DOT hits pause on projects amid Cabinet revamp

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

The Department of Tourism's Office of Public Affairs and Advocacy says operations and services of the department should remain 'unhampered'

MANILA, Philippines – Projects under the Department of Tourism (DOT) are put on hold “until further notice.”

This comes hours after Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco tendered her courtesy resignation on Thursday, May 22, upon the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The President is in the process of revamping his Cabinet following a poor showing in the 2025 midterm polls, when not even half of Marcos’ anointed Senate bets made it to the “Magic 12.”

“Pending the President’s resolution on the Secretary’s courtesy resignation, all awarded contracts, including those that have [been] issued a Notice to Proceed but have not yet commenced its implementation, are hereby suspended until further notice,” according to a memorandum signed by John Benedict T. Tigson, who is listed as a director for administrative service of the department.

“Accordingly, all Delivery Units and Project Officers are directed to immediately inform in writing their respective suppliers or third-party providers on the suspension of covered contract/s pursuant to this directive,” it added.

The memo was dated May 22 and was emailed to the department’s central office employees, delivery units, and project officers on Thursday afternoon.

The department’s Office of Public Affairs and Advocacy clarified that Frasco ordered that operations and services of the department should remain “unhampered.”

“The suspension does not include contracts involving goods and/or essential services related to the usual or ordinary day-to-day activities, operations, and services of the Department,” the office told Rappler.

However, the memo still counters what Press Undersecretary Claire Castro earlier said, that “pending and existing projects” should not be affected by the President’s directive.

“Tuluy-tuloy lamang po ang pagtatrabaho ng mga Cabinet secretaries at ng mga tao sa gobyerno. At mas maganda po itong mapakita rin ng ating mga heads of agencies, Cabinet secretaries na sila ay naaayon sa goal ng Pangulo, ipakita nila na sila ay dapat na manatili bilang parte ng administrasyon ng ating Pangulo,” she said in a media briefing on Thursday morning.

(Cabinet secretaries and other government workers will continue their work. It would be better, too, if our heads of agencies and Cabinet secretaries show that they are aligned with the President’s goal, show that they should be part of the administration of the President.) – Rappler.com