Department of Tourism (DO) Secretary Christina Frasco will be on leave this week, according to DOT's Office of Public Affairs and Advocacy (DOT-OPAA).

Frasco's absence will begin on Thursday, July 13 and end on Friday, July 21.

The DOT-OPAA mentioned that Secretary Frasco filed her leave application last May 9, and this was approved by the Office of the President (OP) on May 23.

The Tourism Chief’s purpose for taking a short leave from July 13 to 21 is to spend time with her young family.

When asked if Frasco's leave would be postponed due to the department's problems caused by the rebranding of the tourism campaign, the DOT did not comment.

According to DOT-OPAA, Mae Elaine Bathan, Frasco's chief of staff and Undersecretary for Legal and Special Concerns, would serve as the officer-in-charge of the DOT while the secretary is on leave.

The tourism department said Frasco will still attend President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 24.

Frasco's week-long vacation comes only weeks after the controversial tourist campaign "Love the Philippines" was launched, which drew criticism for using foreign stock material in a video meant to promote the country.

The DDB Philippines apologized to the DOT, Frasco, and the Filipinos for the "unfortunate oversight," while noting that the film was meant to "excite internal stakeholders" about the campaign.

The tourism organization stated that it has repeatedly validated ownership and originality of the major visuals featured in the film and expressed "extreme disappointment" with the usage of non-original materials.

The DOT's contract with the DDB has now been canceled, although the department has continued to employ the new tourist branding.