Secretary of Tourism (Philippines)
| Secretary of Tourism | |
|---|---|
| Kalihim ng Turismo | |
Official seal of the Department of Tourism | |
Incumbent since March 12, 2026Usec. Verna Esmeralda C. Buensuceso (OIC) | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Member of | Cabinet |
| Appointer | President of the Philippines (with the consent of the Commission on Appointments) |
| Term length | No fixed term |
| Inaugural holder | Jose D. Aspiras |
| Formation | May 11, 1973 |
| Website | www |
The secretary of tourism is the head of the Department of Tourism (DOT), the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the regulation, planning, and promotion of the Philippine tourism industry. The secretary is a member of the Cabinet and serves as the principal adviser to the president of the Philippines on tourism policy.[1]
The position was established on May 11, 1973, when President Ferdinand Marcos created the Department of Tourism through Presidential Decree No. 189.[2] The current secretary is Verna Buensuceso, who assumed office on March 12, 2026 serving as OIC.[3]
History
The position was created on May 11, 1973, through Presidential Decree No. 189, which established the Department of Tourism as a separate cabinet-level agency by splitting it from the former Department of Trade and Tourism.[2] Jose Aspiras was appointed as the first secretary of tourism, serving from 1973 until the People Power Revolution in 1986—the longest tenure of any tourism secretary at nearly 13 years.[4]
Following the adoption of the 1973 Philippine Constitution, which introduced a semi-parliamentary structure, the position was retitled Minister of Tourism.[4] This title remained in use until President Corazon Aquino issued Executive Order No. 120 on January 30, 1987, which provided that upon adoption of the new Constitution establishing a presidential system, "the Ministry shall be called Department of Tourism and the titles of Minister, Deputy Minister, and Assistant Minister shall be changed to Secretary, Undersecretary and Assistant Secretary, respectively."[5]
The secretary's powers and responsibilities were substantially expanded and codified by Republic Act No. 9593, the Tourism Act of 2009, signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on May 12, 2009.[6]
Appointment
The secretary of tourism derives constitutional authority from Article VII, Section 16 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which provides that "The President shall nominate and, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, appoint the heads of the executive departments."[7]
The appointment process requires presidential nomination followed by confirmation by the Commission on Appointments, a constitutional body composed of senators and representatives. The nominee appears before the CA Committee on Tourism and Economic Development for deliberation before endorsement to the plenary for final confirmation.[8] Appointments made while Congress is in recess are designated "ad interim" and lapse if not confirmed before adjournment, requiring renomination.[8]
Cabinet secretaries are bound by Article VII, Section 13 of the Constitution, which prohibits them from holding other government offices or practicing any profession during their tenure.[7]
Powers and responsibilities
Under Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9593, the secretary of tourism exercises authority over tourism policy and regulation.[6] The secretary's functions include:
- Formulating and supervising tourism policies, plans, programs, and projects
- Coordinating with government agencies to implement tourism programs
- Communicating to the president the impact of proposed governmental actions upon tourism
- Representing the Philippines in domestic and international conferences concerning tourism, including treaty negotiations
- Formulating rules governing the operation of tourism enterprises
- Establishing national standards for licensing and accreditation of tourism establishments
- Monitoring travel conditions and issuing safety advisories
- Supporting the protection of historical, cultural, and natural endowments[6]
Ex-officio positions
The Tourism Act of 2009 vests the secretary with extensive ex-officio positions across government bodies:[6]
| Position | Body | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Chairperson | Tourism Promotions Board | RA 9593, Sec. 47 |
| Chairperson | TIEZA Board of Directors | RA 9593, Sec. 65 |
| Chairperson | Duty Free Philippines Corporation Board | RA 9593, Sec. 91 |
| Chairperson | Philippine Retirement Authority Board of Trustees | RA 9593, Sec. 30 |
| Chairperson | Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving Board | RA 9593, Sec. 31 |
| Vice-Chairperson | Civil Aeronautics Board | RA 9593, Sec. 96 |
| Vice-Chairperson | Governing boards of international airports | RA 9593, Sec. 96 |
