Frasco hits back at DOT critics

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco defended the Department of Tourism (DOT), borrowing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s words from his recent SONA, “mahiya naman kayo,” regarding certain lawmakers who undermined her department's performance.

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Her remarks came in response to criticism from Tingog Partylist Rep. Jude Acidre and Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V, who flagged the DOT's absence in the president's latest State of the Nation Address and cited lagging tourist arrivals.

But Frasco fired back with figures: P3.86 trillion in visitor receipts generated in 2024, 6.75 million direct jobs sustained, and nearly 10 million more indirectly supported --all delivered with just P200 million in promotional funding, down from P1.2 billion in the previous year.

For 2025, that budget was cut further to P100 million.

"That's a return of over 1.9 million percent," Frasco said, "no ghosts. No waste. Just results."

While acknowledging that tourism is indeed a tool for inclusive growth, Frasco questioned Congress's decision to defund an industry that she argued is performing despite the odds.

"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."