DOT marks 45th anniversary amid Teo resignation
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism pushed through with the celebration of its 45th founding anniversary amid the resignation this week of Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo.
In separate memoranda for employees dated April 27 and May 7, the Office of the Secretary and Undersecretary for Administration and Special Concerns, informed DOT employees of the lineup of activities and events for the anniversary.
Among the activities are an ID Design and Travel Vlog Contest, a DOT Gala Night with a "retro" or 1970s theme, DOT Got Talent, an immersion activity at an orphanage, and a thanksgiving mass.
The Tourism agency said the anniversary activities aim to foster unity and cooperation among employees and for them to be able to look forward to achieving the DOT's targets for the years ahead.
Spas, massages, gym memberships
For this year, the DOT also prepared wellness programs and activities for the employees.
“In line with the 45th Founding Anniversary of the Department, there are wellness programs and activities that are to be organized and conducted for the DOT employees that promote active and healthy lifestyle,” the May 7 memorandum read.
The wellness program activities include gym membership, healthy food delivery services, wellness services packages, spa and massage, as well as healthy lifestyle lectures on workplace wellness.
From May 7 to 11, employees will have an opportunity to avail of “high-end” electric massage.
The spa package, on the other hand, lets employees avail 30 minutes massage for for 15 days from May 7 to 11, 14 to 18, and 21 to 25. There are four therapists in shifting schedule during the period mentioned.
There is also a service massage by the blind from May 28 to 29 for DOT employees. Three blind masseurs will be deployed for two days.
The DOT also has exercise programs lined up for employees such as circuit training, zumba, and yoga. Some of the activities would run weekly for the whole month of May.
Most activities require employees to pre-register as these are on first-come-first-served basis.
On Tuesday, Philstar.com visited the DOT office and learned that some of the gym membership booths include private gym and fitness centers Anytime Fitness, Fitness First, and Slimmers World.
A source told Philstar.com that the previous celebrations were different from this year’s.
Asked what made the DOT decide on the activities for this year as well as details on its budget for the celebration, Assistant Secretary Frederick Alegre, department spokesperson, told Philstar.com that he has not seen the document on the anniversary plans yet. In a phone interview, Alegre also said “this is an admin matter.”
The DOT was founded on May 11, 1973, under Presidential Decree 189, which reorganized and renamed the Department of Trade and Tourism into DOT. The presidential decree created DOT with a Philippine Tourist Authority attached to it in lieu of Philippine Tourist Commission.
Meanwhile, Teo already bade farewell to the DOT employees on Wednesday. She tendered her resignation on Monday amid the P60-million advertisement deal controversy involving the department, state-run People's Television Network Inc, and her brother Ben Tulfo’s media outfit, Bitag Media Unlimited Inc.
Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday announced that President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as the new DOT chief. Puyat said she would continue her work at the DA until she takes her oath of office.
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