MANILA – Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco has slammed two pro-administration lawmakers for what she described as politically-motivated criticisms against her department, challenging them to justify slashing the tourism budget despite the sector’s strong performance.
In a strongly worded statement, Frasco accused Tingog party-list’s Cong. Jude Acidre and La Union’s Cong. Paolo Ortega V of targeting her after her husband, Cebu’s Cong. Duke Frasco, voted against the re-election of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
“Apparently, voicing support for my husband’s independent stance in the House has made me fair game for attacks by certain congressmen,” she said.
Frasco dismissed the attacks as baseless and instead laid out the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) accomplishments under her leadership, despite severe budget cuts. From a promotions budget of P1.2 billion in 2024, Congress slashed the DOT’s allocation to P200 million, and further to P100 million for 2025.
“Let’s talk about performance,” Frasco said, pointing to P3.86 trillion in visitor receipts, 6.75 million tourism-related jobs created, and nearly six million foreign arrivals as proof of the DOT’s efficiency.
“That’s a return of over 1,900,000%. Trillions generated. Millions employed. No ghosts. No waste. Just results,” she added.
Frasco acknowledged Acidre’s comment that tourism must drive inclusive growth but questioned why Congress continues to cripple the sector’s capacity to deliver.
“This prompts us to ask Representatives Acidre and Ortega: ‘Why does Congress continue to cut the budget of an industry that not only creates millions of jobs but also contributes trillions to our economy?’” she said.
She warned that legislative control over the national budget should not be wielded as a weapon to punish a high-performing sector.
“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,” Frasco said.
Citing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent State of the Nation Address, Frasco ended her statement with a pointed rebuke: “Mahiya naman kayo,” directed at Acidre and Ortega./PN
