Department of Tourism Clears Secretary Frasco in Magazine Cover Issue
The Department of Tourism (DOT) released a public statement after Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco continued to face criticism over a magazine cover that featured her photo more prominently than a tourist destination.
The issue began when a private magazine placed the tourism secretary on its cover, leading some netizens to accuse her of promoting herself instead of Philippine tourism. Negative reactions online continued even after the DOT released its official clarification on December 31, 2025.
In its statement, the DOT clearly said that it had no role in producing the magazine. The agency explained that Philippine Topics is a private publication and is not connected to the Department of Tourism. The DOT stressed that it did not hire, pay, or instruct the magazine to create the cover or the feature story. All decisions regarding the content, including photos and text, were made independently by the magazine’s editorial team.
The DOT also denied accusations that government funds or resources were used to promote Secretary Frasco. It explained that it did not provide any photographs, funding, or guidance to the magazine. The photos used were taken by Philippine Topics during its own coverage of activities related to World Expo Osaka 2025. The department firmly denied claims that public office or government resources were used for personal promotion.
The agency also addressed claims made by a photographer online. The DOT stated that it did not supply any photos to the magazine and did not select, approve, or endorse any image of the secretary for the cover. It also rejected allegations that the agency favored using the secretary’s photo over images of tourist destinations, saying these claims are false.
The DOT expressed concern over the spread of false information, noting that inaccurate claims can mislead the public and damage trust in government institutions. It emphasized its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the fair promotion of Philippine tourism.
A day after the statement was released, a person familiar with the issue explained that the photographer’s social media post had been misinterpreted. According to the source, the post did not mention Secretary Frasco by name or directly accuse her, but online discussions gave it a different meaning.