New DOT head Bernadette Romulo-Puyat: Ang bilin ni Presidente, walang corruption

Newly appointed Department of Tourism head Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Wednesday said President Rodrigo Duterte just had one instruction or bilin for her: to ensure there is no corruption in the DOT.

"Ang bilin lang sa akin ni Presidente when he offered it and then I accepted, sabi niya, 'Congratulations! Ang gusto ko lang, walang corruption. No corruption,'" she said in an interview on Unang Balita.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go on Tuesday confirmed that Agriculture Undersecretary Romulo-Puyat was picked to head the DOT and take over the post vacated by Wanda Tulfo-Teo. Teo resigned from her post amid the controversy caused by the airing of tourism campaign advertisements in the television show of her brothers on state-run Philippine Television Network Inc. (PTV).

Romulo-Puyat said President Rodrigo Duterte is confident that she will continue the legacy of her father, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, whose name has not been tainted with corruption. He also mentioned Romulo-Puyat's own service in government for 12 years. "'Tatlong Presidente ka na, walang bahid ng korupsiyon,'" she quoted Duterte.

The new DOT chief said she did not believe Duterte at first when he offered the post to her on Tuesday. 

"Kahapon may meeting po kami with the President sa Malacañang pero ang pinag-uusapan po namin was agriculture. Trabaho kasi, normal trabaho. Trabaho pinag-uusapan namin. Tapos biglang binanggit niya na, 'Uy, alam mo bang nag-resign si Secretary Teo?... O gusto mo ba? Kasi bagay sa 'yo. Your credentials speak for yourself. Ang tagal mo na sa DA (Department of Agriculture). I think it's about time,' sabi niya," Romulo-Puyat said.

She added that she did not want to believe Duterte at first, thinking he was just joking since he said it so casually.

The next thing she knew, Duterte went to former senator Serge Osmeña who was in the other room with Go, and the President said, "Serge, I want you to meet the new DOT secretary."

"Tapos si SAP Bong Go, sabi, 'Ma'm, congratulations! Bagay sa 'yo.' Ayoko maniwala. Ang feeling ko, niloloko nila akong tatlo, honestly," Romulo-Puyat said.

She said she did not want to think about it until Go commented on a post she made on Facebook, and wrote "Congratulations." 

Go then broke the news to Palace reporters.

Romulo-Puyat said she is still overwhelmed with the appointment since she did not expect it, nor did she ask for it.

"Siyempre, overwhelmed. At the same time, dahil matagal na naming partner ang Department of Tourism, marami na kaming projects with the Department of Tourism, ang trabaho, patuloy lamang," she said.

Romulo-Puyat said she is looking forward to working with the DOT people. "Marami rin naman na nakatrabaho ako doon na career naman at napaka-professional ng mga taga-DOT. I've been working with them for the past five years. 'Yung mga career, napakagaling," she added.

The new DOT chief is also optimistic about this year's gastronomy congress Madrid Fusion Manila.

As for hosting the Miss Universe pageant, Romulo-Puyat said she will see first how far the preparations have been done.

With regards to Boracay, on the other hand, she said the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are in charge of the closure and rehabilitation of the paradise destination. "We will leave it up to them," she said.

Romulo-Puyat said she will still report to the DA for work as undersecretary until her oath taking as new DOT secretary. —KG, GMA News