Actor Cesar Montano has officially resigned as chief operating officer of the Tourism Promotions Board (TBP).
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat had accepted Montano’s resignation amid controversies facing TPB, including the questioned P80-million funding for the Buhay Carinderia culinary tourism project.
The DOT Secretary on Thursday said she has stopped all lined up events and projects of TPB for 2018 and 2019.
A memorandum instructing the agency to submit list and status of TPB’s ongoing projects was sent to Montano’s office on May 17.
On the same day, the tourism head immediately endorsed the review to the Commission on Audit (COA).
“Let’s leave it to the COA,” she said.
The review was requested after questions were raised on TPB’s PHP80 million payment to the Filipino food tourism project in just one month.
Romulo-Puyat confirmed that the first tranche of payment for PHP320-million project was already received by the project proponent, Marylindbert International Inc.
She found out that Buhay Carinderia did not undergo a proper bidding, but through sponsorship, which was explained to her as a “common practice” at the TPB.
When called to explain, Montano pointed out that the project was approved by the board.
