Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco pushed back against accusations that she was using government-related imagery for personal promotion, saying photographs flagged during a Senate inquiry reflected routine fieldwork tied to destination development and sector recovery.
Speaking after a Senate committee on tourism hearing held Tuesday, Frasco said her nationwide presence over the past three years stemmed from her mandate as head of the Department of Tourism, which involved overseeing rehabilitation programs, infrastructure coordination, workforce training, and destination marketing following the pandemic’s impact on the industry. She said her work brought her to all regions of the country and to 56 out of 82 provinces.
“My visibility as Secretary of Tourism has not been about personal exposure, but about being present where the work is—on the ground, in communities, and alongside tourism stakeholders,” Frasco said, describing the period as one marked by “unprecedented disruption” for tourism workers and enterprises.
The issue surfaced during the hearing when Sen. Raffy Tulfo questioned the repeated appearance of Frasco’s image in tourism-related photographs, citing feedback he said had reached his office from members of the public.
“Ma’am, huwag kayong magagalit ha. Ibinoboses ko lang ang mga sumbong na nakararating sa akin,” Tulfo said, as he asked whether Frasco had approved the use of her image in photos taken in destinations such as Boracay, South Cotabato, and Taguig. He argued that some materials appeared to draw attention to the official rather than to the places being promoted.
Tulfo displayed several images during the session, including photos taken at an airport and in Lake Sebu, and questioned why destination-focused visuals or models were not used instead in tourism promotions.
In response, Frasco said the images being circulated were documentation of official activities carried out in coordination with local stakeholders.
“We have all the documentation to prove that my presence there was legitimate and intended to help the destination—whether in crafting tourism packages, tourism circuits, or building attention for the destination in conjunction with our tourism stakeholders,” she said.
Addressing the Lake Sebu photograph specifically, Frasco explained that it was taken during the Philippine Experience Program, a Department of Tourism initiative that brings diplomats, partners, and tourism stakeholders to various areas to showcase local culture, products, and communities. She said the activity was designed to highlight South Cotabato’s tourism offerings rather than any individual.
Frasco also clarified that Philippine Topics magazine, which was mentioned during the discussion, was neither funded nor commissioned by the Department of Tourism, stressing that it was an independent publication produced without the agency’s involvement or resources.
While acknowledging public criticism, Tulfo said he was not disputing the legitimacy of Frasco’s visits, but raised concerns about how the images were perceived by some Filipinos.
“Kaya nga po bina-bash kayo,” he said, noting that the visuals gave an impression of personal promotion rather than destination marketing.
Frasco denied that the appearances were politically driven and said she had no plans to seek national office.
“I am not running for any national position in 2028, and therefore there would be no reason for me to promote myself,” she said.
She added that she was open to limiting coverage of her on-site engagements if they were considered an issue, prompting Tulfo to clarify that her presence in destinations was not the concern, but rather how promotional materials were framed.
Frasco later said the Department of Tourism was prepared to submit documentation to Tulfo’s office showing tourism campaigns that do not feature her image, adding that destination promotion efforts have continued despite budget constraints.
