DOT’s Frasco hits back at solons: ‘We performed with a P200M budget’

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco on Wednesday responded to the attacks of two lawmakers on her alleged failure to provide tourism jobs and uplift the local economy despite massive funding and costly promotions by her department, saying they are performing with a very small budget allocated by the House of Representatives.

Frasco reacted to news reports quoting Deputy Speaker, La Union 1st District Representative Paolo Ortega V, who said, “These numbers tell a story. We are attracting fewer tourists, and those who do come are spending less," on the low numbers of tourist arrivals in the country despite aggressive international promotions and a costly rebranding campaign.

Another solon, Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, said the DOT must answer for its underwhelming performance and missed opportunities, stating: “That silence was loud. The absence of tourism from the President’s SONA sends a clear message: the sector is not delivering, and the DOT needs to do better.”

Frasco retaliated, stating: “Let’s talk about performance. In 2024, Congress slashed the Department of Tourism’s promotions budget by 83 percent, from P1.2 billion to just P200 million. In 2025, they cut it again to a mere P100 million.”

Despite this, the DOT Secretary concurred with Acidre’s statement that: “Tourism should be one of the country’s most powerful tools for regional development and inclusive growth.”

“This prompts us to ask Representatives Acidre and Ortega: ‘Why does Congress continue to cut the budget of an industry that not only creates millions of jobs but also contributes trillions to our economy? We remind you that with just P200 million, tourism generated P3.86 trillion in international and domestic visitor receipts. Tourism employed 6.75 million Filipinos, and nearly 10 million more Filipinos in indirect and induced opportunities,’” she emphasized.

Frasco said tourism numbers prove something: a return of over 1,900,000%.

“Trillions generated. Millions employed. No ghosts. No waste. Just results,” Frasco added.

Further, the DOT chief maintained that with the same limited budget, they welcomed 5.95 million foreign tourists, competing against neighboring countries with multi-million dollar marketing allocations.

“Congress holds the power of the purse. But when that power is used to defund and punish a top economic driver like tourism, it directly harms our country and our people. To quote the President’s SONA: Mahiya naman kayo (Shame on you!),” Frasco stressed.