By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo / Special to the BusinessMirror
TOURISM Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo has called for a board meeting of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), as its employees went on their second protest day against their chief operating officer, this time wearing red last Friday.
In a text message to the BusinessMirror, Teo confirmed that she had called for a TPB board meeting for March 24, so the members could already discuss and approve the agency’s work program for the rest of the year. She said she hopes everyone, especially the private-sector representatives and TPB COO Cesar Montano “would attend so there would be a quorum”.
The TPB is the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and usually handles the promotions of Philippine destinations in trade and travel fairs abroad. It also organizes or sponsors key international events meant to bring foreign travelers to the Philippines, such as the annual Madrid Fusion Manila, International Travel Bloggers Exchange held last year and the MTV Music Evolution, which is beamed around the world from Manila, among others.
One of the issues raised against Montano by concerned TPB officers and employees was that their work was being impaired, due to the inability of the board to set a meeting and get a quorum because the COO was always unavailable. They have been unable to set their work plans for the rest of 2017.
Teo also confirmed to reporters that the Presidential Action Center (PACE) in Malacañan Palace was still investigating the alleged irregularities committed by Montano as claimed in a complaint filed by concerned TPB management and employees on March 1. This, despite Rodrigo Duterte already denying the actor committed any corrupt acts at his post. “[The complaints are] already with PACE,” she stressed. “These are still being investigated. I think it’s in the office of [Secretary of the Cabinet] Leoncio Evasco. We’ll just wait for the results of the investigation,” she said.
Pressed by reporters on Montano’s status at TPB, the DOT chief said “he is still COO; he still goes to the office”. Asked, however, if she still had confidence in Montano, Teo said, “I’d rather not comment.” She said she had just returned from a successful round of meetings with European-based tour operators who attended the ITB Berlin travel and trade show and, as such, had yet to talk with Montano on the issues raised against him.
But she added she was aware that the employees held a protest action against Montano. “I heard about it, but only found about the complaints when it came out in the newspapers. I think the employees are also waiting for the results of the investigation.”
Industry stakeholders, meanwhile, pointed out that Evasco, a former mayor of Bohol, is a close friend of Montano, also a native of Bohol.
Aileen Clemente, vice chairman of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, said in an interview: “Honestly, we know the six degrees of separation. We all know that everyone is connected to everyone else. I guess what I am saying is, that regardless of the affinity, I just hope that the evidence and arguments should be the basis of decisions in PACE or in any similar venues and not affinities and affiliations.”
She expressed “absolute concern” over the alleged irregularities committed by Montano as TPB head. “This is about how TPB funds are allegedly being spent. These funds are meant to be utilized as part of a comprehensive campaign strategy keeping in mind the short-, medium- and long-term strategies consistent with the National Tourism Development Plan [NTDP], at the very least.”
She said she hopes for the quick resolution of the issues against Montano, whether this be by PACE or by the Senate. Senate Tourism Committee Chairman Nancy Binay last week filed a resolution asking the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate the accusations against Montano.
Among the allegations leveled against Montano “by the TPB management and employees” include the signing of multimillion-peso contracts for sponsorships of concerts that had nothing to do with TPB’s mandate to promote key Philippine destinations; the hiring of personnel, such as relatives, for jobs already being performed by current employees; unauthorized travels to local and foreign destinations without itineraries and travel orders; and arrogant behavior from his staff, to name a few.
Sources at the TPB said the employees will continue their protests against Montano every Friday. (See, “TPB employees hold ‘Black Friday’ protest vs Montano,” in the BusinessMirror, March 14, 2017.”)
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