The Board of the Tourism Promotions Board of Directors has appointed a career-official and domestic promotion department head Arnold Gonzales as officer-in-charge after Chief Operation Officer Cesar Montano filed last week his resignation which had been accepted.
In an interview, Gonzales confirmed the new assignment to manage the agency until June 30, amidst controversies and alleged irregularities that his predecessor had confronted.
“It is unfortunate that the TPB was tagged into this controversy,” Gonzales said.
He noted that in 31 years in service, it was the first time for the TPB to confront such alleged irregularities and questionable projects.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte has transferred a ranking official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to the Bureau of Customs, according to the document released by Malacañang on Thursday.
Duterte appointed PDEA deputy director for administration Jesus Fajardo as BOC deputy commissioner on May 21, replacing Natalio Ecarma III.
The BoC is currently headed by Isidro Lapeña, a former PDEA director general.
Gonzales admitted that during those trying times, the morale of the TBP employees and officials went down as the agency was in the limelight of alleged corruptions and irregularities.
“I assure you [I intend] to uplift the integrity [of the TPB]. No corruption; we will just push through with the legitimate projects,” Gonzales said when his colleagues asked for a brief message.
“I have to correct the fact that TPB is composed of highly professional officers since it was [called] PCVC [Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp.]. They are highly professional and dedicated employees,” Gonzales said.
He also reiterated that his colleagues in TPB were employees who follow due process under the law, citing the fact that the agency was ISO certified.
“We strictly abide by strict process of CoA [Commission on Audit] rules and regulations,” Gonzales said.
Montano last week resigned as TPB due to the P80-million controversy where he allegedly paid in full the “Buhay Carinderia” project to former Tourism secretary Wanda Teo’s alleged “close friend” Erlinda Legaspi of Marylindbert International Inc.
Montano was also linked in 2017 to other irregularities when the report came out that the former actor turned public servant allegedly entered into millions of pesos worth of non-related tourism projects and hired individuals consisting of his stuntman, friends, relatives in his team who were earning salaries between P14,000 and almost P80,000.
Montano, however, denied the allegations.
When asked if he would fire those employees hired by Montano, Gonzales said he respected their contract which would end in June and he would leave the matter to the respective heads to decide.
TPB Market Specialist 2 Albert Gadia and other employees welcomed Gonzales’ new assignment, expressing confidence he could manage the agency effectively.
“Appointing a career official is a big factor. His credibility as a public servant for more than 30 years in government service is really can be considered as basis of his new position,” Gadia said.
“He was chosen because of his expertise in terms of marketing; he is an experienced marketing officer in international and domestic (fields). His competency can help the TPB mandate,” he added.
Gonzales took his Bachelor of Science in Tourism in University of the Philippines in 1982.
He had his Masters in Business Administration at the De La Salle University.
