(Eagle News) — Former Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat took her oath as the new Tourism secretary on Monday, May 14.
According to a news release from Malacanang, Romulo-Puyat was accompanied by her daughter and parents during the oath-taking ceremonies in the Palace that were not open for media coverage.
The ceremonies came hours after President Rodrigo Duterte skipped the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections because all the candidates, according to the President, were his friends and supporters.
“After the ceremony, President Duterte hosted a simple dinner for the newly appointed Tourism secretary and her family along with several guests at the President’s Hall,” the release said.
Romulo-Puyat is a daughter of former Senator Alberto Romulo.
She has been in government service since the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
She assumed the post of undersecretary for Administration, Agribusiness and Marketing, and Regional Engagement in the Department of Agriculture during the time of President Duterte.
Romulo-Puyat was named at the helm of the tourism department after Wanda Teo resigned over a P60-million advertisement placement deal red-flagged by the Commission on Audit.
The deal involved the placement of tourism advertisements in “Kilos Pronto,” the program produced by one of Teo’s brothers, Ben Tulfo.
The program is also anchored by her other brother, Erwin Tulfo.