DOT: Facebook page not Frasco PR machinery

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism has denied using its Facebook page as a “PR machinery” for DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

“The Department of Tourism would like to clear the air and correct a claim that is simply not true: our official Facebook pages are not being used for political or personal purposes,” said the agency in a statement on Saturday.

It published the statement following criticism by Facebook user John Sherwin Felix, who wrote that “the DOT has officially become Frasco’s PR machinery.”

“Spot the difference between the (DOT) page and the tourism pages of other Southeast Asian countries. No wonder we have one of the lowest tourist arrivals. The DOT under Christina Frasco feels more like a political asset than a tourism agency,” Felix added.

He flagged posts that “focused on Christina,” as well as comments “filled with repetitive praises from suspicious-looking profiles.”

Online sources describe Felix as a former public relations practitioner and an advocate for Filipino food heritage.

The DOT said that its Facebook page, with around 1.5 million followers, was being used “for updates on DOT programs, policies, advisories, and major initiatives – so the public gets accurate, timely information straight from us.”