MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched an investigation into the “Love the Philippines” tourism video after several netizens claimed that some of the stock footages utilized in it were shot in other countries.
Earlier, the DOT changed its tourism slogan from “It’s more Fun in the Philippines” to “Love the Philippines.” The tourism department tapped advertising agency, DDB Philippines, for the country’s latest tourism campaign.
“As one of the many other forthcoming components of the launch of the enhanced tourism campaign, the DOT’s contracted agency, DDB Philippines, prepared and published an Audio visual presentation which has recently been the subject of scrutiny on the alleged use of non-original shots in certain parts of the AVP,” the DOT said in a statement.
“The DOT is currently conducting an exhaustive investigation to determine the veracity of, and to gather the full faculty of facts on, these allegations,” it went on.
The tourism department said it has repeatedly asked for confirmation from the DDB on the originality and ownership of all materials contained in the audio-visual presentations (AVPs) and key visuals presented to the DOT.
“In all these occasions, DDB repeatedly assured the DOT that the originality and ownership of all materials are in order,” the agency pointed out.
The DOT, meanwhile, clarified that no public funds have been paid for the AVP in question, saying such was a “particular component of the launch” and that it was “released on the account of the DDB.”
As the DOT holds the responsibility of promoting the country to the highest standard, the agency said it will “not hesitate to exact accountability and take the necessary action to protect the interest of the country.”
In a Facebook post, blogger Sass Rogando Sasot alleged that at least five of the footages used in the tourism video were taken from different locations such as Indonesia, Thailand, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, and another location she said was not taken in the Philippines.
She accompanied her post with links of the videos used in the tourism video. All of them can be accessed on the Storyblocks website.
One of the apparent stock footages used in the tourism video resembles to the Philippines’ Rice Terraces, but according to Sasot, the footage used was actually taken from a rice farm in Bali, Indonesia.
Other netizens also had the same observation as the blogger and posted screenshots and links to prove their point.
In a recent television interview, Tourism Secretary Christina G. Frasco revealed that thy spent P49 million for the development of the new tourism campaign of the country—“Love the Philippines.”
“The process of procurement was done and initiated. The total cost of the entire study, coming up with the logo and everything, and the components of this branding campaign totalled to P49 million,” she said. (MB)
