ee MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2018-_02 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROGRESSIVE ACCREDITATION SYSTEM (PAS) ‘AND IT'S IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES Pursuant tothe authority vested inthe Deparment of Tourism (DOT) by Republic Act No. 9583, ctherwise known as the Tourism Act of 2000, to maintain international standards of excellence in al tourism faciites and services, and promot the county 2° 2 safe and ‘wholesome tourist destination, the guidelines forthe Progressive Accreditation System are hereby promulgated to implement the intent and purpose ofthe Tourism Act of 2008, 1.0 BACKGROUND 41.4. The Philippine tourism industry came to its peak and has achieved unprecedented milestones during the last six (6) years. These include an unintetupted increase In the tourism industry's key growth indicators namely: domestic an inemational tourist arivals, domestic and intorational tours receipts, length of say of international tourists 2s well 2s increase In tho contnbubon of tourism to te ational gross domestic product (GDP) and employment 41.2. Concomitant to the infix of tourists in the country isthe rapid increase in the fstabishment of tourism enterprises to answer the demand of the country’s Growing patronage. Multuses of tous ener ey of varus fypes en levels ‘wore seen to be eslabiished during the past years. As such, the formulation of 2 Progressive accrediation systom is bmely to adress the need of these enterprises for an accredtaton system that recageizes ther various levels of ‘evelopment and standard of operation. 41.3. The DOT, thus, deemed it best o establish the Progressive Accreditation System (PAS) that wil cover primary tourism entoryises, presenbng not ony the. ‘minimum standards for Basic Registration and Reguar Accreditation, but ao) ‘wfleting customers! expectations forthe Premium or Star Rating Accreditation 20 OBJECTIVES 24 To make DOT accreditation systom mare inclusive 22 To motivate stakeholders to maintain and improve the quety of thelr property's facies and services; and 23. To develop a database of primary tourism enterprises in the county 2.9. PROGRESSIVE ACCREDITATION SYSTEM (PAS) ‘The PAS is a three-level recognition scheme of the DOT for Primary Tourism Enterprises entaling progressive minimum standards and reflecting, customers expectations, thus sirens Thoew Do ud. Sen GPa. 120 Ms Cy PMEpres-PO Bx zBE_ BQ "os 02480 20 B20 wma oretiepigane cam. wou go TT 1S34 Basic Registration Basic Registration shall be issued lo a tourism-onented enterprise found to be ‘compliant with the Basic requirements set by the DOT. Basic Registation applies to primary touriem enterprises as stated under Section 40 of this guidelines, exceot for Hotels, Resorts, Apartment Hotels, Homestays, Tourist Land Transpoet Operators and Online Travel and Tour Agencies, ‘Basic Registration shall be vali fora pariod of one (1) year from the date of Issuance unless sooner cancelled fora cause 32 Regular Accreditation Regular Accreditation shall be issued to a tourism enterprise found to be ‘compliant with both basic and minimum standards for the operation of tourism Tacties and services, Regular Accrectation shall be valid for a period of two (2) years and shall be ‘renewable thereafter uniess sooner cancelled for a cause. 3.3. Premium Accreditation and Star Rating Accreditation 2.3.4 Premium Accreditation shall be issued to a tourism enterprise found to hhave complied with the minimum standards preserbed under Regular and Premium Accreditation. It stall apply to al pray touriem enterprises as stated Lundar Gecton 0 of tus yun, except for Hotels, Reson, Apartnent Hotes ‘and Onine Travel and Tour Agencies, Premium Accreditation shall bo valid fora period of teee (2) years and shall bo- renewable thereafter unless sooner cancalled for a cause, 33.2 Star-Rating Accreditation shall be issued 10 Hotels, Resorts and ‘Apartment Hotels found to have complied with te minimum standards under the National Accommodation