One out of five Undersecretaries in the Department of Tourism (DOT) will retain his post despite Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat’s order for the agency’s executives to tender their courtesy resignation.
In an interview with CNN Philippines Tuesday (May 15), Puyat said she will retain Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. because he is a career officer.
“He’s (Bengzon) has been there for about 32 or 33 years, so definitely he will stay,” she said.
Puyat said she will also be bringing in Department of Finance Assistant Secretary Arthur Boncato, who used to hold the same position in the DOT under the Aquino administration.
“I only met him (Boncato) last Friday and I was very impressed with his credentials. This man already knows the Department of Tourism inside and out,” she said.
Puyat said she offered Boncato the post of Tourism Undersecretary.
On her first day in office, Puyat directed all DOT undersecretaries and assistant secretaries to tender their courtesy resignations until May 21.
She said she wants to have a free hand in doing the mandate President Rodrigo Duterte gave her in overseeing the DOT.
