Newly-appointed Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat with President Rodrigo Duterte
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC
Newly-appointed Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has vowed to review all existing awards, contracts, and projects to clear the agency from stains of corruption.
“President Duterte told me, ‘No corruption, review all the contracts, everything must be transparent and has gone through bidding,’” Puyat said on Tuesday, during her first press briefing as DOT Secretary.
“Gawin lang natin ang trabaho natin, hindi ako matutulog; titingnan lahat ng accountants and abogado ko,” Puyat added.
(Let’s just do our job, I won’t sleep; all my accountants and lawyers will look into them.)
She also cited her work with the Department of Agriculture (DA) as a precedent of her DOT tenure.
“Nung nasa DA ako, line by line namin tinitingnan; kailangan kong tingnan every award and project,” she added.
(When I was in the DA, we would look at every line; I need to look at every award and project.)
Puyat revealed that she has already asked for the courtesy resignation of the appointees of former Secretary Wanda Teo. Teo stepped down from office as her tenure was marred with allegations of corruption, after the Commission on Audit questioned the P60 million advertisement deal between DOT and Bitag Media Unlimited, Inc.
DOT ads were placed along Bitag Media’s Kilos Pronto program, a block timer in the People’s Television (PTV4) Network. Bitag Media is owned by Ben Tulfo, while Kilos Pronto is hosted by Ben and Erwin Tulfo, both brothers of Teo.
However, in the midst of controversies, Puyat still gave high praises to DOT staffers.
“I’ve been working with the DOT for years. I’ve always held its career professionals in high regard. I’ve always enjoyed working with DOT, I’m excited to meet the career professionals and the rank and file (employees),” Puyat said. /je