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Thursday, March 17, 2005
Id: Globe 'locked out' Smart in streamer war
By Aurea A. Gerundio
DAVAO City Tourism Office chief Id Acaylar dismissed Wednesday insinuations that the local government restricted Smart Communications from posting billboards on Davao's main thoroughfares in retaliation for its exclusion in a Smart ad.
Rather, it was Globe Communications that "locked out" the sponsorship of the Araw ng Dabaw celebrations, which is the reason why this time Globe streamers dominate the city streets.
Acaylar, however, did not have an idea how much the exact amount was sponsored by Smart for the Araw celebrations.
"Sa pagkakaalam ko, three times bigger ang bayad ng Globe kaysa Smart (To my knowledge, Globe paid three times bigger than Smart). But Smart can put up streamers in private establishments," Acaylar said.
Acaylar said the same thing happened to Globe in the previous Kadayawan festivities wherein Smart dominated the city streets with its huge vertical streamers.
"This does not have anything to do with the DOT (Department of Tourism)-Smart advertisement," Acaylar reiterated.
Meanwhile, Councilor Diosdado Mahipus said the city never snubbed Smart, it just happens that Globe has the exclusive sponsorship for the 68th Araw ng Dabaw celebration.
Mahipus said Globe entered into a contract of exclusivity with the Araw ng Dabaw executive committee, which is why Globe billboards adorned majority of the city streets with Smart's sidelined to limited establishments and streets.
The councilor said Globe submitted their proposal to the executive committee earlier than Smart thus the decision to award the contract of sponsorship to Globe instead of Smart.
Unconfirmed reports revealed Globe's offer was also much higher than Smart's.
He said the whole thing has nothing to do with the non-inclusion of Davao City in Smart's "Byahe Na" television advertisement.
City Administrator Wendel Avisado earlier denied they are restricting Smart Communications from posting their billboards.
"I have no information about it. No paper reached me regarding their (Smart) request or application," Avisado said.
He however admitted that his office had also not received any request from Globe as well.
He did not explain further why there are more Globe billboards than Smart's in the streets.
Sun.Star Davao tried getting reaction from Smart executives in the city but in vain.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier declared that the city does not need the help of the DOT in promoting the city.
The mayor made the declaration after city tourism officer Id Acaylar protested over the non-inclusion of Davao City from the "Biyahe Na" promotional blitz.
DOT officials, however, passed the buck to Smart saying it was the company's project and that the DOT were merely consulted about it.
Tourism Secretary Ace Durano denied Davao City was excluded from the television advertisement.
He said Davao is in fact among their eight primary destinations in the country and Mindanao's gateway.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (March 17, 2005 issue)
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