WHEREAS, the government recognizes the tourism industry's enormous potential to contribute to the country's growth;

WHEREAS, it is important to support efforts to promote the various regions of the country as prime tourist destinations not only for tourists from all over the world but for Filipinos as well;

WHEREAS, one of the areas which the Philippines can strongly capitalize on to boost the tourism industry is the growing interest of tourists in surfing in Siargao Island, Eastern Samar and the Bicol Region;

WHEREAS, in order to develop the transport infrastructure in Siargao Island, Eastern Samar and Bicol, with the end in view of ensuring their competitiveness and marketability as premier and world class surfing destinations, Memorandum Order No. 168 (s.2005) was issued establishing the Surfing Tourism Integrated Program (STIP) of the government;

WHEREAS, there is a need to ensure the effective and aggressive implementation of the STIP for the growth of the country's tourism industry;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. The Philippine Tourism Authority is hereby directed to ensure the effective and aggressive implementation of the Surfing Tourism Integrated Program (STIP) through the performance by the STIP Manager, who shall be a senior official of the Philippine Tourism Authority, of the functions enumerated under Section 3 of Memorandum Order No. 168 (s. 2005).

SECTION 2. Supervision over the STIP projects is hereby assigned to the Philippine Tourism Authority.

SECTION 3. All executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Memorandum Order are hereby repealed amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 16 Aug. 2005

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary