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Today’s front page, Thursday, May 9, 2024

Mark Lapid appointed to Tieza board; C.O.O. post in the works

• Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo
• January 8, 2021
• 3 minute read

ACTOR Mark T. Lapid is making a comeback to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), five years after he resigned as its chief operating officer to make a senatorial run.

Lapid was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of Tieza by President Duterte, in a January 5, 2021 letter,  a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror. Per the letter, Lapid will “serve the unexpired Term of Office that began on 01 July 2020 and will end on 30 June 2021, vice Pocholo Joselito D. Paragas.”

Lapid is expected to be elected by the Tieza board as its COO, which Paragas vacated in November 2020 for personal reasons. Its current officer-in-charge is lawyer Joy D. Bulauitan, who is also Assistant COO for Administration and Finance.

“It’s a political appointment,” said one government source, implying it was made as an accommodation to Lapid’s father, Senator Lito Lapid.

Another government source explained, “There is a procedure for installation of CEOs/COOs of  GOCCs (government-owned and -controlled corporations). First, he has to be appointed as board member by OP (Office of the President), take his oath as such, then once he is board member, he will be elected as COO by the board member [upon the desire letter issued by the OP].”

The Tieza board has yet to schedule a meeting to elect Lapid as its COO, although his letter of appointment to the board has already been received by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat and the board’s corporate secretary. “He has yet to take his oath [as Tieza board member],” before the President or Romulo Puyat, according to government sources.

COA flagged irregularities

The younger Lapid was appointed as acting general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority, the forerunner of Tieza, then elected as Tieza COO on February 22, 2010, then reappointed in February 2014; and  stayed at his post just before he made his senatorial run.

During his tenure as Tieza COO, the Commission of Audit (COA) flagged some questionable transactions funded by the agency as these projects were not related to tourism, leading to the issuance of three censures.

Despite these “misdeeds,” former Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim told ANC in an interview on August 2011 that President Benigno S. Aquino III failed to take action versus Lapid because “there are other considerations, bigger political considerations and to time it properly. I understand. There’s much bigger fish to catch.”

Also, published reports then said the Aquino administration needed the elder Lapid’s vote in a bill postponing the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

In an interview with this paper shortly after taking over Lim’s post at the helm of the DOT in October 2011, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. clarified there were no issues of fund irregularities with regard to the COA’s report on Lapid.

“The problems are administrative; we’re not talking here of somebody stealing money, and that’s why, in fact, he was sanctioned. Certain movements have been restricted already,” Jimenez stressed.

Controlling a largesse

Among the transactions questioned by COA in its annual reports of PTA/Tieza under Lapid’s helm were the construction of a tourism information center in Pasig, a performing arts facility in Parañaque, alleged ghost deliveries for a sanitation project on Boracay Island, and financial aid and sponsorships for golf tournaments, beauty contests, festivals, among others.

In May 2018, Lapid and other DOT officials also faced a complaint before the Ombudsman for the P300-million water supply and sewerage contract in Boracay.

Tieza is among the controversial government corporations due to the largesse it normally controls from the collection of travel taxes, of which half goes to the GOCC. At one point, Tieza had amassed some P14 billion, incurring the ire of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III for the agency’s slow utilization of funds.

During the bicameral conference committee meetings on Bayanihan 2, legislators fought over the allocation of funds to the tourism sector, with a group of House members demanding that the stimulus funds be put under Tieza, for infrastructure projects, instead of working capital loans and other subsidies for affected tourism stakeholders.

The younger Lapid, running on a tourism platform, lost his senatorial bid in 2016. He also tried to run as mayor of Porac, Pampanga, in 2019, but lost to an independent candidate. He was governor of Pampanga from June 30, 2004, to 2007.

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Duterte names Mark Lapid TIEZA COO

Actor and politician Mark Lapid is coming back to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

In a letter dated January 5, 2021, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea informed TIEZA’s Board of Directors that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved Lapid’s —the son of Senator Lito Lapid —nomination as chief operating officer of the Department of Tourism-attached agency.

The younger Lapid will serve the unexpired term of Pocholo Paragas, who resigned in November last year, until June 30, 2021.

