Assistant Secretary for International Tourism Promotions Benito “Bong” C. Bengzon, Jr. has been sworn in as the new undersecretary for tourism development of the Department of Tourism, replacing former Undersecretary Daniel G. Corpuz who recently retired.

A graduate of hotel and restaurant administration from the University of the Philippines, Bengzon began a career with the DOT in tourism planning, product research, and development.

In 1999, Bengzon was assigned as tourism attache to Tokyo, where he oversaw the marketing and promotions campaign of the DOT for the Japanese outbound travel market. He was instrumental in turning the Japanese market into one of the country’s top source markets.

Immediately after his tour of duty, he returned to the main office and was appointed head of Team Japan. He also handled marketing teams for the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific.

New director for legal affairs service

In addition to Undersecretary Bengzon, the DOT also welcomed the appointment of Atty. Reynaldo Lacao Ching as director for legal affairs service.

Ching, himself a career officer, has previously held different positions prior to his latest appointment. He joined the DOT in 1988 as a legal aide and was at one time head of the bids and awards committee (BAC) secretariat.

Concurrent with his new designation as acting director, Ching also provides technical support to several committees in the DOT, particularly as chairperson of the discipline committee and vice-chairperson of the BAC for Nayong Pilipino, head of the DOT Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) Secretariat, and officer-in-charge of the DOT Administrative Services.

He is also one of the DOT representatives to the Philippine Air Negotiating Panel.

Ching is a graduate of mechanical engineering from the Far Eastern University. He completed his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the East.