAS, the Regional Statistical Coordination Committee – Cordillera Administrative Region (RSCC-CAR), the policy-making and coordinating body on statistical matters in the region, created on 24 August 1999 the Task Force on Tourism with the objective of improving the generation of tourism statistics in the region;

WHEREAS, the Task Force developed a system for the improved generation of tourism data wherein a Tourism Compliance Certificate (TCC) should first be secured from the Department of Tourism – Cordillera Administrative Region (DOT-CAR) as a requisite for the renewal of business permits of tourism-oriented establishments (TOEs);

WHEREAS, the issuance of a TCC will be based on the completeness and accuracy of the monthly reports submitted by a TOE to DOT-CAR;

WHEREAS, the said system was first introduced in the City of Baguio in 2001 and is supported by Administrative Order (AO) No. 002, Series of 2001 dated 31 January 2001 and AO No. 390, Series of 2001 dated 28 December 2001;

WHEREAS, Baguio City has integrated the TCC into its regular business permit application/renewal system, resulting in improved City tourism database;

WHEREAS, because of the experience of Baguio City, the RSCC issued Resolution No. 4, Series of 2002 endorsing to the municipalities of the Cordillera Administrative Region the adoption of the TCC of DOT-CAR;

NOW, THEREFORE, on motion duly seconded, BE IT

RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved that the Committee enjoin the Local Government Units of Banaue and Sagada to issue administrative orders that will implement the Tourism Compliance Certificate in their areas.

RESOLVED FURTHER that copies of this resolution be forwarded to Offices of the Municipal Mayors of Banaue and Sagada for information and appropriate action.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED, this 21 st day of April 2005 in Baguio City, Philippines.

Attested:

BENJAMIN Y. NAVARRO
Regional Division Head, NSCB RD-CAR
Secretary, RSCC-CAR

Approved:

JUAN B. NGALOB
Regional Director, NEDA-CAR
Chairman, RSCC-CAR