He first held the position during the Arroyo administration, when the agency was known as Philippine Tourism Authority and, again, during the Aquino administration.

In 2016, Lapid vacated the post to make way for his failed senatorial bid. He was the governor of the province of Pampanga from 2004 to 2007.

Lapid's appointment was confirmed and welcomed by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

According to Roque, the appointment boded well for the recovery and growth of the tourism industry.

“Tourism is one of the most important sectors of our economy, and the appointment of Mr. Lapid, who is no stranger to TIEZA, augurs well in contributing to the recovery and growth of tourism, which has been affected by the pandemic,” he said.

“Welcome back to TIEZA, Mr. Lapid,” he added. — Joahna Lei Casilao/ LBG, GMA News

Tourism Infrastructure & Enterprise Zone Authority

• location_city Profile
• gavel Governing Board
• account_balance Mandate
• done_all Performance Evaluation System PES

Pursuant to Presidential Decree (PD) No. 189, the Philippine Tourism Authority was created on 1973 together with the Department of Tourism. The Authority was organized to implement the policies and programs of the Department of Tourism on project development, collect travel taxes, undertake development of tourist attractions, among others. In 1974, PD 564 restructured and strengthened the powers of the Authority.

In 2009, the Authority was reorganized as the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) with the powers to designate, regulate and supervise the Tourism Economic Zones (TEZs) established under the Act, as well as develop, manage and supervise tourism infrastructure projects in the country. It was directed to supervise and regulate the cultural, economic and environmentally sustainable development of TEZs toward the primary objective of encouraging investments. TIEZA was also vested the power to impose penalties for failure or refusal of the tourism enterprises to comply with the approved development plan.

Among the establishments that TIEZA manages and operates are the following:

• Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel
• Club Intramuros Golf Course
• Rizal Lights and Sounds Museum
• Balicasag Island Dive Resort
• Gardens of Malasag Mountain Resort
• Zamboanga Golf Course and Beach Park.

Enabling Laws

Presidential Decree 189 (1973)

Presidential Decree 564 (1974)

Republic Act No. 9593 (2009)

To contribute to national tourism development goals and showcase Philippine culture by designating, supervising, and regulating sustainable Tourism Enterprise Zones; undertaking viable Tourism Infrastructure Projects; and managing assets.

By 2026, TIEZA is a globally recognized tourism development agency and a primary catalyst for inclusive and sustainable socio-economic growth.

Updated as of 08 May 2024

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Tourism industry seen to be back to normal in 2024 – TIEZA

MANILA, Philippines — The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) chief on Thursday said that “normalcy” in tourism – based on travel – could only likely happen in 2024.

TIEZA chief operating officer Pocholo Paragas said during House deliberations on the proposed 2021 budget of the Department of Tourism (DOT) that recovery for the tourism industry will possibly happen from 2021 up to 2023.

TIEZA is a Government Owned and Controlled Corporation attached to DOT.

“As to the projection in tourism, based on travel, it will start to recover within 2021, 2022, 2023. But normalcy is projected in 2024,” Paragas told lawmakers.

Paragas made the remark after Samar 2nd Dist. Rep. Sharee Ann Tan asked the TIEZA head about the construction of a boardwalk along San Juanico Bridge that was suspended due to the pandemic.

Tan asked whether the construction of the boardwalk would continue once the coronavirus pandemic dissipates since its funding have been realigned for the government’s COVID-19 response.

“We have the lights doon sa San Juanico Bridge, pagdating na magiging normal na lahat, mag-iinflux ‘yung mga turista, kailangan talaga ng boardwalk kasi doon kikita ‘yung people’s organization and the community,” she said.

“I would like to ask if it’s possible by next year, mapopondohan natin ‘yung hindi natuloy na project for the boardwalk?” Tan asked.

Paragas replied by saying that TIEZA has already created a program that would roll out projects that have been suspended due to the pandemic.

“In terms of the boardwalk, it is currently suspended now due to the Bayanihan Act. And once we get the influx of travel tax again and tourism again increases outbound-wise, naka-schedule na siya,” he said.

“The moment we get already the projects that travel tax increases, the suspended projects will automatically roll over,” he added.

The DOT is proposing a total budget of P3.8 billion for 2021.

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