President Duterte has appointed former Pampanga Governor Mark Lapid as a member of the board of directors of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Malacañang confirmed.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque confirmed in a statement that President Duterte appointed Lapid to the position on Jan. 5, 2021.
According to Roque, Lapid’s experience will be of help to the tourism industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic, citing Lapid’s last stint at the TIEZA.
“Tourism is one of the most important sectors of our economy, and the appointment of Mr. Lapid, who is no stranger to TIEZA, augurs well in contributing to the recovery and growth of tourism, which has been affected by the pandemic,” he said.
This is not Lapid’s first time holding a position in an agency under the tourism sector. He was first appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as acting general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) in 2008.
When the PTA was reorganized a year later to form TIEZA, Lapid continued to lead the said office as chief operating officer.
Former President Benigno Aquino III appointed Lapid to the same position in 2014 but he resigned to pursue a Senate bid in 2016, a race he ultimately lost.
Lapid, who is the son of former action star Senator Lito Lapid, served as Pampanga governor from 2004 to 2007.