Salceda offers to help Frasco in tourism campaign

Albay Representative Joey Salceda on Tuesday offered to help Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco amid the controversy regarding the "Love the Philippines" campaign.

Salceda, who called out the Department of Tourism (DOT) for the non-inclusion of Albay's famous Mayon Volcano in the tourism video, said he will not call for Frasco’s resignation.

"I asked her to fire the consultant. She did. I asked her to correct mistakes and investigate internally. She did. I asked her to be more inclusive with destinations featured. She did. So, no, I will not join calls for her to resign,” Salceda said in a statement.

"I am asking everyone to help her. I would like to summon the collective intellect, energy, and innovativeness of the brightest minds in advertising and promotions to help the DOT. Albay will help her. I offer to her my personal experience as former governor of Albay," he added.

Salceda said under his tenure as Albay governor, foreign tourist arrivals at the province increased by 4,700%. He also said that before the COVID-19 pandemic, Albay had 1.32 tourists per resident, which is higher than the 0.57 per resident nationally.

The DOT drew flak recently over an audiovisual presentation on the its "Love the Philippines" tourism campaign that featured non-original stock footage.

The advertising firm behind the new tourism campaign, DDB Philippines, has since apologized over the incident. The DOT, meanwhile, said it would end its contract with the firm.

The DOT also said public funds were not spent for the work of DDB Philippines. —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA Integrated News