Mark Lapid. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former Pampanga Governor Mark Lapid, son of Senator Lito Lapid, as a board member of Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, who sits as chairperson of TIEZA, told INQUIRER.net in a text message on Saturday that Mark still needs to be appointed as chief operating officer (COO).
“He [Mark Lapid] was appointed as member, board of director Tieza. Board members still have to appoint him as COO,” said Puyat when asked for confirmation if Mark was appointed as COO.
In a text message, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque also confirmed that Mark was appointed as board member only.
Mark, who is also an actor, will replace Pocholo Paragas as COO of TIEZA, which was created to provide “support infrastructures and facilitating investments in tourism enterprise zones nationwide.”
Mark was the COO of the tourism agency during President Benigno Aquino III’s term. In 2016, he, however, left his post in TIEZA to run for the senatorial race.
READ: Lapid swears in for NPC; to run for Senate seat
In 2008, Lapid was also appointed by Arroyo as acting general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority, which was replaced by the PIEZA in 2009 after the Tourism Act of 2009 was created.
Mark served as Pampanga governor from 2004 to 2007.