The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) have partnered to roll out free legal aid for DOT-accredited tourism enterprises nationwide and to introduce a privilege card for lawyers in good standing to encourage domestic travel and tourism spending.
Launched at the DOT Central Office in Makati City, the IBP’s legal aid program will offer consultations, training, and representation to qualified DOT-accredited individuals and establishments—aimed at safeguarding workers and businesses during disputes and crises.
A lawyer by profession and former three-term local chief executive of Liloan in Cebu, DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco underscored the value of collaboration that equips tourism workers with knowledge of their rights and elevates dignity across sectors.
“Our advocacy is that we must take care of those who contribute to our country in so many ways – our tourism frontliners, our tourism stakeholders – who by their work alone ensure that millions of Filipinos are employed and benefit from tourism,” Frasco said.
The IBP privilege card will grant legal practitioners discounts and special rates at DOT-accredited enterprises—such as hotels, resorts, travel agencies, and tour operators.
The IBP privilege card will grant legal practitioners discounts and special rates at DOT-accredited enterprises—such as hotels, resorts, travel agencies, and tour operators—to stimulate tourism activity and expenditures.
As may be recalled, the DOT and IBP first announced the landmark partnership during the 20th National Convention of Lawyers organized by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) graced by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. earlier this year.
“We deeply appreciate the IBP’s collaboration and its partnership.”
“The success of the tourism industry is by no means a Department of Tourism sphere alone, but rather it is a whole-of-nation approach that requires the help of everyone, and so we deeply appreciate the IBP’s collaboration and its partnership and we look forward to the implementation of this program, which I am sure will be received very positively by our stakeholders in our destinations,” the tourism head explained.
This program complements the DOT’s other tourist-centered initiatives, including its recent collaboration with the Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR) under the Department of Justice (DOJ), which aims to establish mediation centers that will immediately address tourist concerns in key destinations nationwide.
In attendance were IBP officials: President Atty. Allan Panolong; Executive Vice President Atty. Randall Tabayoyong; Presidential Liaison to the Supreme Court Atty. Gina Jesena; General Counsel Atty. Rico De Guzman; National Director of the National Center for Legal Aid Atty. Roy Reig; National Director for Peers Assistance Atty. Job Castillo; National Secretary Atty. Stephanie Arevalo; and IBP-CalMaNa Chapter President Atty. Myline Urmenita-Palisoc.
Also present at the event were DOT Undersecretaries Maria Rica Bueno and Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, Directors Virgilio Maguigad and Arlene Alipio.
