ShareThisMANILA – Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim has resigned after the release of tourism videos for the “Pilipinas Tara Na” campaign under his department.
Lim cited his reason as personal for resigning after one year in office.
Sec. LIM
Lim thanked the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III for giving him the opportunity to serve the Filipino people as he announced his resignation as the head of the Tourism department.
Immediately, speculations were that advertising executive Ramon R. Jimenez who handled the advertising campaign of Aquino during the last presidential elections would be the next tourism secretary. The name of former party-list representative Riza Hontiveros who was a candidate for senator of Aquino is also being floated as possible Lim successor.
Jimenez is the founder and president of Winning Over Obstacles (WOO) Communications Corp., a marketing and media consultancy agency.
He and his wife Abby are also the founders of ad agencies Jimenez & Partners, Jimenez D’Arcy and Publicis JimenezBasic.
This developed as calls for the abolition of tourism department were aired by tourism leaders, saying it would better serve the country as a tourism bureau. The proposal, however, was shot down by Malacanang.
“I would like to announce that I have tendered my resignation as Secretary of Tourism and head of it’s attached agencies, effective August 31, 2011. The President has kindly accepted my resignation,” Lim said in Malacanang.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that President Aquino accepted on Monday the resignation of Lim.
Lim described his resignation as personal, saying that he would like to spend more time with his family. “My responsibilities require a great deal of travel and time away from my loved ones,” he said.
“I leave the President’s Cabinet gratified that I have laid the foundation for strong tourism growth, in keeping with the President’s vision of inclusive growth. I thank the President for the opportunity I was given to serve the Filipino people as a member of his Cabinet,” he stressed.
“I have undiminished hopes that the President will realize his vision for all our people. He has my very best wishes for the continued success of his presidency,” Lim added.
Lacierda lauded Lim for his “remarkable achievements” during his period of service as secretary of the Department of Tourism and cited him as a “conscientious and highly dedicated member of the President‘s official family.”
He noted that during Lim’s period of service as Tourism Secretary, foreign visitors has increased to “an unprecedented level” with over 3.7 million arrivals between July 1, 2010 to June 30 of this year.
“This was an increase of over half a million visitors over the previous 12-month period. Domestic travelers increased from 25 to 28 million. An estimated 400,000 jobs were created as a result,” he said.
Lacierda pointed out that Lim was the chief advocate of the Pocket Open Skies Policy, the landmark breakthrough from the protectionist policies of the past. “All these are remarkable achievements,” he noted.
Lacierda also emphasized that Lim was responsible in putting in place “enduring policy foundations for tourism’s growth in fulfillment of the President’s vision; and has done so with tenacity, integrity, and vigor.”
He said that the Aquino administration wished Lim continued success as he returns to private life to spend and enjoy more time with his family.