TOURISM Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco leads the ceremony honoring members of the Department of Tourism Foreign Offices on August 5 at the DOT Office in Makati City as part of the agency’s Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE).
DOT honors outstanding Foreign Office officers
MEMBERS of the Department of Tourism Foreign Offices were recognized in a special event organized in their honor on Monday (August 5) at the DOT Office in Makati City as part of the agency’s Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE).
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the ceremony, recognizing three outstanding Foreign Office officers for their invaluable service to the Department: Tourism Attaché Niel Ballesteros from the DOT Tokyo, Japan Office, for 35 years of service; Tourism Attaché Pura Molintas from the DOT Sydney, Australia Office, for 25 years of service; Administration Officer Gen Reños from the DOT San Francisco, USA Office, for 10 years of service.
Prior to the awarding ceremony, Secretary Frasco met with them following the Strategic Planning and Marketing Workshop for FY 2024 held last week.
The meeting discussed the Department’s policy direction, ongoing plans and programs of the foreign offices in their respective jurisdictions, and support from the Central Office and its attached agencies.
Frasco expressed her gratitude and admiration to the awardees and all foreign office officials for their hard work and dedication.
The tourism chief also thanked the officials for their creativity in keeping the Philippines a top of mind destination among tourists and tourism stakeholders in their jurisdictions.
“I know that it requires a lot of sacrifice on your end, especially being away from home. And so please accept my gratitude, salamat sa inyong tanan, for all the efforts, she added.
Also present at the meeting were Tourism Attachés Maria Corazon Jorda-Apo (South Korea), Erwin Balane (Beijing, China), Ireneo Reyes (Shanghai, China), Jerome Diaz (Osaka, Japan), Hazel Javier (Taiwan), Gerard Panga (United Kingdom), Dakila Gonzales (Germany), and Francisco Hilario Lardizabal (New York, USA).
DOT Central Office officials, including Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao, OIC Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso, Director Ina Zara-Loyola, and Head Executive Assistant Atty. Glenn Albert Ocampo also joined the meeting.
The PRAISE award honors officials and employees who have served the government continuously and satisfactorily for at least 10 years, recognize retirees, and provide incentives to employees who excel in self-improvement by completing courses or degrees.
