The sudden reassignment of Roberto “Robbie” Alabado III and 26 other officials of the Department of Tourism nationwide is a “prerogative” of Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo.
This was mentioned by Secretary Teo herself in an official statement she issued explaining the reshuffle the other day.
“I decided to exercise my prerogative to reassign 22 DOT Directors and five Officers-in-Charge, to posts where they would flourish, getting them out of their ‘comfort zone’ to widen opportunities and networks and to face new challenges towards higher creativity and innovation.”
From regional director of DOT 11, Alabado is reassigned to “Medical Tourism” in Teo’s reshuffle memorandum dated January 4, 2018.
The other 26 officials affected were: Nelly Dillera formerly regional director of Central Mindanao or Region 12 transferred to Eastern Visayas; Cynthia Lazo to National Capital Region; Venus Tan to Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Martin Valera (Ilocos Region); Virgilio Maguigad (Cagayan Region)’ Caroline Guzman-Uy (Central Luzon); Vernie Morales (Calabarzon); Rebecca Labit (MIMAROPA); Benjamin Santiago (Bicol); Helen Catalbas (Western Visayas); Shalimar Tamano (Central Visayas); Karina Rosa Tiopes (Zamboanga Region); Marie Unchuan (Northern Mindanao); Antonio Fernando Blanco (Southern Mindanao or Davao Region); Maria Rica Bueno (Central Mindanao); and Anan Nuguid (CARAGA Region).
Other directors given new assignments are: Danilo Intong to Office of Tourism Standards and Regulations; OIC Cathy Agustin to Office of Industry Manpower Development; Glen Agustin (Office of Market and Product Development); Czarina Loyola (Office of Tourism Development Planning, Research and Information Management and Public Advocacy and Communications); Myra Santos (Internal Audit Service) and Administrative Service); Gary Politico (Financial Management Service); Jennifer Olba (Legal Affairs Services); Milagros Say (Planning Service); Marrisa Diploma (Faith Tourism); Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre (Legislative Liaison Unit).
The reshuffle, Teo said, “is designed to promote managerial potentials and versatility as well as reawaken their passion for our line of work.”
“ The reassignment among the DOT officials also means we have risen to the occasion of greater task of elevating Philippine tourism at par to those of other countries,” she said.
“This is just one of the steps I will undertake to ensure that each of us will be on our toes in these critical times as we have set more ambitious targets for the coming years,” the DOT chief said.
“With the vision of realizing a truly sustainable and inclusive tourism program, I believe this new challenge should propel us to yet another record-breaking year for the Philippine tourism industry,” she said.