Standards (NAS). ‘Star-Rating Accreditation shall be vali for @ period of throe (2) years and shal be renewable thereafter unless sooner canceled fr 8 causa, 40. score [As defined, the folowing primary tourism enterprises shall be covered by the PAS, thus: 441 Accommodation Establishments ‘@) Hotel - shal refer to full service accommodation with reception and quest rooms genecaly offering private facies with cningfanity ar services. ) Resort - shall rer to ful service aooammodation located in a more natural ‘elaxed environment, wih reception and guest rooms general offering privat {acities with ding and recreation faites and services.©) Apartment Hotel -shal refer to serviced apartments offering sel containad Unis with access to ithen and laundry fecities, A number of bedrooms may share ane bathroom in te unit 4d) Mabuhay Accommodation - shall apply to Tourist Inns, Pension Houses, Motels, Bed and Breakfasts, Vacation Homes, Hostels and other simlt accommodation establehments, ©) Homestay -shall eferto an aterativ form of tourism where tous wil stay ‘with the Most family in the samo house to experience the everyday way of Of the family and the local community 42 Travel and Tour Agencies ') Tour Operator - shall mean an entiy engaged in the business of inbound ‘andi local tour operation suchas organizing andor conducting tours wall 198 making online reservations, aranging ana booking for transportation and ‘2ccommodation for a fee, commission, or any form of remuneration ') Travel Agency - shall mean an entity engaged in the business of proving travotretetes such a5. transportation of "accommodation Feservatons/bookings, documantation of travel papers, Sale anclorIsuanca of tickets and seling of outbound tours fora fee, commission, or any form of Travel and Tour Agency - shall mean an entity engaged in the business of ‘Providing both Tour Operator and Travel Agency services, a8 defined in (a) ‘rd (0, 6 (Online Travel and Tour Agency - shall mean an entity whose operations are solely conducted through webstes and other eniine pation dedicated to travel and tour operations 43 Tourist LandTransport Operator- shall mean an enity regularly engaged in Providing land transport services exclusively, for turist use for a fee or any form of remuneration, ‘44 MICE Organizer. shall mean an entity engaged in the business of manoging oF ‘organizing congresses, conventions, meetingsleonfecencae, exhibitions or sar + 2¥enis in professionel manner fora fee or any form of remuneration, 4.5 MICE Venue/Facity - shall mean a physical space designed and provided for events, exhibitions, meetingslcorferences and conventions fr fee or any form ‘of remuneration 50. REQUIREMENTS 5.1 DocumentaryRequirements ‘The documentary requirements for prinary tourism enterprises fr each ca ‘are attached as Annex A. a60 10 5.2 Physical Requirements “The physical requirements for primary tourism enterprises for each category and, ‘cach lovel ae atached ae Annex 8 “The crtrialrequrements under the National Accommodtion Standards (OOT ‘Memorandum Circular 2012-02) are Incorporated by way of reference. ‘SELF-ASSESSMENT FORM (SAF) “The SAF is a documont or chacklst (copy attached as Annex C) where the applicant tourism enterprise pre-determines is qualification for Basic Registration, Regular ‘Accreditation or Premium/Star-Rating Acerectaton by evaluating the degree of ther compliance with the minimum requements/standards st by tne Department ‘The SAF shall be mado available in the DOT-Regional Office's (RO) and on the website ofthe DOT at all ties for tourism enterprises’ reference and usa, RENEWAL PERIOD AND VALIDITY OF ACCREDITATION. ‘The following schedules shal be observed in the fling of application for accreditation vith cocresponcing date of expiry. ENTTY TYPE | RENEWALPERIOD | ACCREDITATION EXIRY ‘fecormodation ‘Auguet to October 31 October at “Travel and Tour Agencies ‘April to June 80 June 20 Tesiore ran February 116 Ap 20 oy MICE Organiser end MCE | po to sno 30 ane 20 PROCEDURE A tour'sm enterorise