Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco has ordered to remove DOT-related visual materials bearing her photo.

The order was made following Senator Raffy Tulfo criticizing her for promoting herself. 

The criticism followed public observation that visual materials featured photos of Sec. Frasco instead of highlighting and promoting best pictures of top tourist destinations in the country.

One of the examples is when her photo was used in the Philippine Topics magazine, distributed in Japan for free.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo said that this would be an opportunity for the Philippines to be popular in Japan, However, the Senator noticed that the photos of Sec. Frasco was there instead of the destinations.

“Meron tayong, meron ‘tong sa Japan. Japan ba ito na magazine? I think it’s a free magazine. Pagkakataon na sana natin na para sumikat tayo sa Japan. Sa halip ang nakalagay dito ikaw, ikaw ng ikaw,” he said

[“We have, there it is in Japan. Is it a magazine in Japan? I think it’s a free magazine. This would be our opportunity to be known in Japan. Instead, what it placed is you, always you.”]

DOT Sec. Frasco defends herself and clarifies that she didn’t pay for that magazine and no government funds were used for the production.

In fact, the agency released an official statement about that on December 31, 2025. 

DOT clarifies that the magazine is not an official magazine of the agency. They also emphasized that they didn’t pay anything, or give commission or contract to put Frasco on cover or even in a featured story.

The agency also explained that the selection of materials came from the editorial’s discretion.

Furthermore, Sen. Raffy Tulfo suggests that to generate sales, it’s good to feature the best photos of the tourist destination and the reasons to visit the country.

“If you want to sell something, pakita po natin ‘yung mga tanawin o yung mga reasons why tourist will visit the country,” he said

[“If you want to sell something, let’s show the landscapes or the reasons why tourist will visit the country,”]

The Senator also asked Sec. Frasco if she had given her consent to use her photo for the visual materials.

“My consent was never obtained in the use of my image for that magazine,” she answered

Sec. Frasco also took a chance to clarify that she also has a right to be present as possible and she’s not promoting herself.

“I have right to be present as possible in our destinations and for our stakeholders that is the extent of the duty that I have exercised and nothing more,” she said

“I’m not running for national position and therefore, any accusation of self-promotion would fall flat because I’m not running for national position in 2028 and therefore, there would be no reason for me to promote myself,” she added

She mentioned in the press briefing on Wednesday (February 3, 2026) in Kapihan sa Manila Bay that she ordered to take down and not to produce any materials bearing her photo.

“I’ve actually already issued that order to a regional offices as far as we are concerned in the DOT to, number one, take down any material that may bear my image. Number two, to not produce any material that may bear my image,” she said.