COA reviewing $2-million tourism project

MANILA, Philippines — Upon the request of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, the Commission on Audit (COA) has started reviewing the $2-million “World’s Strongest Man” project of former tourism secretary Wanda Teo. 

“Yung World’s Strongest Man project hindi lang ako comportable sa $2-million contract. Normally, ang contract should not be in dollars, kasi, diba nagpa-fluctuate yun, like now tumaas (I am not comfortable with the $2-million ‘World’s Strongest Man’ project. Normally, a contract should not be in dollars as the value of the currency fluctuates, like now),” Puyat said. 

She added that she was not comfortable with the project’s terms of reference but did not elaborate.

Puyat, who was yesterday’s guest at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum hosted by The STAR’s associate editor Marichu Villanueva, said that the Department of Tourism (DOT) has already paid 50 percent of the project. 

Aside from Teo, “World’s Strongest Man” was also spearheaded by DOT Undersecretary Kat de Castro, who continues to report to work despite Puyat’s calls for her resignation.

De Castro was not available for comment yesterday as she was in a meeting, according to her staff.

Puyat previously told The STAR that De Castro had already tendered her resignation to President Duterte, who has yet to issue his decision on the matter. 

The DOT hosted the 41st World Strongest Man competition in various locations from April 28 to May 6, weeks before Teo resigned. 

De Castro previously said the project, which aims to promote the country’s sports tourism sector, was participated in by 30 “strongest men” from other parts of the world.

The 30 participants competed against each other in a 16-course event, including the pulling of a truck or an airplane, carrying a refrigerator, lifting an Atlas stone weighing more than 1,000 pounds and hoisting huge logs, the DOT said. 

“Game of Thrones” actor Hafthor Bjornsson won the title, besting 29 others.   

Puyat said the country’s tourism can be promoted in so many other ways without spending so much. 

She added that she would want DOT officials involved in anomalies to be held accountable even after their resignation, if found liable by the COA.

“I leave it up to the COA to decide. I need an agency to tell me kung tama or mali kasi baka mali ang pananaw ko (I need an agency to tell me whether or not my point of view is right),” she said. 

Puyat said she is working closely with the COA as well as the Office of the Solicitor General and the ombudsman on questionable projects.