Saturday 13th August, 2011 (Source: Sun Star Daily)
WITH only three weeks in office, resigned Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim's replacement has yet to be identified even as several names have already been rumored to take the post.
Among those supposedly being considered are advertising executive Ramon Jimenez and President Benigno Aquino III’s party-mates in the Liberal Party who lost in the 2010 senatorial elections, former Muntinlupa representative Ruffy Biazon and former Akbayan party-list representative Risa Hontiveros. "I am not aware of them. As far as I’m concerned, they’re all rumors. I haven’t heard anything from the Office of the President. It wasn’t offered to me," Hontiveros told Sun.Star in a text message. Hontiveros occupied the 13th slot in the May polls.
Biazon, who fell two places short in the tally of senatorial votes, also denied the rumor. "The position has not been offered to me. From what I heard, there’s already a choice and it’s not me," he told Sun.Star in a text message.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the President needs more time to make his choice but said that the Palace is aware of the names being floated to replace Lim.
“Given a little bit more time, the President will make his choice and start the process for the next (Tourism Secretary). As soon as the President makes the decision, we will be able to announce…We are aware of the names being floated but at this point, we really cannot say for sure who will be Secretary Albert Lim’s successor. At this point, those are all speculations,” she said in government-run dzRB radio.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Lim announced that he has resigned from his post due to “personal reasons.” His resignation will take effect on August 31.
Valte said Lim has expressed willingness to extend his stay until Aquino has chosen his successor to allow a smoother transition of responsibilities to the new Tourism Secretary.
In a meeting held just after Lim announced his resignation, several Cabinet members expressed shock about the decision, Valte further said.
Lim is the third member of Aquino’s Cabinet to quit his post following the resignation of Transport Secretary Ping de Jesus and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo.
Lim has been rumored to be one of the three Cabinet members who were considered by President Aquino to be bearers of bad news.
“I think it was also evident that most of the Cabinet members were surprised to learn about Secretary Lim’s resignation. Most of them were really surprised that he had already resigned. In general, okay naman yung atmosphere (during the Cabinet meeting),” Valte said.
The Palace meanwhile rejected proposals to abolish the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Latvian Consul General Robert Lim Joseph, who earlier called for the resignation of Lim, suggested that the DOT be turned into a bureau under the Department of Trade and Industry.
"It’s a recognized field. Maling bagay yun. It should be accorded kung anong status niyan. While we recognize the role of the private sector but 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," Valte said.