President appoints new PTA head

President Estrada appointed yesterday former journalist Nixon Kua as the new general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA). He will be assuming the post from former PTA general manager and presidential assistant for political affairs Lito Banayo. The President appointed Kua, an incumbent PTA director, in order to ensure the continuation and implementation of several PTA projects which support the Estrada administration’s vision of promoting the Philippines as a primary tourism destination. These include the Luneta Boardwalk, Boracay Environmental Infrastructure Project (BEIP), Giant Clam reseeding and propagation and coral reef rehabilitation in the Hundred Islands National Park, the construction of restrooms and viewdecks along tourism highways as well as the implementation of plans and programs for the beautification and maintenance of all roads leading to the domestic and international airports in Metro Manila, to name a few.

Prior to his appointment, Kua served as the general manager of the Strategic Investment Development Corp. (SIDCOR) and chairman of the National Agribusiness Corp. (NABCOR). He was a journalist for nearly 20 years and was the Philippine STAR’s airport senior reporter before he joined the government service in 1998. He also worked with the Manila Standard, Philippine Tribune, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Tempo.