Department of Tourism(DOT)

20 February 2023 Dear Ms. Pimentel, We refer to your letter dated 17 February 2023 05:50:33 PM about your request for Site Selection Criteria in Region 2, 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 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”, “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. •If the requesting party is a natural person who is a member, employee, affiliated with, or related to a juridical entity, company, or organization, and the request is made not on 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 endorsement of the supervising teacher, professor, or instructor. For compliance with data privacy, kindly send your copy of ID/ endorsement 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://foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC0xNTI2NzcwMDk0NjIM, for request with ticket number #DOT-152677009462, to respond. While we await your reply, your request will be put on hold. If we do not receive a reply on or before 15 May 2023 02:56:32 AM, your request will be closed. We hope to hear from you at the soonest possible time. Thank you. Respectfully, Atty. Jennifer A. Olba Acting DOT FOI Decision Maker

23 February 2023 Dear MS. Pimentel, Thank you for your response dated 22 February 2023 via the eFOI portal, regarding our request for compliance with Sections 13.4 and 13.5.d of the Revised DOT FOI Manual. We would still need to request you to further clarify your request. Kindly specify how the data will be used by providing the NAME/TITLE of the research/ thesis/ study you are conducting with a brief background, in accordance with Section 13.4 which provides 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;" You may use the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC0xNTI2NzcwMDk0NjIM, for request with ticket number #DOT-152677009462, to respond. You would still have until 18 May 2023 04:23:59 AM to provide the information. We hope to hear from you at the soonest possible time. Thank you. Respectfully, Atty. Jennifer A. Olba Acting DOT FOI Decision Maker

27 February 2023 Dear Ms. Pimentel, Thank you for your response dated 22 February 2023 via the eFOI portal, regarding our request for compliance with Sections 13.4 and 13.5.d of the Revised DOT FOI Manual. We have now continued processing your request. Kindly give us until 16 March 2023 05:50 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://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC0xNTI2NzcwMDk0NjIM, for request with ticket number #DOT-152677009462. Thank you. Respectfully, Atty. Jennifer A. Olba Acting DOT FOI Decision Maker

27 February 2023 Dear Ms. Pimentel, Greetings! Thank you for your request dated 17 February 2023 05:50:33 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. Your Request You asked for the Site Selection Criteria for tourism development/resorts in Region 2. Response to Request Your FOI request is approved. We can only provide a copy of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2011-2016 for your reference. There are no specific site selection criteria issued by the DOT for tourism development or resorts. As for the site selection criteria for tourism development, this is may be contained in the Local Tourism Development Plan of the specific local government unit. As for the site selection criteria for resorts, 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 still 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 be made within 15 working days from the date when you received this reply and must provide the reason/s why you are not satisfied. We will complete the review and notify you of 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 Acting DOT FOI Decision Maker