Under Marcos administration: Frasco named tourism chief

CEBU, Philippines — The Marcos administration has picked Liloan, Cebu Mayor Christina Garcia Frasco as tourism secretary.

This was announced by incoming press secretary, Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, during a media huddle on Monday, May 30, 2022.

Frasco, a lawyer, is the spokesperson of Vice President-elect Sara Duterte, Marcos’ running mate in the May 2022 elections.

The Marcos-Duterte tandem won in Cebu.

The new administration will assume office midday of June 30.

Once she is appointed formally to the position, Frasco will be the second from Cebu to lead the Department of Tourism (DOT), the first being former secretary Ace Durano who served in the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Durano ran and lost to Frasco’s mother, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, in the 2022 polls.

Atty. Jerome Brillantes, acting provincial election supervisor of Cebu, said the rule of succession will apply once Frasco vacates her post as mayor.

“Rule of succession ang mo-apply ana. Ang vice mayor maoy ma-mayor,” Brillantes said.

In Liloan’s case, it is Vice Mayor-elect Aljew Frasco.

The town’s first councilor in the 2022 elections will then assume as vice mayor.

Frasco’s re-election in the 2022 polls would have been her third term as mayor of Liloan. She is the President of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP) - Cebu Chapter.

Reaction

Tourism and business stakeholders are positive of Frasco’s leadership.

“Incoming DOT Secretary, Mayor Christina Garcia Frasco. We are very happy!” wrote DOT-7 Director Shalimar Tamano wrote on Facebook shortly after the announcement.

For Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) President Alfred Reyes, Frasco’s nomination will bring Cebu back to the map.

“It’s very good news for Cebu. We will be back in the map again. We just hope she knows what Cebu really needs [in terms of tourism],” Reyes said.

For her part, Melanie Ng, Visayas Governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Frasco will bring new ideas to the department.

“We're elated with the news that Mayor Christina will be the next DOT Secretary! I'm sure she will bring vibrant, fresh and innovative tourism programs to DOT,” Ng said.

She is optimistic that Frasco will boost tourism initiatives in Region 7 and “provide a big boost to our economic recovery.”

The economy in Region 7 is dependent highly on tourism and, like the rest of the world, has taken a beating from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Charles Kenneth Co echoed this optimism.

“Her background in government and Cebu’s tourism will surely enable a boom in tourism all over the country,” Co said.

Frasco has yet to issue a statement as of this writing. – Ehda M. Dagooc, JMO (FREEMAN)