THE Department of Tourism (DOT), its infrastructure arm, TIEZA-Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), on Monday (March 24), signed the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) that establishes the guidelines to ensure efficient and proper execution of the laws, and transparency in the utilization of the Higher Education Development Fund (HEDF) in line with the Section 73 for the Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009.
The ceremonial signing was led by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Chief Operating Officer Karen Mae Sarinas-Baydo representing TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid, and CHED Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera III held at the National Museum of Natural History in the City of Manila.
Under Section 10 of Republic Act 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994, the law states that the continuing government’s contribution to the HEDF shall be taken from the 40% annual share on the total gross collections of the travel tax; 30% annual share of the collections from the Professional Registration Fee; and, 1% of the gross sale of the lotto operation of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The guidelines stipulates that tourism-related educational programs, courses, and projects shall be considered as priority to be charged under the HEDF, which includes but not limited to the construction, or improvement of facilities and/or demo labs for tourism and hospitality related courses including purchase of industry-grade equipment to support the facility; funding for industry immersion program and career development for teachers and students; support for technology innovations or digitalization in tourism and hospitality programs; support for start-up/incubation centers on tourism and hospitality; research and development for enhancement of tourism-related programs and courses; and support to tourism education-related programs and education tourism programs to be implemented in partnership with the DOT and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
Editor’s Note: This article has been sourced from the Department of Tourism-Philippines Facebook Page.
