Rumblings are growing louder in the travel and tourism industry over a recent statement by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla that appeared to be an attack on his fellow Cabinet member, Cristina Garcia Frasco of the Department of Tourism.

This was not appreciated by tourism stakeholders who rallied to protect Frasco and her apparent good performance.

Remulla was quoted as saying in his speech at the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association’s (HSMA) summit on 19 June that “people do not want to come to the country because they don’t feel safe. They are afraid. There is cynicism with all the bad news that goes on here, in the political atmosphere, and the killings that seem to be an ordinary activity, so people become afraid.”

Industry stakeholders were quick to condemn the remarks as ill-advised, ill-timed and damaging to the efforts to strengthen the country’s reputation as a travel destination.

The outrage spilled to social media, where Remulla received flak for what many saw as an irresponsible and defeatist portrayal of the country.

The timing could not have been worse. Just a day earlier, the DoT and various tourism groups had strongly denounced the HelloSafe Safety Index 2025 as misleading and disconnected from on-the-ground realities. Tourism Secretary Frasco led the rebuttal, warning that such reports — if left unchecked — could derail post-pandemic recovery efforts.

Frasco was backed by major industry players. Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) president Arthur Lopez said Remulla’s statement risked undoing years of confidence-building. Maria Paz Alberto, who heads both the PIATA and PATA Philippine chapter, warned of “lasting repercussions” on inbound travel. Philtoa president Arjun Shroff emphasized the need for responsible government messaging, saying, “We must project confidence, not fear.”

For its part, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) welcomed the DILG’s plan to enhance public safety, including reviving the 911 Emergency System, improving the emergency response infrastructure, and more.

“Tourism flourishes when safety, accessibility and trust are prioritized. We look forward to working hand in hand through collaboration efforts with the national government. PTAA supports the Department of Tourism in promoting the Philippines as a safe, world-class destination. We remain committed to working with all sectors to uplift the country’s image and enhance the travel experience for all,” the PTAA statement sent to DAILY TRIBUNE read.

When the PDP-Laban party uploaded Remulla’s statement on its Facebook page, thousands of netizens reacted strongly. One comment read: “Imbes na i-defend ang bansa, parang kinampihan pa ang travel advisories. Nakakahiya (Instead of defending the country, he sided with the travel advisories. Shameful).”

Another said, “Ano pa silbi ng DILG kung mismong kalihim nito ang nagsasabing di ligtas ang Pilipinas (What’s the DILG for if its own secretary says the Philippines isn’t safe)?”

For many, the issue was the damage Remulla’s comment inflicted on the country’s image.

“Tourism is driven by perception,” said one travel executive. “When a top official echoes detrimental perceptions, you don’t just lose tourists — you lose credibility.”

Remulla has yet to issue a clarification or retraction. In the meantime, stakeholders across sectors continue to clean up after the fallout, not from a foreign media attack but from a statement made by one of the government’s own.

As one industry veteran bluntly put it: “We didn’t lose because of the survey. We lost because our own Interior Secretary confirmed it.” Raffy Ayeng

‘Ayuda’ once more

An energy sector veteran said the government is not doing enough to cover the country’s exposure to severe economic shocks if the ongoing Middle East conflict should lead to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which 20 to 30 percent of the world’s oil exports and over a third of liquefied natural gas shipments pass.

Approximately 84 percent of the crude oil and 83 percent of LNG transiting through it are destined for Asian markets.

Our reliance on imported oil makes us vulnerable to price shocks, which could exacerbate inflation and strain household budgets, particularly for low-income groups.

Thus far, the only perceptible action beyond Cabinet discussions is a subsidy program for public utility vehicles aimed at preventing fare hikes and similar ayuda-type programs in other sectors.

The energy veteran said that without a comprehensive contingency plan, the country remains exposed to severe economic shocks if the critical waterway is shut.