The House Committee on Higher and Technical Education on the first day of the resumption of Congress on April 30, 2024 approved the legislation authored by Cong. Edgar Chatto to establish the Tourism and Sports Institute (TSI) in the Balilihan Campus of the Bohol Island State University (BISU).

The committee chaired by Cong. Mark Go approved House Bill No. 9901 in the presence of BISU officials led by President Dr. Anthony Penaso.

In his manifestation, Chatto emphasized tourism and sports as priority development directions of the country, especially of Bohol that is declared as its first and only UNESCO Global Geopark.

He said the move will expand the quality education in the province’s premier state university and will also boost its position not only in the tourism industry but also in the area of sports.

Penaso backed the law which he said is supportive of the mandate of BISU with tourism hospitality management as its flagship courses and province’s strategic direction in tourism and economic development.

He added that the establishment of the TSI responds to the needs of the province and is an opportunity for BISU to contribute to local, regional and national efforts to boost tourism.

The bill also provided for the funding of the proposed BISU TSI through the Higher Education Development Fund (HDEF) under Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009 through the 40% share of travel tax for tourism related education.

Chatto bared that this initiative took on a phase to phase approach, beginning with the acquisition of a 6-hectare property just across the existing Balilihan Campus.

An initial funding of P50 million has been earmarked in the 2024 national budget for the land development to start the standard sports complex project to be named Senator Ed Angara Sports Complex, in honor of the country’s education champion, he added.

The TSI is envisioned to be a modern, state of the art education institution with training facilities such as restaurants, hotels, a convention center, student dormitories and internationally compliant sports facilities.

The Department of Tourism along with the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority pledged their support for the bill along with the Philippine Sports Commission.

The measure was also pushed in close coordination with the Commission on Higher Education.