Barbers' name in controversial PTA seal removed
Then
The Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) has started changing the controversial seal etched with the name of its general manager and chief executive Robert Dean Barbers on the sidewalks of Boracay Island after it drew criticisms from residents and resort owners on the island.
But residents said only a few and not all of the seals were changed so far.
In place of Barber's name, the agency's website address (www.philtourism.gov.ph) was etched on the cemented walk.
A resort owner who asked not to be identified saw at least two PTA markings that were changed along the main road, the main thoroughfare of tourists and the the island's 13,000 residents.
Now
A member of the contracting team that is working on the project said they were instructed by the PTA to remove Barbers' name and replace it with the website address because it was reported by the media. He asked not to be identified because of lack of authority to speak on the issue.
Some Boracaynons had criticized Barbers after his name appeared on the PTA seal engraved around every 20 meters of the cemented sidewalk on one side of a four-kilometer stretch of the main road from Barangay Balabag, located at the center of the 1,000-hectare island, to Barangay Manoc-Manoc at the southern end.
The sidewalk covers the drainage pipes that are being constructed to help solve Boracay's flooding problem.
They had said that it was improper for Barbers to put his name to mark the P140-million PTA drainage system project because it was funded by taxpayers' money.
In an earlier telephone interview, Barbers had said that he found nothing wrong with putting his name on sidewalk to mark the PTA project. He also said that he was unaware that his name will be included along with his agency's seal because it was the project contractor that designed the markings.