New TIEZA chief named

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has appointed a lawyer as the new chief operations officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

The appointment of Vicente Bonaobra II was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. on Jan. 17. He will replace Mark Lapid, who served as chief of TIEZA for five years.

Bonaobra, 40, is expected to assume office this week.

An attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT), TIEZA is mandated to designate, regulate and supervise tourism enterprise zones established under Republic Act 9593.

Bonaobra served as legal officer of the Valenzuela City government from 2004 to 2011 before returning to private law practice as senior partner of the Bonaobra, Cortez and Robillos Law offices.

He took up AB Social Sciences at the University of the Philippines-Manila, and studied law at San Beda College and the University of the East. He passed the Bar in 2003 with a rating of 80 percent.