(Eagle News) — Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo has reshuffled officials in the Department of Tourism, the first major one since she took the helm of the agency in 2016.
In a statement on Monday, Teo said reshuffled were 22 DOT directors and five officers-in-charge.
Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre, who was assigned to the Office for Public Affairs, Communications and Special Projects, was among those reassigned.
He is now assigned to the Legislative Liaison Unit of the DOT.
“I decided to exercise my prerogative to reassign (them) 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,” Teo said.
She said the reshuffle is also “designed to promote managerial potentials and versatility, as well as reawaken their passion for our line of work.”
According to Teo, those who were “reassigned to another geographic location who do not own houses therein shall be provided free quarters within the DOT offices premises, if available.”
“Otherwise, the said official shall be provided the money equivalent not exceeding what is currently authorized in accordance with existing regulations for the payment of rentals of quarters, subject to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations,” she said.
She said those officials who “will opt for more expensive quarters beyond the authorized amount, such preferred quarters may be secured provided that the difference in amount shall be shouldered by the concerned official.”