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ZOZOBRADO TAKES OATH AS PHILIPPINE RETIREMENT AUTHORITY CHIEF
Manila, Philippines—Tourism industry veteran Roberto “Bob” Zozobrado officially assumed the role of General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), an attached agency of the Department Tourism (DOT), in an oath-taking ceremony officiated by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco during the agency’s special meeting on Thursday (Feb. 15) at the DOT Central Office.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Bob Zozobrado, our forthcoming General Manager of the Philippine Retirement Authority. I am fully confident in Mr. Zozobrado’s ability to lead the Philippine Retirement Authority in accordance with our President’s vision of transformation for the entire tourism industry, including this robust sector of our tourism portfolio,” Secretary Frasco said during the special meeting convened to officially swear in Zozobrado.
Zozobrado, renowned for his extensive experience in the tourism industry, has held various roles in the aviation and hospitality sectors. He is a columnist, and was a former public relations specialist, director of sales, and marketing consultant.
Before his appointment at the PRA, Zozobrado served as the President of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) and was instrumental in formalizing a memorandum of understanding that automatically inducted newly accredited travel and tourism establishments as TCP members.
“Most of all, I thank our President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for giving me this much valued opportunity to serve his government through the tourism sector. I take pride in being of service to our country. My career has spanned all sectors of the tourism industry—international airlines, travel agencies, tour operations, international hotel chains, destination marketing, tourism academe, and tourism journalism. So, I have always wanted to cap my career with government service. This is a dream come true for me. Working for the government is a completely new ballgame for me, but anything new excites me,” shared the newly minted PRA chief.
“The PRA is one with the DOT in promoting our country to the world. So, my several decades of marketing experience will certainly come in very handy in increasing PRA’s present market. My PRA team and I will continuously find more reasons for these retirees to LOVE TO LIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES,” affirmed GM Zozobrado.
Before his role as TCP president, he chaired the Philippines chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), another national tourism association. Zozobrado is also named as a member of the PRA Board of Trustees.
The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) is a government-owned and controlled corporation created by virtue of Executive Order No. 1037, signed by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos on 04 July 1985.
According to its website, on 31 August 2001, through Executive Order No. 26, the control and supervision of PRA was transferred to the Board of Investments (BOI) – Department of Trade and Industry from the Office of the President.
On 12 May 2009, Republic Act No. 9593, otherwise known as Tourism Act of 2009, PRA became an attached agency of the Department of Tourism and placed under the supervision of the Secretary.
PRA is mandated to develop and promote the Philippines as a retirement haven as a means of accelerating the social and economic development of the country, strengthening its foreign exchange position at the same time providing further best quality of life to the targeted retirees in a most attractive package.
DOT Secretary Frasco chairs the PRA Board of Trustees, with Tourism Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao as the alternate chair.
Officer-in-charge (OIC) Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso, represented by OIC Assistant Secretary Warner Andrada, joined the ex-officio members and board of trustees during the special meeting. The agenda encompassed diverse topics, including a comprehensive research study, the corporate operating budget, and pressing concerns of the agency.
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Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco officially swears in tourism industry veteran Roberto “Bob” Zozobrado as Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) chief.
Published:February 16, 2024
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