| Member | Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Board | RA 9593, Sec. 96 |
Rank and compensation
The secretary of tourism holds Salary Grade 31 under the Salary Standardization Law, equivalent to all Department Secretaries.[9]
The secretary of tourism is not in the constitutional line of presidential succession, which under Article VII, Section 8 passes from the vice president to the Senate president to the speaker of the House.[7]
List of secretaries of tourism
Secretary of Tourism (1973–1978)
| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took office | Left office | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jose D. Aspiras (1924–1999) |
May 11, 1973 | June 2, 1978 | Ferdinand Marcos |
Minister of Tourism (1978–1987)
| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took office | Left office | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jose D. Aspiras (1924–1999) |
June 2, 1978 | February 25, 1986 | Ferdinand Marcos | |
| Jose Antonio U. Gonzales | February 25, 1986 | February 11, 1987 | Corazon Aquino |
Secretary of Tourism (1987–present)
| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took office | Left office | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jose Antonio U. Gonzales | February 11, 1987 | April 14, 1989 | Corazon Aquino | |
| Narzalina Z. Lim Acting |
April 15, 1989 | June 7, 1989 | ||
| Peter D. Garrucho Jr. | June 8, 1989 | January 8, 1991 | ||
| Rafael M. Alunan III (born 1948) |
January 9, 1991 | February 16, 1992 | ||
| Narzalina Z. Lim Acting |
February 17, 1992 | September 10, 1992 | ||
| Fidel V. Ramos | ||||
| Vicente T. Carlos | September 11, 1992 | July 3, 1995 | ||
| Eduardo P. Pilapil | July 4, 1995 | March 28, 1996 | ||
| Evelyn B. Pantig Acting |
March 29, 1996 | April 7, 1996 | ||
| Mina T. Gabor | April 8, 1996 | June 30, 1998 | ||
| Gemma Cruz-Araneta (born 1943) |
July 1, 1998 | January 19, 2001 | Joseph Estrada | |
| Richard J. Gordon (born 1945) |
January 20, 2001 | January 4, 2004 | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | |
| Robert Dean S. Barbers Officer in Charge |
January 5, 2004 | February 25, 2004 | ||
| Roberto C. Pagdanganan (born 1946) |
February 26, 2004 | August 31, 2004 | ||
| Evelyn B. Pantig Acting |
September 1, 2004 | November 29, 2004 | ||
| Joseph H. Durano (born 1970) |
November 30, 2004 | June 30, 2010 | ||
| Alberto A. Lim | June 30, 2010 | August 12, 2011 | Benigno Aquino III | |
| Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. (1955–2020) |
September 1, 2011 | June 30, 2016 | ||
| Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo (born 1952) |
June 30, 2016 | May 8, 2018 | Rodrigo Duterte | |
| Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (born 1971) |
May 11, 2018 | June 30, 2022 | ||
| Christina Garcia Frasco (born 1981)[a] |
June 30, 2022 | March 12, 2026 | ||
| Usec. Verna Esmeralda C. Buensuceso (OIC) | March 18, 2026 | Incumbent | Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. |
See also
Notes
- ^ Secretary Frasco took a leave of absence from July 13 to 21, 2023, amid the "Love the Philippines" branding controversy, with Undersecretary Elaine Bathan serving as Officer in Charge.[10]
References
- ^ "Mission and Structure". tourism.gov.ph. Department of Tourism. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- ^ a b "Presidential Decree No. 189, s. 1973". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. May 11, 1973. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (May 30, 2022). "Erwin Tulfo to serve as DSWD secretary; 4 other Marcos Cabinet members named". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ^ a b "Department of Tourism (Philippines)". Wikipedia. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ "Executive Order No. 120, s. 1987". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. January 30, 1987. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Republic Act No. 9593". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. May 12, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ a b c "The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines – Article VII". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ a b "Process of Confirmation by the Commission on Appointments". Respicio & Co. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ "Manual on Position Classification and Compensation – Chapter 5" (PDF). Department of Budget and Management. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ Rivas, Ralf (July 11, 2023). "Frasco goes on leave; DOT says this was planned before rebranding mess". Rappler. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
External links
- Department of Tourism Philippines official website
- Republic Act No. 9593 (Tourism Act of 2009) at the Official Gazette
- Presidential Decree No. 189 at the Official Gazette