Senate okays DoT budget

Majority of senators yesterday agreed to submit the proposed budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 of the Department of Tourism and its attached agencies.

DoT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco expressed gratitude to the lawmakers for their swift move to submit the proposed budget for the body's consideration.

"This approval from the Senate is very much appreciated by the entire Department and a clear manifestation of our honorable Senators' relentless support towards the country's full tourism transformation. Our gratitude is due to our honorable Senators, who have demonstrated their strong commitment to their duty to meticulously review the budget proposals of all Departments before the House-Senate bicameral conference on the 2024 national budget," Frasco said.

The Department, Secretary Frasco noted, is especially heartened by the outpouring of support from the Senators led by Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, who pushed for a higher budget for the Department to aid in its promotion of Philippine tourism to boost the country's arrivals.

"Hopefully we will reach five million by December. That's good news. And hopefully, we can double it. Let's work hard. More ads. More ads, guys! Dagdagan natin ang budget nila para magka-ads tayo," Senate President Zubiri remarked, as Senator Nancy Binay, who sponsored and defended the DoT's budget, shared that the country has now received over P4.7 million as of 21 November.

Senator Binay sponsored and defended the proposed P3.339 billion budget for the DoT and its attached agencies under the Senate Finance Committee report on House Bill 8980 or the 2024 General Appropriations Bill.

Meanwhile, the DoT assured that it will commence the investigation on the alleged inappropriate actions of Philippine Retirement Authority  General Manager Cynthia Carreon who sent text messages to certain Senators on the day of the plenary session to hurry up their deliberations. The Department deplores any form of disrespect to the members of the legislative branch.

As pointed out by Secretary Frasco in an earlier statement, Ms. Carreon's actions "were of her own volition and clearly without the imprimatur of the Department or any of its officials."

The DoT likewise reiterates that it yields to the authority of the upper chamber of the Bicameral Congress of the Philippines and its constitutional mandate to deliberate upon the budget of all government agencies.