ONCE again, the Department of Tourism (DOT), under Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, finds itself at the center of controversy. What a way to start the year!
First, there was the issue of tourism videos, which were exposed for having allegedly used stock footage from other countries. This was followed by backlash over Frasco’s November trip to London, which coincided with Typhoon Tino hitting her hometown of Liloan, Cebu.
While the secretary clarified that she was in London on official duty, leading the Philippine delegation to the World Travel Market (WTM), the explanation did little to temper public criticism.
The latest controversy erupted after advertising and production executive Max Abasolo took to social media to criticize a magazine featuring Frasco prominently on its cover.
In his viral post, Abasolo wrote: “You made us shoot Region 1 to Region 13—almost 320 tourist spots, 236,000 photos, 6,500 video materials. Then this is the one you use, DOT.”
The post quickly gained traction, drawing sharp criticisms toward Frasco.
Then, one social media post showed broadcaster DJ Chacha remarked that a visit to the DOT’s official social media pages revealed more photos and videos of the tourism secretary than of the country’s destinations. Curious, I checked the account myself—and unfortunately, the observation rang true.
Many of the posts appeared more appropriate for a personal social media page than for the official platform of the DOT. Tourists and stakeholders visit these accounts to see destinations, food, culture, and events—not repeated images of the secretary herself.
Now going back to the magazine issue, the DOT, of course, has already issued a statement, denying any hand in the publication of the magazine with Frasco’s huge face on its cover, or that it supplied the said photo, or that any public funds were used.
The DOT, in fact, dismissed as “false and misleading” what it said were mere “allegations” by a production executive regarding the appearance of Frasco on the cover of the said magazine, which, I learned, was published in English and Japanese.
“Any implication that the DOT chose or favored the use of an image of the secretary over destination-focused materials is entirely false and without factual basis,” the DOT stated, adding that it did not contract, pay, commission or direct the magazine to produce its cover or feature story.
Still, it is difficult to believe that a magazine—especially one published in English and Japanese—would place a sitting tourism secretary on its cover without coordination or at least consent from her office.
These controversies revive memories of earlier missteps, such as the rattan seating installed at NAIA Terminal 2, which later had to be removed after passengers complained of bed bug infestations.
Owing to all these, I do not blame the netizens for questioning where their travel taxes go, why the tourist arrivals are not that impressive and if it is high time to have a new DOT Secretary….
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