Contrary to reports that she was on floating status, Undersecretary Kat De Castro continues to stay with the Department of Tourism (DOT) in charge of national parks.
This was confirmed by newly-appointed Tourism Secretary Berna Puyat, who told Senate reporters on Tuesday, 鈥淪he鈥檚 an undersecretary but she鈥檚 now in charge of the parks, national parks, Intramuros, so she can continue with that.鈥�
鈥淏ut the official Spokesperson is Bong Benzon because he鈥檚 been there for 32 years. I wanted my spokesperson to be a senior official,鈥� she said.
She was referring to Benito Bengzon Jr., Undersecretary for tourism and development planning, whom she designated as the agency鈥檚 spokesman.
搁贰础顿:听Tourism chief picks Bengzon as DOT spokesperson
Pressed if De Castro was not on floating status, Puyat repeated her response: 鈥淪he鈥檚 still doing her job, she鈥檚 handling the parks, Intramuros, she鈥檚 still doing it. Ang spokesperson lang, it鈥檚 Bong Benzon,鈥� the DoT chief said.
Puyat said De Castro also denied talks that the latter鈥檚 firm had cornered some government contracts.
鈥淚 leave it up to the proper authorities to decide on mga contracts na sinasabi,鈥� Puyat said.
Until now, Puyat said De Castro鈥檚 performance and that of other undersecretaries and assistant secretaries remained under review .
Puyat said she would leave it up to De Castro to decide if she still wants to stay with the agency.
鈥淏aka naman ayaw na rin nya sa akin di ba..? Baka gusto na rin nyang lumipat, it鈥檚 up to her,鈥� Puyat said.
Asked about other issues in the agency, she said she would rather focus on her work and should she discover any irregularities, she would just 鈥渜uietly鈥� report it to the Commission on Audit.聽 /vvp