DOT, IBP to give legal aid to tourism businesses, privilege card for lawyers

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) are working together to provide legal aid for DOT-accredited tourism enterprises and introduce a privilege card for lawyers in good standing to encourage local travel and tourism spending.

The IBP’s free legal aid program will offer consultations, training, and representation to qualified DOT-accredited individuals and establishments to safeguard tourism workers and businesses during disputes and crises.

During the launch at the DOT office in Makati City on Tuesday, DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said this will equip tourism workers with knowledge of their rights and elevates dignity across sectors.

“Our advocacy is we must take care of those who contribute to our country in so many ways – our tourism frontliners, our tourism stakeholders – who by their work alone ensure that millions of Filipinos are employed and benefit from tourism,” said Frasco, who is a lawyer by profession.

Meanwhile, the IBP privilege card will allow legal practitioners to enjoy discounts and special rates at DOT-accredited enterprises such as hotels, resorts, travel agencies, and tour operators.

The DOT and the IBP first announced their partnership during the 20th National Convention of Lawyers in Cebu earlier this year.

Frasco stressed that the tourism industry’s success is a whole-of-nation approach that requires the help of every Filipino.

“We deeply appreciate the IBP’s collaboration and its partnership and we look forward to the implementation of this program, which I am sure will be received very positively by our stakeholders in our destinations,” she said.

Earlier, the DOT also collaborated with the Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR) under the Department of Justice (DOJ) in establishing mediation centers to immediately address tourist concerns in key destinations across the country. — JMA, GMA Integrated News