P’que tourism revenues up

Tourism in Parañaque ison the rise!  In a report to ParañaqueMayor Florencio Bernabe, Jr., City Tourism Officer Marilou Fontejon and SpecialServices Officer Dean Calleja said that the city collected P2,304,300.00 in tourismrelated taxes during the period January to July 2012. This is 40% more than therevenue collection during the same period in 2011 which was only P1,640,900.00

Said taxcollection is in consonance with R.A. 9503 (Tourism Act of 2009) and Parañaque OrdinanceNo. 95-28, Series of 1995 which is also known as the Parañaque Tourism Code.The former mandates that all tourism oriented/related enterprises must beaccredited with the Dept. of Tourism while the latter requires all businessestablishments in the city to register with the Parañaque Tourism Office/SSO asa requisite for securing new and renewal business permits.

Apartfrom its regulatory and tourism development functions, the Parañaque TourismOffice/SSO organizes cultural and historical activities; participates inDOT-sponsored expositions and fairs; and establishes trade and businessrelationships with other cities and municipalities nationwide.

As aidto citizens, it arranges with the Dept. of Foreign Affairs and the NationalBureau of Investigation for the conduct of mobile service in the city.

Revenuecollection is expected to soar following the massive wide-scale developmentfeaturing mixed-land uses including hotels, offices, shopping malls, gaming andentertainment center that is unfolding  at the Parañaque Special Investment Districtin the bay reclamation area.