A lawmaker has recently filed a resolution urging the House Committee on Tourism to probe the implementation of the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Memorandum Circular 2012-02, which prescribed a star-grading system for hotel, resorts and apartment hotels.
In House Resolution 2503, United Nationalist Alliance Rep. Gwendolyn F. Garcia of Cebu City said there are claims that the star-rating system implemented by the DOT is only a “waste of time, effort and government funds.”
According to the lawmaker, several accommodation establishments assail not only the veracity of the results of the star ratings issued by the DOT, but also the propriety, necessity and wisdom of the star-rating system.
In her resolution, Garcia added that the DOT received $7.1-million technical assistance grant from the government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency to fund the skills training programs for the private sector, local government units, civil society and DOT agencies, and to implement the new system of accreditation and the development of standards for service quality.
“The DOT has already commenced the system of accreditation of accommodation establishments, issued star ratings to several hotels, and published the results,” she said.
Garcia added that the inquiry is necessary to determine whether the DOT should pursue the star rating system and recommend measures to improve the system if deemed necessary to implement it.