Make-up artist, utility clerk join DOT chief overseas

MANILA, Philippines — Following Malacañang’s guidelines on travels abroad of government workers in the executive department issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea last Jan. 3, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo’s overseas trips are now public. 

Among her traveling companions were her personal make-up artist and office clerks.

Documents obtained by The STAR showed that Department of Tourism employees joined Teo in her 2016 and 2017 trips to Dubai, Italy, UK, Russia, Japan, US and Canada “to attend international travel fairs and conduct inventory of DOT foreign offices.” 

In August last year, Teo visited Canada as she attended the Philippine Tapestry Gala Night of the Mabuhay Philippines Festival and launched the “Bring Home a Friend campaign” last December in South Korea. 

To accompany Teo in Dubai, travel orders were issued to utility workers Allan Alcid of the office of the secretary, Lia Insigne of the general services department of the records section and clerk Butch Berrei of the secretary’s office. 

Also traveling with Teo in her domestic and international trips was Angelito Ucol, the DOT secretary’s make-up artist,  along with her assistant Marinela Miranda.

Agustina Isip, the DOT’s internal auditor, was issued a travel order for a trip from Dubai to London, while Irene Hamias of the records section traveled to China. Utility worker Tonton Tabanera of the financial management services office flew to Taiwan. 

Messenger Marcelino Medina of the general service department traveled with the DOT group to Japan; Claudette Maximo, cashier, to Italy; and supply officer Felix Maximo to China.

Drivers Michael Buenaventura and Pacifico Dolfo of DOT assistant secretary Arlene Mancao’s office, utility worker Lourdes Ocsan of the office of the secretary, clerk Nilo David of the accounting office and Ma. Cristina Isorena of the legislative liaison office experienced riding a ship of Star Cruises, the 18th largest cruise line in the world.

The clerk of undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr., Exequiel Erfelo, joined the DOT’s trip to Cambodia while Nanette Saludo, executive assistant of the office of the secretary, traveled to Japan.

Jennifer Olba, officer-in-charge of the legal department, went on several trips abroad with composite teams of the department. 

Dex Gillesamia, internal auditor, went to Russia and the UK in a composite team; Aida Soriano, chief accountant, joined Teo in her trip to France, the UK, Japan and the US; Gary Politico, financial management staff, visited Italy and the US, while bookkeepers Cris Agustin and Anna Alfonso, both from the budget division, traveled to Japan. 

Bookkeepers Ana Malay and Lagrimas Campos traveled to Japan and the UK, respectively. 

During the DOT’s trip to Sydney for an inventory of its office, Teo took along her legal assistant Cheryl Regala, Vangie Evangelista, administrative officer; Erwin Umandal, data controller; Mayen Padilla, administrative officer; and Allen Ual, utility worker of the general services department. 

Manjune Garduque, division chief of internal audit and president of the department’s employees association, joined the DOT’s trip to the US and Australia. 

After the suspension of Maritime Industry Authority administrator Marcial Amaro III and Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor chairman Terry Ridon, Teo reportedly ordered a stop to the travel orders and focused on promoting the domestic tourism industry.