By Genalyn Kabiling and Rocky Nazareno
PRIVATE WORDS — President Duterte chats with Agriculture Undersecretary Berna Romulo-Puyat during the opening ceremonies of the Agrilink/Foodlink/Aqualink expo at the World Trade Center in Pasay City Thursday night.
(Richard Viñas | Manila Bulletin) The tourism portfolio has been offered to Puyat, daughter of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, following the resignation of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, according to Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go. This was confirmed by Tourism Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre to the Manila Bulletin last night, saying that he had just spoken over the phone to Romulo-Puyat, who informed him that she was just tapped by the President to lead the DOT. Puyat, a known close friend of the President, was earlier assigned by Duterte to oversee the approval of the country’s rice importation needs. “The DOT welcomes and we’re very much excited with working with her. She worked with us when we launched the Farm Tourism and Eco-Tourism projects last year in her capacity as agriculture undersecretary,” Alegre said. He also noted that Romulo-Puyat had always been with the Philippine contingent which took part in the annual Madrid Fusion. “Her years of government will be of great value to us here at the DOT, which we are confident she would lead to greater heights,” Alegre said. Puyat, 48, had been Agriculture Undersecretary for the Duterte and Aquino administrations. Widowed at 40, she was the wife of lawyer Dave Puyat. They have two children Maia, 22, and Vito, 21. She is the sister of former Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo and the grand-niece of the late statesman Carlos P. Romulo. Teo had tendered her resignation last Monday amid the Department of Tourism's controversial advertisement placement on her brothers' television program. The President has accepted Teo’s resignation, according to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.
President Duterte has chosen Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat as the next secretary of the Department of Tourism.
PRIVATE WORDS — President Duterte chats with Agriculture Undersecretary Berna Romulo-Puyat during the opening ceremonies of the Agrilink/Foodlink/Aqualink expo at the World Trade Center in Pasay City Thursday night.(Richard Viñas | Manila Bulletin) The tourism portfolio has been offered to Puyat, daughter of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, following the resignation of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, according to Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go. This was confirmed by Tourism Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre to the Manila Bulletin last night, saying that he had just spoken over the phone to Romulo-Puyat, who informed him that she was just tapped by the President to lead the DOT. Puyat, a known close friend of the President, was earlier assigned by Duterte to oversee the approval of the country’s rice importation needs. “The DOT welcomes and we’re very much excited with working with her. She worked with us when we launched the Farm Tourism and Eco-Tourism projects last year in her capacity as agriculture undersecretary,” Alegre said. He also noted that Romulo-Puyat had always been with the Philippine contingent which took part in the annual Madrid Fusion. “Her years of government will be of great value to us here at the DOT, which we are confident she would lead to greater heights,” Alegre said. Puyat, 48, had been Agriculture Undersecretary for the Duterte and Aquino administrations. Widowed at 40, she was the wife of lawyer Dave Puyat. They have two children Maia, 22, and Vito, 21. She is the sister of former Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo and the grand-niece of the late statesman Carlos P. Romulo. Teo had tendered her resignation last Monday amid the Department of Tourism's controversial advertisement placement on her brothers' television program. The President has accepted Teo’s resignation, according to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.