164.TOUCHDOWN @ DOT RO2
Bound for Isabela province aboard on a bus after the Yuletide break, I received
a viber message yesterday night from the Department of Tourism (DOT) Central
Office asking me when will I officially report in my new assignment. I
responded stating that I would after the oath-taking on the 11th of January. I
was informed that the oath is only ceremonial and I have to report immediately
or an OIC would be appointed to fill up the gap. This morning, I arrived at DOT
Regional Office 2 (RO2) at the Regional Government Center (RGC) in Carig Sur in
the capital-city of Tuguegarao, Cagayan and was met by the personnel including
GIPs and OJTs. After the staff meeting, I started asking questions on who were
the past Regional Directors (RD) of DOT Cagayan Valley. I was given some data
on the background of the office and this led me in instructing the installation
of the likeness of all five RDs at the conference room.
DOT is my eighth office (OP-NYC, Philippine Senate, LGU Cabatuan, DENR-OSEC
& CARP, PA-OFC, PLGU-PPDO & PLGU-ITO & IML) in my almost 27 years
in public service and it is important that I know the background of my new assignment
to make sure that the mission, vision and goals are attained. Searching the net
reveals: In 1950, the Philippine Tourist & Travel Association was organized
started as a private initiative to promote the Philippines as a major travel
destination. In 1956, the Board of Travel and Tourist Industry was created by
Congress. In 1972, as stipulated in the Integrated Reorganization Plan
sanctioned as a law under Presidential Decree No. 2, as amended, the Department
of Trade and Tourism was established, reorganizing the then Department of
Commerce and Industry. A Philippine Tourism Commission was created under the
unified Trade and Tourism Department to oversee the growth of the tourism
industry as a source of economic benefit for the country.
On May 11, 1973, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 189, the Department of
Tourism was created and functioned as the policy, planning, programming,
coordinating and administrative entity of the Executive Branch of the
government in the development of the tourism industry, both domestic and
international. The attached agencies, Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) and
the Philippine Convention Bureau (PCB) were also created. On June 2, 1978,
Presidential Decree No. 1397 renamed the Departments to Ministries. On January
30, 1987, pursuant to Executive Order No. 120, the department was reorganized
structurally and functionally and the name was reverted to Department. The PCB
was renamed the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation, and the
Intramuros Administration was attached. Included in the reorganization was the
establishment of regional offices.
On May 22, 1991, the first office space of the Department of Tourism, Regional
Office 2 was situated at the second floor of the Tuguegarao Supermarket
Building at the corner of Gonzaga and Bonifacio Streets, now Mall of the
Valley, with Ms. Conchita “Ching” Tagayun Guzman-Santos (1937-1994) of
Tuguegarao, Cagayan as the first Regional Director. RD Santos was the
Provincial Tourism Officer of Cagayan before her appointment and the first
employees of the department were: Mr. Celso P. Turingan (from PIA), Ms.
Carmelita Baquiran (from NEDA), Ms. Lolita Miguel (from DAR), Mr. Carlito S.
Reyes, Ms. Rosario R. Santos and Ms. Kathleen A. Flores.
On the fateful day of July 27, 1994, RD Santos died in office after the Cessna
plane she was boarding crashed in the Sierra Mountain Range in the area of
Susong Dalaga in Divilacan town in coastal Isabela. RD Santos served under two
Philippine Presidents (Aquino & Ramos) and three DOT Secretaries (Alunan,
Lim & Carlos).
Mr. Celso Padama Turingan, Supervising Tourism Operations Officer, assumed as
Office-in-Chage (OIC) from 1994 to 1997.
On July 7, 1997, Ms. Blessida “Bless” Madriaga Garcia-Diwa (1955-2020) of
Tuguegarao, Cagayan was appointed Regional Director and assumed office on the
29th. In 2005, the DOT RO2 transferred its office at No. 29-A, Rizal Street
also in Tuguegarao. In 2013, through the gigantic efforts of RD Diwa, a
permanent single-level building office was erected at a lot assigned to DOT at
the RGC in Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
On June 30, 2014, RD Diwa retired from public service. She served for 17 years
under four Presidents (Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo & Aquino) and nine
Secretaries (Gabor, Cruz-Araneta, Gordon, Barbers, Pagdanganan, Pantig, Durano,
Lim & Jimenez) - the longest RD who served in the DOT RO2 so far.
Ms. Josefa Guzman Mallabo, Supervising Tourism Operations Officer and Ms. Lelia
Mabborang Escobar-Blancaflor, Senior Tourism Operations Officers, alternately
served as OIC from July to December of the same year until Ms. Blancaflor
solely assumed as OIC for a year from January 1 to December 31, 2015.
On December 8, 2015, Mr. Virgilio “Vir” Macababbad Maguigad of Tuguegarao City,
Cagayan was appointed and assumed office on January 1, 2016 until he was
assigned at the DOT Central Office as Director for Tourism Standards and
Regulation on July 16, 2020. RD Maguigad served under two Presidents (Aquino
& Duterte) and three Secretaries (Jimenez, Tulfo-Teo & Romulo-Puyat).
Ms. Fanibeth “Beth” Genato Tubangi-Domingo, Chief Tourism Operations Officer
and also a resident of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, was appointed as OIC. On July
16, 2021, she was eventually appointed as Regional Director and functioned up
to December 31, 2022. RD Domingo served under two Presidents (Duterte &
Marcos) and two Secretaries (Romulo-Puyat & Frasco).
On August 17, 2022, DOT Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina Garcia Codilla-Frasco
endorsed to Malacañang my appointment as Regional Director. On October 19 of
the same year, His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. appointed me
as Director IV together with the other Directors of the Department. On December
14, also of the same year, I received a communication from the regional office of
my appointment including a copy of the Department Order. I am now the fifth RD
of DOT RO2 and the first non-resident of Tuguegarao City.
I will forever be grateful to the President, my Secretary and the great
gentlemen especially Governor Rodolfo T. Albano III, Vice Governor Faustino G.
Dy III, Congressman Antonio T. Albano, Congressman Faustino A. Dy V and Deputy
Speaker Vincent Franco D. Frasco of the 5th District of Cebu who trusted my
capability to lead and steer DOT Cagayan Valley Region. We will make sure to
encourage, promote, and develop tourism as a major socio-economic activity to
generate foreign currency and employment and to spread the benefits of tourism
to both the private and public sector and to put the Cagayan Valley and the
Northern Philippine Islands in the tourism map not only of the country but the
rest of the world.
Mabuhay ang TWOrismo Sa Lambak.
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