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Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star
December 11, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — As the Philippines gears up to host major Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) events next year, The Philippine STAR and eight other media organizations joined forces with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to boost efforts to promote the country as a premier travel destination.
STAR president and chief executive officer Miguel Belmonte, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano formalized the partnership through a memorandum of understanding signed yesterday at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City.
The DOT described the memorandum as “a statement to responsible storytelling, nation-building and promoting Philippine tourism here and abroad.”
Aside from The STAR, similar agreements were inked with Inquirer Interactive, Manila Bulletin, The Manila Times, Manila Standard and Malaya Business Insight.
The DOT also forged a separate partnership with Cignal, represented by its president Jane Basas, allowing the agency to utilize the network’s free and pay TV platforms to strengthen its tourism campaigns.
In his speech, Belmonte said The STAR was “happy, very willing and honored to be part of this collaboration between the DOT and the media industry to boost our country’s tourism.”
“For years, The Philippine STAR has been doing its part to promote local tourism by giving space in our paper – both in print and online – to articles that feature and bring more awareness to our country’s various tourist destinations, hotels and resorts, restaurants and other attractions,” he said.
He added that The STAR “believe(s) in the beauty of the Philippines, and we recognize the important role that tourism plays in helping our economy, especially during challenging times.”
