Montano cooperative amid P80-M controversy, says DOT chief

Tourism Board of the Philippines COO Cesar Montano has accepted new Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat's decision to stop certain projects pending the review of multi-million-peso contracts.

Puyat in jest said Montano was so cooperative that he had her thinking whether or not the tourism board executive, a multi-awarded actor, was only being true to his craft.

"I found him very humble, he was willing to help, hindi siya defensive. Niloloko ko nga siya e...sabi ko, 'naniniwala ako sa'yo...o baka magaling ka lang na artista'," Puyat said at a news conference.

Montano and the TPB is under investigation over the P80-million "Buhay Carinderia", a project anchored on culinary tourism.

Puyat announced in a press conference on Thursday that she intends to review the ongoing programs of the Department of Tourism and said Montano was onboard.

"To be fair, pumayag naman siya [na] stop all projects," Puyat said, adding that she had already sent an official request to Montano's office to kickstart the investigation.

Pressed more for details on the meeting, Puyat said that Montano was "very, very cooperative", as well as "truthful" and "earnest."

Puyat said Montano also clarified the story about his alleged hasty speech at a tourism event in New York.

"It's not like daw pumunta siya do'n ng two minutes tapos umalis, nando'n na siya ng matagal. May mga presentation, may mga introduction, et cetera," she told the press.

Montano was said to have rushed his speech so he could attend a Broadway show.

"He cut his speech short, kasi napansin niya na na-bored na 'yong audience. To be fair, matagal na siya nando'n, [hindi] two-minutes tapos umalis," Puyat said.

Puyat said that she was leaving it up to COA decide if TPB must return the P80-million funding for the project. —NB, GMA News