Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco as presidential adviser for sustainable and resilient communities, Malacañang announced Thursday, March 12.
Frasco will focus on strengthening the implementation of national initiatives at the community level, particularly in areas facing climate-related hazards and disruptions that affect local economies and livelihoods.
The appointment comes as communities across the country increasingly face extreme weather events and other climate-related challenges.
In a statement, the Palace said Marcos tasked Frasco to help ensure stronger coordination and follow-through of priority government programs at the local level.
Frasco will transition from her role as Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT), where she led efforts to support tourism enterprises, promote destinations and strengthen partnerships with local governments nationwide.
Tourism Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso will temporarily lead the agency as officer in charge.
Marcos thanked Frasco for her service at the DOT and expressed confidence that her experience working with local governments and communities would continue to support the administration’s development priorities.
Online flak
In an interview in January, Frasco thanked the president for his trust in her despite online criticisms and speculations about her Cabinet position.
“I’m very grateful to our president as well as to the national government for supporting tourism in the Philippines,” Frasco told reporters after the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cebu on Jan. 28.
“I believe the matter has been clearly addressed by the Palace and that I continue to enjoy the president’s trust,” she added.
Critics pointed out that Frasco prioritized personal promotion over tourism destinations, which she has repeatedly denied.
She also dismissed speculations that she was positioning herself for the 2028 elections.
“I am not running for any national position,” Frasco said in a previous interview. “I have only ever worked the way I know how – to be present, on the ground, responsive, to listen when needed, and to act as urgently as possible.”
The Department of Tourism denied claims linking Frasco to a magazine cover that drew criticism for prominently featuring her image. The agency said it neither commissioned nor paid for the publication and that Frasco was not interviewed nor asked permission for the use of her photo.
Frasco was tourism secretary from 2022 and previously held local government positions in Cebu before joining the Cabinet.
