FEBRUARY 4, 2026 — Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco has ordered the removal of all Department of Tourism (DOT) materials bearing her image after senators raised eyebrows over what they called “self-promotion” using government-funded programs. The move comes in the wake of a Senate Committee on Tourism hearing where Senator Raffy Tulfo presented slides of magazines and promotional materials prominently featuring Frasco. His point was simple: tourism campaigns should highlight destinations, not politicians.

Frasco, however, was quick to push back. 

Speaking at Kapihan sa Manila Bay, she declared, “I have already issued an order — as far as we are concerned to the DOT — to take down any material that may bear my image, and to not produce any material that may bear my image.” 

She insisted she never ordered her photo to be displayed in the first place, calling the controversy a mere distraction from more urgent issues in the tourism sector. 

“There are so many other things that we need to consider that are of national importance,” she added.

But if she never ordered her image to be used, how did it end up plastered across magazines and promotional materials? Who made that call? 

These are the kinds of questions ordinary Filipinos are asking, because at the end of the day, taxpayers fund these campaigns. Shouldn’t the spotlight be on beaches, mountains, and cultural treasures instead of government officials?

Frasco defended her visibility, saying, “What is being questioned is why I am very visible. The accusation is that I am very visible because I wish to promote myself. But there may be room for the argument that I am very visible because I’m simply working — nothing else.” 

She also reiterated she has no plans to run for any national position, dismissing claims of self-promotion as “unfounded.”

Still, the optics matter. In the Philippines, where political dynasties thrive and public officials often use government platforms to boost their image, we have grown skeptical. Even if Frasco’s intentions are pure, the mere presence of her photos in official materials feeds suspicion. And suspicion, once planted, is hard to erase.

The DOT chief explained that the department operates two separate platforms: corporate ones that report on programs and projects, and marketing ones that focus solely on destinations. 

“As far as the marketing platform is concerned, we have evidence to prove that the destinations, products, and merits of the Philippines have been the singular subject of promotion,” she said. 

This controversy may seem small compared to the bigger challenges facing Philippine tourism — like infrastructure gaps, safety concerns, and global competition — but it touches on something deeper: accountability. When government officials appear too prominently in campaigns, it blurs the line between public service and personal branding. And in a democracy, blurred lines are dangerous.

Do you think this move to remove her image is enough to rebuild trust, or is it just damage control because she has been called out? 

(Image: Philippine News Agency)