CEBU CITY – Local officials in Cebu signed a manifesto expressing their support for embattled Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco amid the controversies surrounding the country’s new tourism slogan.
SECRETARY Frasco (DOT FB) “We, Congressmen, City Mayors, Municipal Mayors, and Councilors under the banner of a united and indivisible One Cebu Island declare our full and unwavering support to the Department of Tourism (DOT) led by our very own, a Cebuana, Secretary Christina Frasco-Garcia,” read the manifesto. The manifesto was signed by 11 congressmen, five component city mayors, 44 municipal mayors, and the tri-city mayors of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu. Officials of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter also signed the manifesto. The signing of the manifesto stemmed from the criticism that the Frasco-led DOT got over the agency’s promotional video that was found to have used stock videos that were shot in other countries. The local officials described the criticism as “a coordinated demolition job.” “Part of the smear campaign is misleading the public into believing that the DOT has already spent a hefty sum of about P50 million for it,” the manifesto said.

Frasco has already clarified that the DOT has yet to pay the advertising agency that was contracted to create the promotional video. “Given the circumstances, it is not difficult to see that the goal of all of this is to sabotage the great accomplishments of the DOT Secretary, who continues to deliver to the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.,” the manifesto added. The local officials said that they believe that the supposed demolition job “is perpetrated by individuals with their own questionable agenda, perhaps to sway the trust and confidence of President Marcos in a Cebuana.”