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Romulo-Puyat is new Tourism chief

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/05/08/tourism-2-2018-2018-050818.jpg"/><figcaption>Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Pinol and DA Undersecretary for Administration, Agribusiness and Regional Engagement Bernadette Romulo-Puyat view the live demonstration of Mandaya weavers of Davao Oriental on the sidelines of the 30th ASEAN Summit on April 26, 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center.<em> Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA <strong>(5th UPDATE) </strong>- President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as the new head of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Special Assistant to the President Bong Go said Tuesday.</p><p>Romulo-Puyat replaces former Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, who quit her post following a scandal over the P60-million placement of tourism ads on the television show of her brothers. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/08/18/wanda-teo-resigns-as-tourism-chief">Wanda Teo resigns as Tourism chief</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Video_Widget_1_Container"><ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Video_Widget_1" allow="autoplay" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-wid="f5fb7bd1-3880"></ivs-player><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Romulo-Puyat is a daughter of former Senator and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo.</p><p>She is also a grandniece of Carlos P. Romulo, the first Asian president of the United Nations General Assembly and the great-granddaughter of Pio Valenzuela, the man whom Valenzuela City is named after, according to <a href="https://lifestyle.asiandragonmagazine.com/2015/10/10/mayor-dutertes-ideal-first-lady-is">Asian Dragon magazine</a>.</p><p>Romulo-Puyat is the sister-in-law of Shalani Soledad-Romulo, and widow of the late lawyer David Puyat. </p><p>She has an undergraduate and master&#x27;s degree in economics from the University of the Philippines.</p><p>She has been serving under the agriculture department since the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/trending/05/08/romulo.jpg"/><figcaption>Incoming Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (2nd from left) with Department of Agriculture officials and President Rodrigo Duterte. <em>Department of Agriculture handout/file photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>She is among the favorite women of the president.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/07/17/watch-duterte-jokes-about-being-distracted-by-da-execs-legs">WATCH: Duterte jokes about being &#x27;distracted&#x27; by DA exec&#x27;s legs</a></li></ul><p>Last year, President Duterte drew laughter from his Palace audience after he joked about being “distracted” by Romulo-Puyat&#x27;s legs while he was giving a speech. </p><p>“Berna, nadis-distract ako, you close your legs. National TV &#x27;no. Nakikinig pa ba ang papa mo?” Duterte said in a speech in Malacanang. </p><p>The president has previously expressed his fondness for the mestiza widow. </p><p>In an interview with Asian Dragon magazine in 2015 when he was still weighing whether to run for president, then-Mayor Duterte said, “Election or no election, Berna remains to be my ideal first lady...She’s one person I’m proud of showing to the world.”<strong> - with reports from Dexter Ganibe and Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>MANILA (5th UPDATE) - President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as the new head of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Special Assistant to the President Bong Go said Tuesday.</p>

MANILA (5th UPDATE) - President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as the new head of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Special Assistant to the President Bong Go said Tuesday.