The City Council of Manila unanimously approved on third and final reading Tuesday, 1 August 2023, a draft ordinance mandating barangays in Manila to organize their own tourism committees.
Authored by ex officio Councilor Leilani Marie H. Lacuna, the ordinance is in line with Republic Act 9593 or The Tourism Act of 2009 and Manila Ordinance 8588 (2019), which created the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila. The tourism committees are envisioned to assist DTCAM in implementing the city’s policies and programs on tourism, arts, and culture.
“Tunay na napapanahon ang hakbang na ito lalo pa’t pinasisigla natin ang ekonomiya at sinisikap nating makabawi mula sa naging epekto ng ilang taong pandemya. (This step is indeed timely, as we try to stimulate the economy and recover from the effects of several years of pandemic)”, stressed Lacuna, who concurrently heads the Liga ng mga Barangay ng Maynila.
“Nag-aalok ang turismo ng magagandang pagkakataon; lumilikha ito ng trabaho, at mabibigyan din ng ibayong pagpapahalaga ang kultura at tradisyon (Tourism offers great opportunities; it creates jobs and emphasizes the value of culture and tradition)”, she added.
Other Councilors likewise stood up to manifest their support for the ordinance, which the Council passed in time for the Tourism Month in September 2023.
