BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. welcomed the appointment of Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as the secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Romulo-Puyat was an Agriculture undersecretary before President Rodrigo Duterte appointed her in her new post.
“I’m honored and overwhelmed that he (Duterte) actually thought of me and thought of getting me in this position. I will not disappoint him,” said Romulo-Puyat in a television interview.
The appointment came after Wanda Tulfo-Teo resigned as DOT chief on Monday amid the agency’s controversial ad contract with PTV-4.
According to Marañon, Romulo-Puyat will help the province promote its agritourism since she is an advocate of organic agriculture.
Marañon said Romulo-Puyat is “very bright and smart” with a “very long experience in government service.”
Romulo-Puyat said she will focus on farm tourism while being the DOT chief.
“We’ve been working with the Department of Tourism and we’ve been working with them with regard to farm tourism, might as well continue it,” she said. “We should continue what programs are already working and what I’m familiar with.”
On the other hand, Marañon said the influx of tourists in Negros Occidental had increased days after Boracay’s closure.
He cited that the direct flights from Cebu to Sipalay City in the southern part of the province have increased.
Sipalay City is known for its white-sand beach resorts and diving sites.Aside from these, Negros Occidental also hostsvarious mountain and farm resorts./PN
