MANILA, Philippines — Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco has officially prohibited the use of her name and likeness in all Department of Tourism (DOT) promotional and corporate materials, a move aimed at ending a heated controversy over alleged self-promotion.
The directive, announced during a Kapihan sa Manila Bay briefing on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, comes just 24 hours after Senator Raffy Tulfo grilled Frasco at a Senate hearing. Tulfo had criticized the “widespread” use of the secretary’s face in tourism brochures and international magazine ads, comparing her to a “vlogger.”
Details of the Directive Frasco confirmed that she has issued a formal order to all DOT regional offices to:
- Remove any existing materials that bear her image.
- Cease production of any new materials featuring her likeness.
- Appeal to LGUs: She has also requested local government units (LGUs) to stop putting up welcome tarpaulins featuring her name and face during her official visits, clarifying that many of the materials flagged by Tulfo were actually produced by LGUs rather than the DOT.
Transparency vs. Promotion Frasco defended her high visibility as a byproduct of “simply working” and maintained a distinction between the agency’s two communication profiles:
- Corporate Profile: Where the head of the agency’s activities and programs are documented for transparency and public reporting—a standard practice across government agencies.
- Marketing Profile: Where the actual promotion of Philippine destinations and products occurs.
- The Distinction: Frasco argued that these two platforms were being “muddled together” by critics, but she decided to implement the ban to ensure the issue does not become a distraction from the agency’s core mission.
Reiterating Non-Political Stance The secretary once again explicitly denied any national political ambition for the 2028 elections. “I will not be less for it because I’m not running anyway,” she said, noting that the accusation of self-promotion “falls flat” given her decision to abstain from the upcoming national polls.
Despite the recent friction, Frasco maintained that the DOT continues to welcome scrutiny of its promotional efforts and remains confident in the gains made for the Philippine tourism industry under her leadership.