Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat yesterday affirmed her earlier decisions to suspend all projects of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), including the controversial Buhay Carinderia North Luzon Roadshow.

“Given the suspension of the program, and pending its review by the Commission on Audit (CoA), any activities of the private proponent of Buhay Carinderia at this point are not sanctioned by the DoT (Department of Tourism) and should not in anyway be considered as connected with the department,” Romulo-Puyat said in a statement.

She stressed the department has not disbursed any further funds since the suspension of the projects.

The Tourism chief made the statement upon receiving reports that international marketing company Marylindbert International Inc. has been implementing several activities under the P320-million Buhay Carinderia project.

“The DoT will verify reports, and will take appropriate steps, including formally informing other parties about DoT’s actions,” Romulo-Puyat added.

Buhay Carinderia was one of the TBP’s programs which had an advocacy to improve the image of local food stands that represent Philippine culture and dishes.

In a memorandum dated May 18, 2018, Romulo-Puyat ordered the project’s suspension after finding out that three checks had already been issued by the TPB to Marylindbert amounting to over P80 million, even before the project’s first phase actually started.

Romulo-Puyat then met with TBP Chairman Cesar Montano to clarify the issue and later on learned that the project did not undergo any proper bidding.

In his defense, Montano pinned down then DoT Chief Wanda Tulfo-Teo in the project, claiming that the former secretary referred the organizer, Linda Legaspi, to him for funding.

Montano, who resigned as TBP chief, clarified the TPB approved the project without public bidding as Legaspi wanted “financial sponsorship.”

Tulfo-Teo was embroiled in a recent controversy which led to her resignation after the CoA flagged the placement of over P60 million worth of ads by the DoT on the TV show Kilos Pronto, produced and hosted by Tulfo-Teo’s brothers Ben and Erwin Tulfo, which was a blocktimer on government station PTV 4.

State auditors said there was no memorandum of agreement or contract between PTV 4 and the Tulfo’s Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. to air DoT commercials.

Meanwhile, chef-blogger Erwan Heusaff said he will return the talent fee he received after working as program ambassador and content creator for the Buhay Carinderia.

In a TV report, Puyat said Heusaff told her that he only wanted to promote the country and its food.

Heusaff has yet to confirm the secretary’s remarks.

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