New tourism chief, other gov't officials sworn in

MANILA, Philippines - Newly installed Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez yesterday pushed for a new country brand to replace the popular “Wow Philippines” to make the country’s different tourist destinations more marketable to foreign tourists.

In his first day in office, Jimenez said he would work double time to be able to come out before the end of the year with a new slogan, which his predecessor former secretary Alberto Lim failed to accomplish.

President Aquino swore Jimenez and 32 other government officials into office yesterday.

Jimenez said it is necessary for the Department of Tourism (DOT) to use a new marketing brand since the old “WOW Philippines” is no longer relevant with the current trend in the local tourism industry.

Under Lim’s leadership, the DOT presented to the public the new campaign slogan “Pilipinas Kay Ganda,” but shelved it after it drew flak from the tourism industry and other sectors for allegedly being plagiarized and amateurish.

The new tourism chief said the DOT would keep the drafting of the new slogan a secret until they are ready for its launch, probably before the end of the year.

Jimenez also rallied the DOT to unite and work together in promoting the local tourism industry.

“The success of every corporation comes from the support of his own family so I hope you (as my DOT family) would support me in a vision to turn tourism into the people’s business,” Jimenez told DOT employees.

Employees of the DOT and controversial Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) chief operating officer Mark Lapid warmly welcomed Jimenez during the flag raising ceremony at the DOT yesterday.

It’s the first time that Lapid came out in public after Lim revealed that President Aquino delayed taking any action on the anomalies in TIEZA due to political considerations.

In a television interview, Lapid admitted having a disagreement with Lim over the transfer of three TIEZA officials, but not because of the anomalies allegedly uncovered by the Commission on Audit (COA).

DOT employees said Lapid appeared to be seeking a better relationship with the new tourism secretary when he joined Jimenez in the flag ceremony.

Meanwhile, aside from Jimenez, also sworn into office was former Bulacan governor Josie de la Cruz who is now postmaster general.

Others who took their oath in Malacañang were Ambassador to Canada Leslie Gatan, Defense Undersecretary Eduardo Batac, Undersecretary Ibarra Gutierrez III of the office of Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Ronald Llamas.

Assistant Secretary Ernesto Ramel Jr., also under Llamas’ office, Undersecretary for Special Concerns Jose Mari Quinena and Assistant Secretary Lesley Jeanne Cordero, both of the Presidential Communications Operations Office under Secretary Herminio Coloma, also took their oaths.

Lawyer Christian Robert Lim has also taken his oath as commissioner of the Commission on Elections.

He was a member of the Bantay Balota group of then presidential candidate Aquino and his running mate Manuel Roxas II.

President Aquino is flanked by 19 new military generals during their oath-taking ceremony at the Palace. WILLY PEREZ

Lim replaces lawyer Gregorio Larrazabal, who retired in early February.

Commissioner at large Gregorio Ramon Tingson of the National Youth Commission, commissioner Jennifer Lagbas who represents the business and industry sector at the Philippine Commission on Women;

lawyer Abdullah Mangotara, deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration, and acting deputy administrator Robert Nomar Leyretana of the Land Registration Authority, both under the Department of Justice, were also sworn in.

The 19 military generals and flag officers who were newly promoted were Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, Rear Admirals Honorio Robert Balanon and Armando Guzman, Major Generals Joel Marayag and Noel Coballes;

Brigadier Generals Caesar Ronnie Ordoyo, Danilo Fabian, Reynaldo Torres, Teodoro Cirilo Torralba, Edgar Fallorina, Pedro Biasbas, Leonido Bongcawil and Leo Cresente Ferrer; Commodores Jose Renan Suarez and Jesus Millan, Leopoldo Alano, Romero Nebres, Augusto Tolentino and Rufino Tiangco. – With Delon Porcalla