24 March 2025

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Tourism (DOT), and Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) partnered to establish clear guidelines for the efficient utilization of the higher education development fund (HEDF) to advance tourism education in the country.

CHED Secretary Popoy De Vera and DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco signed on Monday, at the National Museum of the Philippines, a Joint Administrative Order (JAO) establishing guidelines for the utilization of travel tax allocation to the HEDF.

The established guidelines ensure that tourism-related educational programs, courses, and projects of Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) are considered as priority and to be charged under HEDF.

Under the Section 10 of the Republic Act 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994 and the Section 73 of the Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009, forty percent (40%) of the total gross collections of the travel tax shall be contributed to the HEDF for the advancement of tourism educational programs.

“One of the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is to make the Philippines competitive in the global tourism market. All government agencies are directed to play a part in the realization of this national objective. Our role in the higher education sector is significant, we are the key players in ensuring the development of human capital for the tourism industry by producing world-class and industry ready tourism program graduates,” De Vera added.

“This is history because for the first time the three agencies – CHED, TIEZA, and DOT – are talking to each other seriously to ensure the development of human capital for the tourism industry,” De Vera added.

“The President has clearly communicated that tourism is a priority, recognizing its vital role in the economic and human capital development. We recognize that the best asset of Philippine tourism is no other than the Filipino people. This necessitated us to ensure that HEIs receive investment from the government through the CHED. The signing of the JOA between CHED and DOT reflects our commitment to this matter,” Frasco said.

“It is our hope that by way if instituting clear, fair as well as stakeholder-driven programs under JAO that the funds that our fellow Filipinos paid for travel taxes are devoted in full education programs that will further expand opportunities for our young people joining the tourism industry and expand economic opportunities from our local destinations,” she added.

The guidelines prioritize funding and support for the construction and improvement of facilities and laboratories for tourism and hospitality courses including purchase of industry-grade equipment.

Furthermore, funding for industry immersion programs and career development for faculty and students will be prioritized.

Research and development for the enhancement of tourism and hospitality courses will also be given priority assistance.

CHED, through the HEDF, will also provide support for the digitalization of tourism and hospitality programs, establishment of incubation centers on tourism, and implementation of education-related programs of DOT and HEIs.

HEDF has been utilized by CHED to fund initiatives for the development of HEIs particularly through the Institutional Development and Innovation Grant (IDIG) that aims to strengthen their institutional capacities and quality of education in HEIs.

Among these initiatives is the establishment of state-of-the-art hot and cold kitchen facilities to ensure production of tourism and hospitality industry-ready graduates.

From 2018 to 2024, a total amount of approximately three billion pesos from the HEDF were utilized to fund tourism-related educational projects in different HEIs.

Currently, there are one thousand forty-nine (1,049) HEIs in the Philippines offering HRM programs to around two hundred thousand students; and seven hundred eighty-six (786) Philippine HEIs offering tourism courses to almost three hundred seventy thousand students.

 

(SIGNED)
J. PROSPERO E. DE VERA III, DPA
Chairman
Commission on Higher Education