MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the appointment of actor and former Pampanga governor Mark Lapid as board member of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Malacañang announced Saturday.

The son of Senator Lito Lapid earlier in the day confirmed the development to ABS-CBN News.

Duterte signed the papers on Tuesday, January 5, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Meanwhile, Lapid’s appointment as the agency’s chief operating officer (COO) was also approved by the President, according to a document signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

The said document, obtained by ABS-CBN News, was addressed to TIEZA’s board of directors, a copy of which was furnished to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

LOOK: Mark Lapid makes comeback as chief operating officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) pic.twitter.com/Kjk5Uig9P8

— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) January 8, 2021

Lapid also confirmed in a text message that the President approved his nomination as COO.

He previously held the COO post during the Aquino administration. He later on resigned to pursue a Senate seat.

TIEZA is an attached agency of the Department of Tourism mandated to regulate and supervise the country’s tourism enterprise zones, among others.

• Mark Lapid eyes Pampanga mayoral seat

FROM THE ARCHIVES:

Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv