DOT head gets speedy CA nod
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat breezed through her confirmation hearing with no member of the Commission on Appointments (CA) committee on tourism and economic development raising any questions or objections.
“It was the longest day of my life. It felt like eternity even though it was just seven minutes,” Puyat told The STAR, describing how she felt during the confirmation hearing yesterday morning as she was asked about her qualifications for her position.
While stuck in traffic along EDSA on her way to the Senate, Puyat said she had to study before facing the CA panel, as she did not want to assume a favorable result.
Puyat said she was humbled by the decision of the CA and expressed excitement to work with the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP), which will nominate the replacement of Cesar Montano.
Montano was formerly chief of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) – an attached agency of the DOT – amid the controversial P80 million he fully paid to Linda Legaspi for a food tourism project dubbed as “Buhay Carinderia.”
Tourism stakeholders expressed their delight and excitement to work with Puyat.
“The industry wholeheartedly welcomes the confirmation of Secretary Puyat,” TCP president Jose Clemente told The STAR.
Rajah Travel president Aileen Clemente said the private sector welcomes immediate confirmation of the tourism secretary and looks forward to “stepping on the pedal for tourism growth.”
“So far the direction she seems to be taking is the same as the aspiration of the rest of the industry,” Clemente said.
“We all look forward to supporting her in the progressive tourism endeavor,” she added.
Puyat said she will prioritize improving tourism policies and develop programs on tourism infrastructure, using her experience as an economist, educator and government executive.
Puyat, a former undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), was appointed tourism secretary last May 14, shortly after former tourism secretary Wanda Teo was reportedly fired by Duterte.
But Teo claimed she resigned amid the controversial P60 million in ads she placed in her brother’s show on PTV4.
Puyat clarified that DOT Undersecretary Kat de Castro, like other assistant secretaries and undersecretaries of the DOT, has submitted her courtesy resignation to President Duterte.
But Puyat said in a memorandum that all assistant secretaries and undersecretaries would continue reporting “until any action is taken by the President on such courtesy resignations.”
It is not yet clear, however, if Duterte has already accepted the resignation of De Castro, one of his known supporters who helped during the campaign trail.
“Like all the other undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, she already gave her courtesy resignation,” Puyat said, referring to De Castro.
But Puyat emphasized she is reviewing the performance of all officials of the DOT, including De Castro.
Reacting to reports that she could not let go of De Castro as she is close to the official’s father, Noli de Castro, Puyat just laughed but acknowledged knowing the broadcaster.
Other CA hearings
The CA said the appointment of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra would be taken up today.
Guevarra was appointed last month after Vitaliano Aguirre III resigned as justice secretary.
During marathon hearings held yesterday, the various committees of the CA deliberated on the appointments of Puyat, Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones, Commission on Elections commissioner Socorro Inting, Armed Forces of the Philipines chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. and Ambassadors Sulpicio Confiado and Akmad Atlah Sakkam.
Apart from Castriciones, who had to face those opposing his confirmation during his third hearing, the rest of the presidential appointees practically breezed through their respective hearings.
During the confirmation hearing of Castriciones, five persons gave their sworn statements against the secretary, who they said was not qualified for the job and does not have the support of the DAR employees and other stakeholders.
DAR Employees Association (DAREA) national president Antonia Pascual noted how Castriciones was the only appointee not supported by her organization.
Pascual said Castriciones was not qualified because he is not an advocate of agrarian reform and does not have the necessary experience in the field.
She said that Castriciones’ style was also not suited for the DAR because he has a military mindset.
Pascual said Castriciones was not responding to the communications sent to him by the DAREA and that he was constantly harassing union members.
Much of the same complaints were raised by Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Workers national president Ferdinand Gaite, who accused Castriciones of exhibiting acts inimical to the interest of DAR employees.
Former agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor, who represents the Federation of Free Farmers, called Castriciones a neophyte in the agrarian reform sector.
He said the agrarian reform program is now at the end stages and as such, having an OJT or on the job trainee is an insult to farmers.