Ni Itchie G. Cabayan
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco is in hot water once more.
This, after a social media post by one Max Abasolo, said to be an advertising and production executive, made the rounds on social media over the weekend, where he complained about the appearance of Frasco’s face on the cover of a magazine.
“You made us shoot Region 1 to Region 13… (that’s) almost 320 tourist spots, 236,000 photos, 6,500 video materials. Then this is the one you use, DOT.”
Said post was shared many times over and drew sharp criticisms toward Frasco and the performance of the DOT under her leadership.
The DOT issued a statement, denying any hand in the publication of the magazine with Frasco’s huge face on its cover or that it did supply the said photo, or that any public funds were used.
The DOT also dismissed as “false and misleading” what it said were mere “allegations” by a production executive regarding the appearance of Frasco on the cover of the said magazine.
“Any implication that the DOT chose or favored the use of an image of the secretary over destination-focused materials is entirely false and without factual basis,” the DOT stated, adding that it did not contract, pay, commission or direct the magazine to produce its cover or feature story.
It is not the first time that Frasco had been embroiled in controversy.
Previously, there was the issue of tourism videos which were exposed for having allegedly used stock footage from other countries.
Then, there was the issue of her trip to London in November, while her hometown of Liloan in Cebu suffered from the onslaught of typhoon ‘Tino.’
Broadcaster DJ Chacha stating that a visit to the DOT’s social media account would disappointingly show more of Frasco’s pictures and videos rather than the country’s tourist spots also made the rounds on social media over the weekend.
It was also Frasco who brought to the NAIA Terminal 2 the rattan seats, supposed to enhance the airport’s looks but which later stirred controversy due to them being infested with bed bugs, leaving passengers being bitten and prompting them to post their horrible experience on social media.
