Department of Tourism(DOT)

Dear Sir/Madam,

In the history of Dinagyang Festival as disclosed in Iloilo City Official website, it was disclosed that:

"In 1977, the Marcos government ordered the various regions of the Philippines to come up with festivals or celebrations that could boost tourism and development. The City of Iloilo readily identified the Iloilo Ati-atihan as its project. " (https://iloilocity.gov.ph/main/2018/04/06/63/)

In this regards, I would like to request for a scanned copy of the official communications of the Department of Tourism that was issued to the LGUs during this time. 

Thanks.

31 May 2022

Dear Mr. Fernandez,

Thank you for your request dated 30 May 2022 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for Department of Tourism's documents regarding the mandate for towns to create festivals.

We received your request on 30 May  2022 and will respond on or before 20 June 2022 06:12:32 PM, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations.

Likewise, please be informed that the standard processing period is fifteen (15) working days but it can be extended for another twenty (20) working days for complex requests.

Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact us using the reply function on the eFOI portal at http://efoi-ph.appspot.com/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC02NTc2NjIyMzkwNDAM, for request with ticket number #DOT-657662239040.

Thank you.

Respectfully yours,


Maricel C. Malalad
DOT FOI Receiving Officer

31 May 2022

Dear Mr. Fernandez,

We refer to your letter dated 30 May 2022 06:12:32 PM regarding your request for the official communication of the Department of Tourism mandating Towns to Create Festivals, made under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Prior to processing of your request, please ensure that your request is fully compliant with Sections 13.4 and 13.5.d of the revised DOT FOI Manual by providing the following:

•Specific reason for, or purpose of, the request for information. Please note that general averments such as “for research,” “for information,” or “for legal purposes” or other similarly worded purpose shall not be considered to have met the requirements of specificity; - kindly provide additional specific details on what and how the data will be used.

•If the requesting party is a natural person who is a member, employee, affiliated with or related to juridical entity, company, or organization, and the request is made not in behalf of such juridical entity, a company, or organization but arises from such membership, affiliation or relation, such other sufficient proof of authority. For example, for an employee or member, a copy of the company or organization I.D.; or for students, a copy of the school I.D., or written indorsement of the supervising teacher, professor, or instructor. Kindly send it via email at [email protected]

The Revised DOT FOI Manual is accessible at http://tourism.gov.ph/transparency_seal.aspx.

You may use the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC02NTc2NjIyMzkwNDAM, for request with ticket number #DOT-657662239040, to respond.

During the period of us awaiting your reply, your request will be put on hold. If we do not receive a reply on or before 23 August 2022 01:29:20 AM, your request will be closed.

We hope to hear from you at the soonest possible time.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Dir. Lara Estevez-Austria
DOT FOI Decision Maker

Ma'am,

As an Aklanon, I am interested to know how the popularity and inspiration of Ati-atihan paved way for the national government to mandate other towns to make their own Ati-atihan. Also, this document /mandate is a significant document in the history of Ati-atihan and all other festivals in the country. 

Regards,
Jess

15 June 2022

Dear Mr. Fernandez,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated 30 May 2022 06:12:32 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Your request

You asked for the official communication from the Department of Tourism mandating Local Government Units to Create their own Festivals.

Response to your request

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance this Office does not have the information you have requested. However, you may wish to contact the National Archives of the Philippines (NAP) thru this link: https://nationalarchives.gov.ph/contact-us/, or resubmit your request addressed to the correct agency on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests?agency=NAP.

For further assistance you may review the FAQ section of the eFOI site: https://foi.gov.ph/help.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with our response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review by writing a letter or email addressed to the Secretary of the Department of Tourism and send it through email address: [email protected]. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with the response, and should be made within 15 working days from the date when you received this response. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 working days from the date when we receive your request for review.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Feedback

Additionally, for us to be able to provide you with better services, may we request you to accomplish the DOT FOI Request Feedback Form: 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePz8rTG_IWrLgkIGCbNu39mM4Ms7XauR9LVUiE-6y8QCxyPg/viewform

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Dir. Lara Estevez-Austria
DOT FOI Decision Maker

Dear Ma'am,

This is noted. I shall request the same information to the National Archives of the Philippines as recommended. This is a significant document in Philippine tourism and festival history. Thanks. 

Regards,
Jess