Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said she has ordered the removal of all Department of Tourism (DOT) materials bearing her image following accusations of self-promotion.
The directive came a day after Senator Raffy Tulfo raised concerns during a Senate tourism committee hearing, criticizing what he described as the widespread use of Frasco’s photos in tourism materials instead of highlighting destinations.
Speaking at a Kapihan sa Manila Bay briefing, Frasco clarified that many of the materials cited were welcome tarpaulins put up by local government units (LGUs) during her visits, not official DOT promotions.
“In terms of my name and likeness appearing in our destinations, as was taken up by Sen. Tulfo yesterday, these are welcome materials, I suppose, for when I visit LGUs,” Frasco explained.
She said she had already instructed DOT regional offices to act immediately.
“I have actually issued an order for our regional offices, as far as we are concerned in the DOT, to number 1, take down any material that may bear my image; number 2, to not produce any material that may bear my image,” she added.
Frasco also appealed to LGUs to stop putting up tarpaulins bearing her name to avoid turning the issue into a distraction.
“I will not be less for it because I’m not running anyway,” she said.
The tourism chief further stressed that the DOT maintains separate platforms for corporate updates and tourism marketing, noting that her appearances fall under regular reporting of agency activities.
“I don’t know why these platforms are being muddled together, but there has always been a distinction between both,” Frasco said.