Department of Tourism(DOT)

17 August 2023 Dear Ms. Eleccion, We refer to your letter dated 16 August 2023 09:02:34 PM about your request for Resorts Hotel Development Site Selection Criteria and Design Guidelines, made under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. Before processing your request, please ensure that your request is fully compliant with Section 13.4 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”, “for legal purposes” or other similarly worded purposes shall NOT be considered to have met the requirements of specificity; - kindly specify how the data will be used by providing the NAME/TITLE of research/ thesis/ study you are conducting with a brief background. 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://foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC00NDc2MDU5MDM0NDQM, for request with ticket number #DOT-447605903444, to respond. While we await your reply, your request will be put on hold. If we do not receive a reply on or before 9 November 2023 08:27:55 AM, your request will be closed. We hope to hear from you at the soonest possible time. Thank you. Respectfully, Atty. Jennifer A. Olba DOT FOI Decision Maker

31 August 2023 Dear Citizen, Thank you for your response dated 18 August 2023 via the eFOI portal regarding our request for compliance with Section 13.4 of the Revised DOT FOI Manual. We have now continued processing your request. Kindly give us until 13 September 2023 09:02 PM to respond regarding our findings. Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact us using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://foipmo09232019155230-dot-efoi-ph.appspot.com/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC00NDc2MDU5MDM0NDQM, for request with ticket number #DOT-447605903444. Thank you. Respectfully, DOT FOI Decision Maker

5 September 2023 Dear Citizen, Greetings! Thank you for your request dated 16 August 2023 09:02:34 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. Your Request You asked for Resorts Hotel Development Site Selection Criteria and Design Guidelines. Response to Request Your FOI request is approved. You may find the recently issued Updated Progressive Accreditation Standard (PAS) which is currently being disseminated to tourism stakeholders for information thru this link: https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC04NjM0OTIyNjUzMTAM. The National Accommodation Standards (NAS) for Hotels, Resorts, and Apartment Hotels, also attached, are guidelines that include, among others, the minimum and mandatory requirements for Hotels, Resorts, and Apartment Hotels and their star-rating. These documents were issued by the DOT in 2013 to employ a points-based rating system focused on inventory, availability, condition, and quality of a specific facility or service. The standards will help in classifying hotels, resorts, and apartment hotels. This is in part of the DOT’s mandate to formulate and enforce standards for the operation and maintenance of tourism enterprises, prescribing minimum and progressive levels of operating quality and efficiency consistent with local and international standards. Please note, however, that we are only able to provide some of the information you have requested because the DOT has no jurisdiction over the area where the business will be established, how it will be developed, or its design. These criteria may be consulted with the local government unit where the structure will be established especially when the owner applies for a building permit. 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 Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco of the Department of Tourism and sending it through the email address: [email protected]. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with the response and should be made within 15 calendar 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, Atty. Jennifer A. Olba DOT FOI Decision Maker