DOT ends contract with ad firm for creating ‘unoriginal’ video

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has terminated its contract with the advertising agency responsible for its new tourism campaign, “Love the Philippines,” due to the use of stock footage falsely depicting scenes in the Philippines in its tourism video.

The DOT has expressed “outrage and extreme disappointment” over the issue, which has attracted coverage from international news organizations such as the Guardian and BBC in the United Kingdom, as well as CNN in the U.S.

In a statement on Monday, July 3, 2023, the DOT said DDB Philippines failed to fulfill its obligations under the contract and directly contradicted the agency’s objectives for the enhanced tourism branding.

“Under the terms governing the DOT’s tourism branding campaign contract with DDB Philippines, ‘material/s produced by the winning bidder should be original and aligned with the DOT’s advocacies.’ Further, ‘the DOT reserves the right to change, suspend, or discontinue temporarily or permanently the contract at any time should the DOT deem the agency incapable of the project,’” the agency said.

“No payments have been made by DOT to DDB under the tourism branding campaign contract. The DOT shall exercise its right to forfeit performance security as a result of default in obligations under the contract, as well to review standards of performance or lack thereof vis-a-vis any claims for payment and/or any other engagement. Further, the DOT reserves the right to take all other action against acts deemed inimical to the interest of Philippine tourism,” it added.

Ad firm’s apology

DDB Philippines has apologized to the DOT and the public, acknowledging the use of non-original footage for the audiovisual presentation (AVP), which was a focal point of the DOT’s new tourism campaign launch last week.

Instead of showcasing tourist destinations in the country, footage from other countries was mistakenly used in the AVP.

The video has already been taken down from YouTube as well as from DOT’s official Facebook page.

Defending daughter

Blogger Sass Rogando Sasot exposed the use of stock footage on Facebook, revealing that it contained stock video clips from Storyblocks, a subscription-based stock footage service, which were not shot in the Philippines.

This revelation sparked further criticisms against the DOT, which had already faced criticism for replacing the previous campaign, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.”

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has come to the defense of her daughter, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco.

The governor also expressed her dissatisfaction with the ensuing “brouhaha” caused by Sasot, considering it to be excessive.

“Dearest Sass, I love my daughter very much and will always stand up and speak out for her, if and when I believe she has been treated quite unfairly. I guess that’s what all mothers will do for their own children,” said Garcia on her Facebook post Monday.

Garcia thanked Sasot for highlighting the errors, which prompted an investigation by the DOT.

The governor assured that she would not interfere in her daughter’s work.

Switzerland poster

On July 2, Garcia posted a photo on her Facebook page showing an old tourism campaign poster of Switzerland, with the text “It’s more fun in Switzerland.”

The governor captioned her post: “Oh wow. All this BROUHAHA about alleged mistaken VIDEO SHOTS, for which ‘NO PUBLIC FUNDS HAVE BEEN SPENT...’ And THIS?

SOUNDS FAMILIAR? Any VIOLENT REACTIONS?”

Garcia was referring to the tourism campaign, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” which was used from 2012 to 2023.

Sasot’s reply

On the same day, Sasot tagged Garcia in a Facebook post and asked the governor to explain why she was “fixing something that is not broken,” and inquired if the same approach was being applied in Cebu Province.

“Bilang government official po, pwede po bang pakiliwanagan kami kung anong morality and efficiency na you are fixing something that is not broken? Kayo po ba dyaan sa Cebu Province eh mahilig magkumpuni ng mga bagay na hindi naman sira?” read Sasot’s post.

(As a government official, can you please enlighten us on the morality and efficiency of fixing something that is not broken? Are you fond of fixing things that are not broken in Cebu Province.)

‘Love Cyprus’

Sasot also mentioned the similarity between the tourism slogans of Cyprus and the Philippines.

Sasot asked the governor if she was aware that Cyprus’s current tourism slogan is “Love Cyprus,” which has no difference from the Philippines’ “Love the Philippines.”

“Aware po ba kayo Governor na ang pangkasalukuyang tourism slogan ng CYPRUS eh “Love Cyprus,” tapos tayo eh “Love Philippines.” Parang awkward no?” Sasot wrote.

(Are you aware, Governor, that the current tourism slogan of Cyprus is ‘Love Cyprus,’ while ours is ‘Love the Philippines’? It seems a bit awkward, doesn’t it?)

In her Facebook post Monday, Garcia reacted to Sasot’s question: “Kayo po ba dyaan sa Cebu Province eh mahilig magkumpuni ng mga bagay na hindi naman sira?”

Garcia’s invitation

The governor invited Sasot to visit Cebu again, since it had been years since they last saw each other in Cebu City.

“That was when I had the privilege to meet you in person, someone I had always had the greatest respect and admiration for. You had always impressed me as one who would rather engage in erudite discussion rather than resort to crass name calling,” Garcia said.

“I would like to invite you to come and visit Cebu again, this time, sa CEBU PROVINCE talaga, and not Cebu City,” she added.

At 2:32 p.m. Monday, Sasot posted a reply on her Facebook page with a heart emoji.

“Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, thank you for your post. Don’t worry, I love Cebu a lot. Kalami!” Sasot said. (TPM, CNU INTERN GK MARIE DEJACTO, KAL)