PRESS RELEASE
10 NOVEMBER 2022

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 10 NOVEMBER 2022—The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) participated as panelist and major sponsor in the recently concluded “Transforming Philippine Tourism Conference” held at Novotel Manila, Quezon City on 8-9 November 2022. The conference was organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI), together with the Department of Tourism (DOT), as the final event of the Transforming Tourism Value Chains (TVC) project. The TVC project’s milestones as well as efforts of the industry towards sustainable tourism, dubbed as “Paving Sustainable Paths towards Inclusive and Climate-Resilient Destinations” was celebrated in the activity.

On behalf of Tourism Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina Garcia-Frasco, Asec. Warner M. Andrada, OIC-Assistant Secretary for Tourism Development, officially opened the session by delivering Sec. Garcia-Frasco’s keynote address to all the attendees.

Atty. Karen Mae G. Sarinas-Baydo, TIEZA’s Assistant Chief Operating Officer for Tourism Enterprise Zone Management Sector, represented TIEZA on behalf of Chief Operating Officer Mark T. Lapid as one of the panelists for the last panel. Atty. Sarinas-Baydo opened her presentation entitled, “Boosting Sustainable Tourism Development Through Infrastructure Investment in Key Tourism Destinations” by introducing TIEZA and its functions, highlighting its assets, infrastructure projects and tourism enterprise zones (TEZ) which contribute to the sustainable development goal for the industry. She also featured the Flagship TEZs of TIEZA namely San Vicente Flagship TEZ in Palawan, Mt. Samat Flagship TEZ in Pilar, Bataan, Panglao Bay Premiere Flagship TEZ in Bohol, Rizal Park Complex Flagship TEZ in Manila, Corregidor Island Flagship TEZ in Cavite, and Clark TIEZA-TEZ in Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.

Atty. Sarinas-Baydo also discussed the TIEZA registration process for tourism-related enterprises under Republic Act 11534 or the CREATE Act for the availment of incentives. She emphasized the requirement of TIEZA to ask project developers to present sustainable tourism initiatives, as TIEZA is looking at each proposed tourism development from a sustainable standpoint, taking into account physical and environmental considerations, competitiveness and long-term sustainability, cultural promotion and preservation, community and stakeholders acceptability, Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Plan, Crisis Management Plan as well as other benefits that may be derived from the development. To ensure the commitment of these developers, TIEZA conducts annual monitoring of the compliance and implementation of each Registered Business Enterprises (RBE) according to their development plans, for their continuous availment of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. Indicators such as tourist arrivals, economic inputs, investment cost, employment generation, and tourism revenues are being collected during the annual monitoring activity to measure the contribution of the TEZs to end poverty and ensure prosperity in their respective areas.

“These are some of the ways that TIEZA helps infrastructure development for sustainable tourism in our key tourism destinations through the TEZ framework. We look at the committed capital investments and employment to be generated, as well as the long-term improvement of the host and neighboring communities in our goal of contributing to tourism as an economic pillar for the country,” Atty. Sarinas-Baydo said as she ended her presentation.

TIEZA had also set up an information booth at the sponsors’ area to cater to the inquiries and concerns of the participants relative to its projects, registration and incentives program, and the investment opportunities in TEZs.

Dr. Nerius Acosta, Chairman of the PCEPSDI, extended his gratitude to TIEZA, along with other key partners of the event, for being a distinguished part of the TVC project and for its invaluable contribution and support to champion sustainable tourism development, as an addition to the existing beauty and culture of the Philippines, and contribute to the country’s achievement of the global sustainable development goals.

For more information about TIEZA’s programs, registration process, incentives package and investment opportunities in TEZ, you may contact the TEZ Management Sector Secretariat at (02) 8249-5900 local 724 or e-mail us at tez.secretariat@gmail.com and tez.secretariat@tieza.gov.ph. You may also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TIEZAOfficial and www.facebook.com/tezmgmtsector, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/tezmgmt.

###