Tourism chief blasts solons’ ‘dubious timing’

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco on Thursday disclosed that recent criticism from two congressmen regarding the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) performance is “suspicious” and appears linked to her husband’s recent departure from the House of Representatives’ majority bloc.

This comes after La Union First District Representative Paolo Ortega V and Tingog Partylist Representative Jude Acidre had publicly criticized Frasco, citing the department’s “underperformance,” failure to significantly increase foreign tourist arrivals, low tourism revenue, and a muted workforce growth in the industry.

Frasco revealed the DoT has proposed a P3.1-billion budget allocation for 2026 for the Office of the Secretary and its regional offices, excluding an additional P400 million for attached agencies.

Half a billion pesos of the proposed P3.1-billion budget would be allotted for the country’s branding and promotion.

“I certainly hope not,” Frasco said when asked if politics might overshadow the department’s accomplishments. “But the timing of the remarks that were broadcast by the good gentlemen from the House of Representatives, namely Acidre and Ortega, is quite suspect, considering that my husband, Cong. Duke Frasco declared his stand as an independent member of the House of Representatives only a day before their remarks.”

Cebu Representative Duke Frasco abstained from voting for Representative Martin Romualdez as House Speaker on Monday, stating his decision was “grounded not in political convenience, but in principle and in my view of what the institution urgently needs: leadership that restores public trust, upholds the integrity of Congress, and reinforces the President’s priorities with urgency and purpose.”

The DoT secretary said that while they are not taking the criticisms personally, she urged the two lawmakers to consider the tourism numbers before making statements that could negatively affect the industry.

“When you say that the sector is not delivering, you’re talking about over 6 million Filipinos working in the tourism industry, and nearly 10 million more stakeholders across the nation,” Frasco stressed.

“That statement is a judgment on the service and sacrifice of tourism workers all over the nation. And I strongly disagree that the sector has not delivered, for it has, despite the very meager budget given for tourism promotions,” she added.

Frasco specifically highlighted the request for a P500 million budget for 2026 for branding and promotion efforts, an allocation she fears might be cut due to political dynamics in the Lower House. She noted that in 2024, Congress slashed the DoT’s promotions budget by 83 percent, from P1.2 billion to just P200 million. In 2025, the budget request was further cut to a mere P100 million.

“Therefore, if we are to make commentaries on performance, we must examine the whole plethora of facts,” Frasco said. “And as things stand, with only P100 million in promotions for 2025, it is extremely difficult to allow the Philippines a fighting chance as far as its competitors.”

The DoT had earlier sought President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s assistance for a P400 million budget infusion to support worldwide promotions, which Frasco said remains in process with the Department of Budget and Management.

However, Frasco expressed optimism that the budget allocation will be approved in the House of Representatives.

“I think if we limit our appreciation of the proposals to the facts and not take politics into account, then we are confident that our budget will be approved,” she said.

According to DoT data as of 18 June, the country generated an estimated $4.2 billion (P242 billion) in visitor receipts from January to May this year. As of 30 June, the Philippines has welcomed 3,473,726 international visitors, with 3,156,190 (90.86 percent) being foreign tourists and 317,536 (9.14 percent) overseas Filipinos.