Gordon named tourism secretary

Former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chief Richard Gordon is the new secretary of tourism while a career executive has been named to head the National Economic and Deve-lopment Authority (NEDA).

President Arroyo continued filling up her Cabinet yesterday, promoting deputy director general Dante Canlas to the top post of the NEDA, the country’s top economic planning agency responsible for big-ticket projects.

Meanwhile, former Health Undersecretary Susan Mercado, the wife of Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, was forced to decline her nomination as chief of the Department of Health because of protests by DOH workers.

The new head of the Department of Tourism (DOT) was mayor of Olongapo City before he was appointed SBMA chairman by former President Fidel Ramos.

Under Gordon’s stewardship, the Subic freeport gained an image of efficiency both here and abroad and increased Gordon’s political stock as a potential candidate for president in 1998.

But he withdrew his candidacy as it became evident that Joseph Estrada, of whom he was highly critical, would win the election.

Estrada, whom Gordon prevented from campaigning in Olongapo City, retaliated upon his assumption to office by sacking Gordon from the SBMA and replacing him with an archrival, former Bataan Rep. Felicito Payumo.

Gordon’s experience in promoting foreign investment in the country is expected to boost the tourism industry which has been adversely affected by the recent Asian financial crisis and, more recently, by the peace and order situation.

Aside from the peace and order situation, the new DOT chief will also be confronted by the politically sensitive "open skies" issue that perennially rocks the local tourism industry.

On other economic appointments, the Palace announced the appointment of Canlas as NEDA director general even as Mrs. Arroyo’s economic team went out of its way to suggest stability in economic policy.

Finance Secretary Alberto Romulo yesterday announced the retention of National Treasurer Leonor Briones who, as chairman of the activist group Freedom from Debt Coalition, was a legislative consultant to then-senator Romulo.

Romulo also named several candidates to head the agencies under his supervision.

For the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Romulo identified the top candidates as lawyer-accountant Cora de la Paz and incumbent BIR Deputy Commissioner Rene Ybañez.

For the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Romulo said former commissioner Willy Parayno and incumbent deputy commissioner Titus Villanueva are the two names being considered.

Earlier appointments

In other appointments, DOH Undersecretary Susan Pineda has withdrawn her name for consideration for the top DOH post as workers continued to picket and protest her appointment as health secretary.

Pineda was tagged as Mrs. Arroyo’s choice as secretary of health but the Palace has not released an official announcement.

"There’s no need for ‘Oust Susie’ rallies at the DOH because I already tendered my resignation and have no aspirations for the top post," Mercado said.

About 200 members of the Alliance of Health Workers protested her appointment due to her alleged role in the issuance of Executive Order 102, which they claim would threaten health workers and poor patients.

Meanwhile, Sen. Raul Roco said he would assume the post of education secretary only after the Senate has approved the General Appropriations Act for 2001.

"For one, I still have to divest myself of some business involvements," Roco said.

But when he does assume office, he stressed that reduction of graft and corruption would be his top priority.

"We should stop graft and corruption once and for all. We must strengthen values," he said. "DECS is not just about books or building schools or hiring teachers. It is building spiritual, cultural infrastructure of the Filipino character."

Roco vowed not to use the luxury vehicles that were purchased by the DECS using a controversial P12-million donation from the Land Bank of the Philippines.

He also intends to speed up the release of teachers’ salaries by releasing them through banks. — With reports from Efren Danao, Marichu Villanueva, Wilfredo Suarez