MACTAN, Cebu - Travel and tourism organizations are making a joint appeal to newly-elected President Benigno Aquino III to appoint only the best, qualified, and no vested interest individual to head the Department of Tourism (DOT) as secretary.

The Tourism Educators and Movers (TEAM) Philippines, National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas), and the Travel Cooperative of the Philippines have jointly expressed their opinion that the next Tourism Secretary should be "someone who does not have vested interest or has no history of supporting foreign lobby groups to ensure that the department functions for the Philippines and not for any other foreign groups".

Consul Robert Lim Joseph, founding chairman of TEAM Philippines and Chairman Emeritus of Naitas, said there are a lot of qualified individuals who are fit for the position of DOT secretary and that the president should not lean too much on recommendations of some groups even if the recommended individual is not totally qualified to head the department.

"What we want is someone who is qualified, someone who has no vested interest," said Joseph during a press conference in Mactan Monday.

The travel groups reiterated their support for the reinstatement of Sec. Joseph Ace Durano although, Joseph said, other qualified names have cropped up like artist Jim Paredes, former Cebu congressman Raul del Mar, and Manny Gonzales of Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.

Joseph, who is also president of the Save Our Skies movement, urged Aquino to study extensively the background of officials he will appoint to sensitive and strategic positions in the Tourism department.

“This is frightening because of the damage they will cause the country,” Joseph said, after learning that one name has been considered by Aquino for the top tourism post, noting that there are more capable and more politically correct people who can be appointed to the new government.