Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications Paul Soriano is no longer part of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
This was revealed by Senator Sonny Angara during the Senate's plenary debates on the Office of the President (OP) proposed budget for 2024 on Thursday, Nov. 9.
He made the revelation when Senator Koko Pimentel asked the source of funds used for the "The nurse who gave the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine. A Filipina. We give the world our best. The Philippines" slogan shown in London buses in May this year.
The said slogan was a project of Soriano in collaboration with the DOT. It became controversial after Senator Nancy Binay expressed her concern about the intent of the slogan.
"It's not the OP, your honor. Possibly the DOT," Angara answered Pimentel's inquriy.
"Kung meron man, it's was not official funds. Malamang baka initiative lang niya [Soriano] personally. Maaring gano'n. They are only aware of it, in the sense they saw it, your Honor. But they don't really know where the funding came. But defenitely, not the OP," he added.
Director Paul Soriano, wala na sa gobyerno - Sen. Sonny Angara | RH 28 @RaymundDadpaas #RapidoHatawBalita#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) November 9, 2023
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BREAKING: Wala na sa Department of Tourism si presidential adviser on creative commmunications Paul Soriano.
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) November 9, 2023
Napag-usapan ito sa gitna ng deliberation sa Senado sa panukalang P5.768 trilyong pondo sa 2024. | via RH 28 @RaymundDadpaas, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/TTgU3XwpiT
Angara said only the Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications knows about the funding of the slogan.
"Wala na ba siya ngayon?" Pimentel asked.
"That's during the time of Director Paul Soriano. Baka siya nakakaalam. Wala na po," Angara responded.
In July, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) confirmed that Soriano took a leave of absence from his duty as presidential adviser on creative communications, citing that his wife was about to give birth.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. tapped the film director as his presidential adviser on creative communications in October last year.
As of this posting, Soriano have yet to issue an official statement regarding his leave.