who wishes to apply for DOT Regisiraion/Accrestation may submit @ Letter of Intent or duly accomplished Selt-Assessment Form (SAF) to tne DOT-Regional Office ofa an application through Online Accreditation System. {An inspection shal then be scheduled and conducted atthe designated time, and in {ho presence of the owner or his authorized representative. The DOT Accreditaion Ofcer shall discuss with the General Manager or Authorized Reprasentaive the ‘esutsindngs, ater which both parties shal sign the Inspection Checks 8.1 BASIC REGISTRATION 8.1.1. found to be compliant with the requirements for Basie Registration Lupon inspection, the DOT shal issue the Carica of Registration fo the touriem entrp For mabuhey secommodaton, registration may be extend for another year upon compliance with at least 50% of the identified physicaa2 23 ‘requirements (marked *™) of the reguar acerestatlon. Corrsponding validation shall be conducted by the DOT. 841.2 The Caticate of Registration tobe issued by the DOT shal bear the {folowing disclosure and, terms and conditions, tus: (FRONT) DISCLOSURE EOR PUBLIC INFORMATION AND CONSUMER ‘PROTECTION This Certitcation does not serve to guarantee the qualty ofthe facilties ‘and sonics ofthis founsm enterprise, (DORSAL) TERMS AND CONDITIONS “The tourism enterprise in favour of which tis Catiicate wes sued ‘shall bo bound to comply wth al he laws rules and reguletons beng |mplemonted by DOT 6s wel asthe cher government agencies Fling of any complaint for violation ofthese laws, rules and requatons (etermined 0 b0 wih ment by DOT wil result n automate cancelation ‘ofthe Basic Registration Issued to the aforenamed tourism enterprise, 2.4.3 If the tourism enterprise flied to meet the basic requirements the DOT Shall ive the toursm enterprise a period of six (6) months to recy its efciencies. Failure to comply shal result tothe issuance of Notice of ‘Non-Compliance, copy furished the LGU concerned, REGULAR ACCREDITATION 182.1 If found to be compliant wih the minimum stendards for Regular ‘Accreditation, DOT shal issue a Cortiicato of Accredtation and DOT ‘Accreditation Sticker upon approval ofthe application and payment of corresponding accrediation foes. 822 Wf the tourism enterprise falled to mest the minimum standards for Rogular Accreditation, Basic Registration shal be granted In ‘accordance with Section 8.4 PREMIUM AND STARACCREDITATION 8.3: Premium Accreditation 3.4.2 If found to bo compliant with the minimum standards for Premium Accreditation, DOT shall issue a Cortficate of Accreditation land DOT Plague to the tourism entero upon. spproval of the application and payment of corresponding accreciation fees, In the ‘case of Mabuhay Accommodations, premium accreditation shal nly Be Issued upon compliance of atleast 60% of the otal points alte.8.3.1.5 If the tourism enterprise failed to meet the minimum standards {or Premium Accreditation, the provisions of Saction 82 or Bt (whichever is appicable) shal ppl. 18.3.2 Star Rating Accreditation 32a Holes, Resorts and Apartment Hotels applying for Star- Rating ‘Accredtaton shall be subjected 10 Thea-Party Audit composed of @ ‘Thied-Parly Assessor (TPA), and Tourism Quality Advisor trom DOT — ‘Standards Monitoring and Enforcement Division (SMED) and DOT-RO. Wf found to be compliant with the minimum standards forStar-Rating ‘Accreditation, coresponding star raing classication shall be issued i ‘accordance with the NAS, [A Certicate of Accreditation and DOT Plaque shail be issued to the tourism enterprise upon approval ofthe application and payment o the ‘scereditaton fos 8.3.26 Ifthe tourism enterprise failed to meet the minimum score of 261 points under the NAS, the tourism enterprise may stil bo ‘considered for regular accrediation provided that it has complied ith the mandatory requirements and gamered nat lass than 200 points Otherwise, te tourism enterprise shall be re-cetogorize info Mabunay ‘Accommodation, subject to inspection. 