‘I won’t resign’

DAVAO CITY — Certain quarters at the Department of Tourism (DOT) appear to be up in arms against his alleged "dictatorial" style of leadership, but Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon is unperturbed.

"No way will I succumb to it. I will not resign. These employees are not my boss. My bosses are the Filipino people. If they do not want my style, that’s their problem," Gordon told The STAR the other day.

He said the DOT employees are just not used to his kind of leadership which, he added, has done miracles in the Subic freeport and Olongapo City.

He said he is one leader who seeks more accountability and innovation and does not have any qualms in getting things straight.

"These employees have been so used to people who do not make demands from them. And it so happens that I really expect them to work real hard in the same way that I am also working 20 hours a day from Monday to Sunday," he said.

Gordon, however, said he was willing to talk things out with disgruntled employees of the DOT.

"I’ll talk to them. I want to help them. I have no ill will against them. I am willing to meet them," he said.

Meanwhile, ranking officials of the DOT rushed to Gordon’s side and reaffirmed their support for his continued leadership.

In a manifesto of support, Antonio Mercado, executive director of the National Parks and Development Corp.; Dominador Ferrer Jr., administrator of the Intramuros Administration; Daniel Corpuz, executive director of the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp.; and Nixon Kua, general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority, rallied the rank-and-file to their cause.

The DOT’s regional directors also issued a manifesto of support for Gordon’s leadership.