Bibigyan ng pagkakataon si Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco na ipaliwanag ang mga isyu ng ahensya sa gaganaping 2026 budget deliberations, ayon kay Tingog Rep. Jude Acidre sa kanyang inilabas na pahayag ngayong Biyernes, Agosto 1.
“She will have her opportunity to defend her proposed 2026 budget during the regular appropriations hearings… to address the issues raised and respond to questions from Members of the House. That is the proper forum,” saad ni Acidre.
Ito ay matapos bigyan ng Commission on Audit (COA) ang ahensya ng “qualified opinion” na nangangahulugang mayroon itong malinaw na senyales ng “troubling financial management.”
Kabilang sa key findings ng COA ay ang P618.743 milyong receivables na may discrepancies at unconfirmed balances; P483.812 milyong fund transfers nang walang liquidation; P71.064 milyong idle at unused funds; P3.25 milyong inventory na hindi naiulat nang wasto; P196.853 milyong unused funds na hindi ibinalik sa Treasury; P288.891 milyong idle corporate funds nang walang malinaw na rason; at P4.882 milyong foreign travel na itinuturing na “unnecessary or excessive.”
Bukod pa rito, sinabi rin umano ni Frasco na nagresulta sa P3.86 na trilyong visitor receipts ang P200 milyong promotional budget nito, ngunit sinabi ni Acidre na ito ay “misleading narrative.”
Ayon sa Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), ang bilang ng visitor receipts ay resulta ng kabuuang industriya ng turismo mula airlines at hotels hanggang local government units (LGUs) at overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) visits.
“Secretary Frasco touts lofty figures and grand claims about tourism’s contributions to our economy. If these are indeed true and verifiable, then she should have nothing to fear from the coming deliberations. Transparency should be welcomed, not evaded,” saad ni Acidre.
Ulat ni Ansherina Baes