PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte remains satisfied with the performance of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat despite complaints hurled against her by presidential son and House Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte, a Palace official said Friday, September 20.
"'Yung full trust and confidence ni Pangulo kay Secretary Berna obviously continue. Alam naman natin na maganda naman 'yung mga ginagawa ni Secretary Berna as far as tourism is concerned," Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles told Palace reporters.
(The President's trust and confidence in Secretary Berna obviously continue. We all know that Secretary Berna is doing good, as far as tourism is concerned.)
Nograles issued the statement a day after the younger Duterte slammed Puyat during the House budget deliberations because of the supposed issues concerning the Tourism chief's character and management style.
The House official said he had received several complaints against Puyat's approval of contracts and projects in her department.
Puyat, who was appointed by the President as the head of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in May 2018, did not attend the House plenary session.
As far as the Chief Executive is concerned, he was "happy" with Puyat's policies and programs, Nograles said.
"[Duterte was] all praises [for Puyat. He's] very warm. He's happy with the work of Secretary Berna, so far," the Cabinet Secretary said.
"Under her watch, tumaas po 'yung tourism numbers natin. Dumami yung turista natin. At maganda naman 'yung industry. Pati 'yung mga stakeholders natin sa tourism industry wala namang reklamo kay Secretary Berna. Mabilis naman umaksyon, masipag naman, maganda naman 'yung mga projects ng DOT right now under her watch," he added.
(Under her watch, our tourism numbers went up. The number of tourists increased. And the industry is doing good. Even the stakeholders in the tourism industry have no complaints against Secretary Berna. She acts swiftly. She's diligent. And the DOT's projects right now are good under her watch.) (SunStar Philippines)