MANILA – Malacañang has firmly denied circulating rumors that former Philippine Airlines (PAL) President Stanley Ng is set to replace Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco at the Department of Tourism (DOT). Palace Press Officer Claire Castro dismissed the speculation with a simple “Negative” in response to media inquiries on January 8, 2026.
The rumors surfaced amid ongoing criticism of Frasco’s leadership, including the DOT’s failure to meet tourist arrival targets for two consecutive years (2024: ~5.95M vs. 7.7M goal; 2025: ~5.6M vs. 8.4M goal) and backlash over perceived self-promotion in campaigns. Some reports suggested Ng—a son-in-law of business tycoon Lucio Tan—was being eyed for his private-sector execution skills.
However, the Palace emphasized no such change is in the works, affirming continuity under Frasco despite calls for fresh leadership to boost arrivals compared to regional peers.
Context Snapshot:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Current DOT Secretary | Christina Garcia Frasco |
| Rumored Replacement | Stanley Ng (ex-PAL President/COO) |
| Palace Response | “Negative” – No replacement planned |
| Tourist Arrivals Issue | Missed targets 2024-2025; underperformance criticism |
A clear denial—tourism policy stays the course for now.