DOT chief breezes through CA panel hearing

IN LESS than 10 minutes, a subcommittee of the Commission on Appointments (CA) recommended the approval of the ad interim appointment of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Tuesday, May 29.

Also recommended for confirmation were Commissioner Socorro Inting of the Commission on Elections and Agrarian Reform Secretary John Rualo Castriciones.

Castriciones got the CA panel's nod despite opposition from Akbayan, whose members trooped to the Senate gates Tuesday to demand that the appointment of Castriciones be rejected.

Puyat was with her father, former senator and Finance secretary Alberto Romulo. She will face the CA plenary on Wednesday, May 30.

The CA plenary is expected to adopt the panel’s recommendation.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the executive branch was confident that Puyat would use her expertise to fulfill her mandate as the new head of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

“The tourism industry is an important sector for economic development. We thus welcome the confirmation of the appointment of Ms. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as the new Secretary of the Department of Tourism,” Roque said in a statement.

“We are confident that Secretary Puyat’s confirmation would give further impetus to the reforms she has spearheaded in the DOT,” he added.

Puyat was tapped by Duterte on May 8 to replace former Tourism Chief Wanda Tulfo-Teo, who resigned from post following controversies hounding her.

Puyat was sworn into office on May 14.

Prior to her new stint at the DOT, Puyat served as Agriculture undersecretary for administration, agribusiness and marketing, and regional engagement.

Puyat also became Agriculture undersecretary for special concerns during the Aquino administration.

Other officials who were recommended for confirmation by the plenary were: Akmad Atlah Sakkam, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipontetiary to Kingdom of Jordan; and Sulpicio Miguel Confiado, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipontetiary to the Arab Republic Egypt, Republic of Ejibouti, Republic of Ethiopia and Sudan Republic.

On Wednesday, the CA is also expected to tackle the appointment of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, a former deputy executive secretary who was appointed to replace resigned Justice chief Vitaliano Aguirre II.

Congress is set to adjourn sine die on June 1.

The CA panel also decided in quick fashion to recommend the appointment of five ranking Armed Forces of the Philippines officers led by General Carlito G. Galvez Jr., AFP chief of staff; AFP officers Nelson P. Collantes, Rolando R. Rodil, Joselito F. Maclan as AFP brigadier generals; and Emmanuel A. Mahipus as AFP colonel reserve.

Senator Gregorio Honasan, who chairs the Senate national defense and security committee and a former military colonel, described Galvez as a competent and professional soldier.

"Galvez has integrity and vision. He represents the best and the brightest among our new breed of soldiers," Honasan said. (Ruth Abbey Gita and PS Jun Sarmiento/SunStar Philippines)