8.0 DORMANCY Dormant applications shall automaticaly be withdrawn after 45 days of Inactvty. “Appropriate wamingsinotfcations shall be sant tothe applica On ‘the 20" and 48 day reckonod from date of submission. 100 FEES 10:1The tourism erterorisestall pay the following accretion and miseallanacus| fees, as may be applicable: ‘amet Tarim | Guaneaion | RTS! nepuar | Pe Emenee” | tamteso” | get, | Asctaion | Sang Saar sano ro 750300 —| veionevon [Sar eatn00—| Apanment Hotel [2 star 550000) 1 star = 4,500.00 | eg Pen | Mabuhay ‘500.00 1,400.00 2,100.00 secon ; — coco | eooc0120 Toute |S 7oo.colunt|7,080.00nn Transport ae 4onoonne | —600.0qunt ec | eave Boo caiunt | 450 00 foes ar 200.c0/unt | 300.04 Main ofes so0000 | 7.50000 ‘Travel and Tour [Branch Ore ‘300000 | 4.50000 | Aveney [Onna Travel | soo0m | 73 | | 730000 | mice organizer saooco | 2.10000 Mice ee 2ac000 | 420000 102Sticker Fee. DOT Stickers shall be issued to socredted tourism ‘enterpicosupon payment of P3000 per sticker. 10.3 Plaque Fee. Requests for duplicate of DOT Plaques shall be processed upon | payment of P2,500.00, 104 Re-assessment Foe. A fo2 of PS5,000.00 shall be charged to an accredited ‘ourism enterprise requesting fer an upgrade in ls exiting socredttion level, For Hotels, Resorts and Apartment Hotels, a fee of 30,000.00 shal be charged to the requesting party, 10.5 Lost Certiicatodentification Card (ID). An amount of 15000 shall ba collect for an authenticated copy of Accreditation Cortfeate or replacement of lost ID upon submission ef Lott Request and Afidavit of Loss, 410.6 Surcharge. An addtional amount equivalent to 25% of the accreditation foo shall be collected for renewals made after the prescribed application parod in ‘accordance wih Section 7. And another 50% shall be collected for every sucoseding year theretter. BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES ‘The DOT accredited tourism enterprise shal be ented to the benefils and privieges uncer the prevaling DOT potcies. ‘SUPERVISION OF TOURISM ESTABLISHMENTS 124 Validity of Accreditation. Cortfcate of Accreitation shall be valid for the’ following pers: Ropar Farin Two@yeas —] PremiumiStar-RatingAccredtation Three @) years |130 122 Access of Department Representatives to Enterprise's Office and Records. The Doparimont shall have access to a tourism establishment's office and records at @ reasonable time f the day with due regard and respect ‘accorded to the night to privacy of parties concemed, 123 Display of DOT Tourism Quality Seal and Accreditation Number. The DOT ‘Accreditation StckerPlaque shall a al times be cigplayed in a conspicuous place of the establishment. The DOT accredited toursm enterprises which [adverse thelr business oF services through printer nina media must display the DOT Tourism Quality Seal and Accectation Number th val in all ts ‘advertisements, brochures and promotional materials 124 Non-Transferability of Accreditation. The rights and privileges granted under the accrediation shal be non-transferable, 125 Issuance of Tourism/Traval Advisory. The Department shall publish ‘advices against turism enterprises found to have violated the Department of “Tourism rlas and requatons 126 Monitoring. The Depertment shall conduct periodic monitoring of tourism enterprises for the purposes of finding out whether tis being kept andor ‘managed in a manner conformable to tho standards set by the Department DENIAL, DOWNGRADE, SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF ACCREDITATION 12:1 Grounds for Denial of Applications for Accreditation The Deparment may deny the application for accrediation of tourism enterprises, onthe following grounds: 2) Making any false decaration oF statement, making use of any such \deciaraton or statement or any document containing. tho same ot commiting fraud or any act of misrepresentation for the purpose of biaining accreditation, ) Failure to comply wit the standards and requirements for acoredtatlon; ©) Failure to pay oustanding surcharges, fines and penalties; 1) A determinative finding of liabilty for complains fled against the tourism