The Department of Tourism (DOT), under the leadership of Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, has officially launched the second cycle of the Tourism Champions Challenge (TCC)—an initiative that empowers local government units (LGUs) to develop transformative, community-based tourism infrastructure projects.
Announced during a media briefing held this morning at the Peninsula Manila in Makati City, the TCC’s new cycle sees a significant increase in funding, with a total of ₱399 million allocated for 2025, up from ₱255 million in its inaugural run last year.
“This program takes a bottom-up approach to tourism development and ensures that tourism is not only transformative but also inclusive, resilient, and equitable,” said Secretary Frasco. “We are pleased to announce that 21 LGUs from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao will benefit from this second cycle.”
While the initial cycle of the TCC awarded funding to 15 LGU projects across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, Cycle 2 will expand the scope to include 21 LGUs. The total funding allocation has also increased to ₱399 million from the ₱255 million disbursed in Cycle 1.
Now on its second cycle, municipalities stand to receive P15 million each, while cities and provinces will be granted P18 million each, with performance-based incentives of up to P6 million.
However, Frasco clarified that details on the Cycle 2 grantees and specific funding amounts will only be made public once PwC’s evaluation process is completed and validated.
The deadline for the submission of TCC proposals is on October 15, 2025.
Success of Cycle One
In its initial run, the TCC received over 100 project proposals from LGUs across the country. After a rigorous evaluation process conducted by DOT regional offices and knowledge partner PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Philippines, the top 15 projects were selected. Among these are: Ambaguio Skyport (Luzon): The first local airport terminal project; Siargao’s Ridge to Reef Eco Experience (Visayas): A sustainability-focused heritage tourism initiative; Panud Cultural Village, Davao City (Mindanao): A preservation project showcasing cultural heritage.
Winners received tourism infrastructure grants ranging from ₱12 to ₱25 million, enabling communities to unlock the potential of emerging destinations and generate employment through tourism-related enterprises.
Transparency and institutionalization
Frasco said that by engaging a third-party evaluator, the program upholds transparency and removes political influence from the grant selection process.
DOT’s role is primarily facilitative, while the rigorous project evaluation and ranking process is carried out independently by PwC Philippines.
DOT regional directors are involved at the initial stages only to endorse applications and provide field data, but they are not part of the ranking committee.
“The entire evaluation was done by PwC, not by the DOT,” Frasco told reporters “The only time we stepped in was after they had completed the ranking and forwarded their recommendations. That’s when we announced the winners.”
When asked about the program’s longevity, Frasco said the goal is not for the TCC to be a one-off initiative but to be institutionalized and carried forward by future DOT leadership.
“Our hope is that this becomes part of the institutional framework for the Department of Tourism… and that it continues regardless of who sits as Secretary,” she said.
She added that TIEZA has committed to continue funding the program in alignment with the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023–2028.
Monitoring and implementation
Frasco also addressed concerns about the post-award phase and the risk of uncompleted projects. She assured that strict implementation timelines and monitoring mechanisms are in place, led by both DOT regional offices and TIEZA.
“LGUs are expected to execute their projects within the stipulated timeline, and there is close monitoring to ensure funds are used as intended,” she said.
“What we want to avoid are white elephant projects. The goal is sustainable tourism that truly benefits communities,” she said.
