60 Cebu officials sign manifesto supporting Tourism Secretary Garcia

UP to 60 government officials in Cebu have launched a manifesto to show support to Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco amid the issues faced by her office.

They include some mayors, councilors and members of the House of Representatives.

"We, the 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 Garcia-Frasco," part of the manifesto reads.

The officials believe that there is an intention to sabotage the accomplishments of the DOT under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"Given the circumstances, it is not difficult to see that the goal of all this is to sabotage the great accomplishments of the DOT Secretary, who continues to deliver to the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.," according to the manifesto.

"We strongly believe this demolition job to be perpetrated by individuals with their own questionable agenda, perhaps to sway the trust and confidence of President Marcos in a Cebuana — who represents the very island that delivered the highest number of votes to the President and the Vice President in the 2022 Presidential Elections," it added.

Majority of the Cebuano officials signed the six-page manifesto except for Cebu City North District Rep. Rachel 'Cutie' Del Mar and Danao City Mayor Thomas 'Mix' Durano.

Last week, the DOT released its new slogan "Love the Philippines," which received mixed reactions.

But the provincial board pushed a resolution to support the new slogan during its session last Monday, July 3, 2023.

The slogan is said to promote the country as one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

In the privilege speech of Cebu 5th District Provincial Board (PB) Member Andrei Duterte, he slammed the critics of Secretary Garcia-Frasco regarding the new tourism slogan.

Duterte believes that the remarks were made to embarrass the secretary and damage her supposedly good reputation.

Duterte's defense is that he has seen how persistent and dedicated the DOT Secretary is in her work, despite the fact that she is serving as mayor of Liloan town.

"The entire Province of Cebu finds it imperative to fully support this initiative, as it also resonates with the province's efforts to fully utilize the benefits of tourism for economic recovery, economic growth and countryside development," Duterte said in his resolution.

"As the chairman of the committee on tourism and as someone who witnessed first-hand how hardworking our Cebuana secretary is, I cannot just let this issue pass," he added.

In line with this, the PB urged the Cebuanos to rally behind the DOT and Secretary Garcia-Frasco. (ANV, TPT)