Former Gov. Mark Lapid named PTA general manager

Manila Bulletin

President Arroyo has appointed former Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid as general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA).

Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Joseph "Ace" H. Durano confirmed Lapid’s appointment after he received his appointment papers from Malacañang.

Durano was earlier appointed to the post in concurrent capacity after the term of Robert Dean Barbers expired last month. The post of general manager of the PTA carries a six-year term.

Lapid’s term will expire on April 5, 2014, or six years after the expiration of Barbers’ term last April 5, 2008.

Lapid is a son of Sen. Manuel "Lito" L. Lapid, and was governor of Pampanga until he ran and lost to Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio in the May 2007 elections.

Meanwhile, the justice committee of the Commission on Appointments (CA) recommended yesterday the confirmation of Raul M. Gonzalez as Department of Justice (DoJ) secretary before the bicameral commission adjourns sine die on June 13.

However, the CA bypassed Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes’ appointment.

Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson, CA justice committee chairman, recommended Gonzalez’s confirmation because of the good trait of the DoJ chief that he loves to work as shown by his tenacity and determination to go back to work after undergoing a kidney transplant last September.

Gonzalez has been bypassed 19 times by the CA in four years.

Reyes was bypassed after Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Jose "Jinggoy" E. Estrada managed to thwart his confirmation at the energy committee hearing of the CA yesterday.

The CA committee, headed by Sen. Richard J. Gordon, heeded the two senators’ argument that the committee members need a lengthy inquiry into Reyes’ competence to lead the energy department and into his alleged exorbitant travel expenses.