The Philippine government announced that Christina Frasco stepped down as secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT) late on Thursday, March 12. According to Presidential Press Office Undersecretary Claire Castro, the former cabinet member continues to have the trust of President Ferdinand R Marcos Jnr and has been appointed as a presidential advisor for sustainable and resilient communities. In a statement released by Castro, she indicated that Frasco would help strengthen national initiatives at the community level to contend with the increasing climate-related disruptions impacting local economies and livelihoods. Currently, the DOT will be managed by Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso.

What came before Last month, Frasco was criticized by Senator Rafael Tulfo for what was perceived as self-promotion instead of effectively marketing the Philippines as a premier global destination. Tulfo noted that the promotional materials produced for the DOT over the past year seemed to focus more on Frasco than on the country’s tourist attractions. Furthermore, her appearance on a lifestyle magazine cover raised questions about her priorities while leading the department, particularly as many of the leads from international tourism events did not translate into revenue. Frasco has faced scrutiny for the DOT’s failure to achieve its targeted visitor arrivals over the past years, despite extensive marketing efforts.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.