Department of Tourism(DOT)

September 28, 2020 Dear Ms. Mengorio, We refer to your letter of September 26, 2020 03:50:00 PM about your request under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for statistics of tourist arrivals (local and foreign) in 2020 and in 2019. In order for us to work further on your request, we need more information from you regarding your query. In particular, it would be helpful to know the following: 1. On Item No. 1, are you just requesting for the number of tourist arrivals in the beaches of Cebu, Bohol and Davao del Norte or also for the list of beaches in the aforementioned provinces? 2. On Item No. 2, are you requesting for the number of tourist arrivals in the Philippines? 3. On Item No. 3, what are the exact/specific standards and guidelines for hotels and resorts (e.g. accreditation, operations, etc.) would you like to request? You may use the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC03OTc3MzY4Nzk5ODIM, for request with ticket number #DOT-797736879982, 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 Dec 21, 2020 12:18:33 AM, your request will be closed. We hope to hear from you at the soonest possible time. Thank you. Respectfully yours, Director Lara Estevez-Austria DOT FOI Decision Maker

October 6, 2020 Dear Ms. Mengorio, I refer to my letter of September 26, 2020 03:50:00 PM; about your request under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for statistics of tourist arrivals (local and foreign) in 2020 and in 2019. Our response to your request is due on October 16, 2020 03:50:00 PM. Unfortunately, it is taking longer than expected to deal with your request. We apologize for this delay. We have applied for an extension so we could work further on your request. We hope to be able to send you a response on or before November 16, 2020 03:50:00 PM. Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact us using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://pcoomaster07042018130000-dot-efoi-ph.appspot.com/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPVC03OTc3MzY4Nzk5ODIM, for request with ticket number #DOT-797736879982. Thank you. Respectfully yours, Director Lara Estevez-Austria DOT FOI Decision Maker

November 4, 2020 Dear Ms. Mengorio, Greetings! Thank you for your request dated September 26, 2020 03:50:00 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. Your Request You asked for statistics of tourist arrivals (local and foreign) in 2020 and in 2019. Response to Request Your FOI request is approved. We enclosed a copy of the information you have requested. As for the Rules and Regulations Governing the Accreditation of Hotels, Resorts, Apartels, Tourists Inns, Motels, Pension Houses, and Other Accommodation Establishments, please be advised that the said set of Rules has been superseded by the Progressive Accreditation System, a three-level recognition scheme of the Department for Primary Tourism Enterprises, including Accommodation Establishments that prescribes progressive minimum standards and reflects customer’s expectations. You may find it at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ptw4XDzoKd3isj7hoNBN28j2d4zcCzjZ/view?usp=drive_web. Your right to request a review If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat at 351 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request. 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). Thank you. Respectfully yours, Director Lara Estevez-Austria DOT FOI Decision Maker