P-Noy still looking for next DOT chief

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday urged the public to give President Aquino more time to choose the next tourism chief even as sources revealed he had already spoken with an advertising man as possible replacement for resigned Secretary Alberto Lim.

The name of Ramon Jimenez, an alumnus of the University of the Philippines’ College of Fine Arts and founder of an award-winning advertising firm, was immediately floated as Lim’s resignation was confirmed.

Sources disclosed Aquino had spoken with Jimenez and on Friday, they were “90 percent” sure that the advertising executive would replace Lim.

Sources added Aquino wanted to hold the announcement of the next tourism secretary until Lim’s term was over by Aug. 31.

The sources disclosed Jimenez had agreed to the offer but would only be sure to get the job once the final announcement was made.

This was because the President could change his mind and his decision to hold the announcement could mean that he was still considering other candidates for the post.

Jimenez helped in the presidential campaign of Aquino and is known to many of the President’s associates.

Also yesterday, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte was added to the list of those supposedly being considered for the post. Villafuerte supported defeated presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. in the last elections but was being credited for boosting tourism in his province.

Other candidates include former Akbayan party-list representative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and television host and talent manager Boy Abunda.

The ideal tourism chief

On the other hand, the Tourism Congress and the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) said Malacañang should look for a “multi-talented” individual to replace Lim.

Tourism Congress vice president Jaime Cura and PTAA president Aileen Clemente stressed the importance of appointing a qualified tourism chief since many stakeholders are involved.

Clemente said the “ideal” tourism secretary “must be a good strategist who can ensure that he can provide the right investment climate as well as the right conditions for tourism growth.”

She said Lim’s successor should also have “the right organizational skills that should help in coordinating various government sectors, apart from the tourism sector, to have greater coordination and cooperation among stakeholders.”

Cura, for his part, said the next tourism secretary should possess superb managerial skills because of the huge investments involved in the tourism sector, particularly in the hotels and resorts.

Tourism Congress president Alma Jimenez expressed confidence that Aquino will appoint the next tourism chief who “will have the capability to concretize his objectives of making tourism one of the country’s engines of economic growth.”

“We are prepared to work with whoever the President will appoint to head the Department of Tourism (DOT),” Jimenez said.

Do not speculate

Malacañang said the announcement of the next tourism chief would be made at the right time and appealed to the public not “to read too much” into Lim’s resignation other than what he had already explained.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Lim attended the Cabinet meeting at the Palace on Friday and shared light moments with the other members of the official family.

Valte said the resignation came as a surprise to many of the Cabinet officials “and I did see (Labor) Secretary Linda Baldoz in particular who went up to Secretary Lim and said a few words and tapped him in the shoulder.”

Valte said Lim was willing to stay on until his replacement was named but sources explained Malacañang decided to confirm the news when it had already spread in the media.

While reported to be one of the President’s “headaches,” Lim said he thought otherwise by citing his achievements during his brief term as tourism chief.

Valte said the next tourism chief would build on what Lim had institutionalized.

Lim found himself mired in controversy following the “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” branding fiasco.

The DOT also came under intense pressure to promote the country as a premier tourist spot following the Aug. 23 hostage crisis in Manila where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed.

Lim said the reason for his resignation was personal, as he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Lim said there was so much that needed to be done and that he caught the ire of some tourism groups, losing contractors and even those opposing the pocket open skies policy during his term, thus making it more difficult for him to perform his duties.

Achievements

A DOT consultant said Lim’s support for the open skies policy had enabled the country to catch up with its Asian neighbors.

Lawyer Jose Claro Tesoro said the open skies policy had increased the number of flights from foreign carriers to the country, bringing in more foreign travelers and resulted in a dramatic drop in airfares.

Valte, on the other hand, also noted Lim’s achievements as DOT secretary.

She said Lim had implemented a number of reforms in the DOT that boosted tourism in the country.

Valte said Lim knew all along that his job as tourism chief would entail a lot of traveling.

“Secretary Lim has been ready for that. But I think more than anything else it was really the time away from his family that has been taking a toll (on him),” Valte said.

“As he said he didn’t want to let the quality of work suffer because he wanted to spend more time with his family and in the end... Secretary Lim made a choice,” she said.

Asked whether Malacañang considered Lim’s resignation as a bad sign in terms of how the President was handling his Cabinet, Valte said she did not think so.

“We are not reading too much into what has happened. We believe Secretary Lim when he says that he wants to spend more time with his family and that is basically understandable. And I don’t believe there’s anything much to talk about apart from who will replace him,” Valte said.

She gave assurance that “certainly, somebody who is equally qualified and equally competent will take over as Secretary Lim’s successor.”

At the same time, Valte said calls to abolish the tourism department were baseless.

She said the proposal would not be feasible because tourism is an industry.

“Tourism is not just about branding, it’s not just about enticing tourists to come here but it also involved building on the infrastructure that we have,” she said.

Valte said there must be coordination among agencies like the DOT, public works and highways, transportation and communications and trade and industry in making sure that tourism would flourish in the country. - With Sheila Crisostomo, Celso Amo