enterprise wih the DOT, 132 Grounds for Suspension andCancellation of Accreditation and Schedul ‘of Fines and Penalties, 1224 The Office of Tourism Reguations, Coordination end Resource Generation (TRCRG), upon the recommendation of the Office of “Tourism Standards and Regulaion-SMED, may downgrade, suspend ‘oF revoke the eccreitation of, andlor impose fines agait, the tourism ‘enterprise found to havo volatd any of the fllowing provisions ater ‘due noice and hearing"FINES AND PENALTIES CGROUNDSIOFFEN SES | Watenss | 2otnee | — alfa —| Una sar = ‘transfor of OOT smn ware ee Revocation’ Accreditation Certificates, oer = ‘cancelation moweadt | scram Siders Oeoray | Szamect | suoensen | Sane cy Seed coed te srdatnest | Fano oor \ Unaatorzea tepedsconst DoT | One(t)year | Revocation ‘ezeatotn Coasts, | Sispandon | Sanetason Steen ororay "| dndameat | Swatrest oeomertsaed yt | “Psan0e0\ | Pinwtace oot c. Gross and evident bad - Siva soars a9 Siratrairt | monte | onecnyeer | Revcston gy | sszenen | ste | coin ecapive or missading | “fe of | of 20,000.00 | of P50, 000.00 arecrssuoneste |, fT0 frepepocnotcacang | P12! Nonato tom lows 4. Erangha ie sevens ot ron8O! wesc Comtontines | twee | Sm | sereaton ‘ines stepeocor | monte | mente | Revoeaen! Referees | manss ‘eaten moter aere ire accredited front ners, 5,000.00 fansenco ane saucer vores ee «Faia apy te OT |g a ieswataee manna | Ta |S 0)morm SSerrete ne sumac tect Poor! conpas asf he cnantnect ‘establishment. P5,000.00 | Bio.000.00 | 720,000.00 | 1 Failure to cispiayispecty | fevorreen oan eee) Smtenaresematin” |Semmamina | Wge) | Sx. monn Nomborwiramiatyinat | 283 | suponcon | SUBEnSon, Sissons tee ‘through print or online: 5,000.00 | 'pio.o00.00 | °20.00000 eda Promo tain o Comctcfacoaae” | Revocator Framganpaiea | Socttasy frantoeSayom | soamea Sergosionsfeamen | Pros gtasShn. Fature o comply with Inve ncusrg nose ‘equi tous fxtabtermorts torent | T*@) | SK) | Revocation’ ae moots | cancoaten inleaes and vnetts! | autpersion | suspension boone win dso, Srorgomers . Tre) ‘tom warming Rovecaton! era” | nO | staan tectret | {03% | Sczeanron tesetnon | upenaen | Storate |. Any ether acter omission | 1,000.00 but 1P 20,000.00 eamedto be cetimental | natmore | f®10.00009 | Set more tutte ‘Streteunem naisey | 7.00000 Prooaooeo tanedon tne | 2000000 | Fon oye | mtene | Sigyte 13.3 Ground for Downgrading of Accreditation ‘The Deparment may downgrade the level of accrediation of tourism cenierprises for failure fo maintain complance with the pressibed standards set bythe DOT. 14.0 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 14.1 Confidential Character of Certain Data, Information and documents received (oF flad with the Department in pursuance of te requirements of these rules shall be treated as confidential and shall nat be divulged to any private party wilhout the consont ofthe party concored, 142 Issuance of Additional Circulars/Orders. The Department shal, whenever necessary, issue addtional Cirulars/Orders. fora more effective Implementation ofthese guidelines 143 Soparabilty Clause. Tho provisions of thesa rules are hereby declared separable, and in the event that any one of more of such provisions. are ddeciared invalid, the valty of al cher provisions eal not be affected thereby, 144 Repealing Clause. All existing rules and regulations or circulars ‘previously issued by the Department of Toursm which aro inconsietent ‘th the prowsions of these rules are hereby repesied andlor modified ‘accordingly. trace145 Effectvity-This Mororandum Cieular shall take effect immediately after publication in a newspaper of goneral ercuaton of in the Official Gazete. Let five (3) copies hereof be fled with the Office of National Adminstatve Register (ONAR), UP Law Centor pursuant to Presidential Memorandum Circular No. 11, dated 08 October 1992 APPROVED AND PROMULGATED THIS "Day OF RH _, 2018 MAKATI, Praises a KD é dass in ww) WANDA CORAZON TULFO-TEO "ar ome mo assests aw ene Un 4 ‘Tour Regulation, Coordination ‘and Resource Generation