DOT chief: No courtesy resignation yet from Montano

New Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat faces the media at the DOT office in Makati. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Thursday said she has not received any courtesy resignation yet from Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) chief operation officer Cesar Montano.

This development came after Romulo-Puyat directed all the DOT appointed executives to file their courtesy resignation.

“Alam naman niyang hold over na lang siya,” Romulo-Puyat told reporters in a press briefing.

Immediately after her appointment, the new tourism chief asked the Department of Tourism’s undersecretaries to file their courtesy resignation.

On Tuesday, Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre filed his courtesy resignation, heeding the call of Romulo-Puyat.

“It is clear that the private sector will nominate the COO,” she said.

Montano’s P80-million “Buhay Carinderia,” a food tourism program, was ordered suspended by Romulo-Puyat over alleged irregularities. /jpv

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