"VISIBLE LEADERSHIP, NOT SELF-PROMOTION”
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco Pushes Back Against Critics

MID GROWING CRITICISM AND ONLINE BACKLASH, supporters of Christina Garcia Frasco, Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT), have pushed back against claims that her frequent appearances on official government platforms amount to self-promotion.

According to allies and observers, the explanation is straightforward: Secretary Frasco is present on the ground. She regularly visits tourism destinations, directly engages with local stakeholders, and takes a hands-on role in implementing tourism programs nationwide. When a government leader is actively involved in fieldwork, they say, documentation naturally follows.

Critics have branded this visibility as excessive, but supporters argue that such a standard is unfair and unrealistic. “An active and accessible leader should not be penalized for being seen doing the job,” one tourism stakeholder noted. They added that transparency in governance often requires leaders to be visible, especially in public-facing sectors.

Tourism, by nature, is a people-centered and highly visible industry. From coordination with local governments to on-site assessments of destinations and infrastructure, leadership in tourism cannot—and should not—remain behind closed doors. In this context, Frasco’s presence at official DOT activities is viewed not as personal branding, but as accountability in action.

Observers further stressed that showing the Secretary at work allows the public to see who is responsible and where the industry is headed, particularly as tourism continues to serve as a major source of livelihood for millions of Filipinos. Visibility, they said, reinforces public trust and clarifies leadership direction.

In the end, supporters maintain that public officials should be judged by the outcomes of their work, not the frequency of their appearances. In a sector that operates in full view of the public, they argue, being present is not a political strategy—it is simply part of the job. For News Video Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17wiyWyVpq/