The Department of Tourism on Monday announced it was terminating its contract with DDB Philippines, the producer of the controversial audio-visual presentation that showed at least five scenes that were not original and were taken in other countries.
While DDB Philippines took full responsibility and publicly apologized on Sunday, the DoT, in a statement on Monday, said they are one with Filipinos in expressing outrage and extreme disappointment at the use of non-original/stock footage purporting to be scenes from the Philippines as a component of the enhanced tourism branding campaign, “Love the Philippines.”
Under the terms governing the DoT’s tourism branding campaign contract with DDB Philippines, the DoT stressed that “material/s produced by the winning bidder should be original and aligned with the DoT’s advocacies.”
“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 statement read.
Social media personality Sass Rogando Sassot bared in a social media post that the non-original shots used in the AVP were purchased from Storyblocks, a website offering royalty-free footage, audio, templates, and special effects.
The revelation triggered Albay Rep. Joey Salceda to blow a fuse.
“The whole mess with the contractor using stock footage in the promotional video proves my earlier point about the DoT either apologizing to Albay or firing the consultant,” said Salceda, who earlier had stewed about the snub to Mayon Volcano.
He added, “Clearly, the exclusion of Mayon and other tourist attractions intrinsic to the Philippine brand was just a symptom of trabahong tamad that is now evident to everyone.”
To recall, Salceda lambasted Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco for the non-inclusion of Albay’s famous Mayon Volcano in the promotional video, saying it would not have cost much to include a scene of the volcano, which Albayanos rely on for their bread and butter.
The economist-lawmaker stressed that Frascco, whom he called his friend, had failed Albay and that Mayon deserved better treatment.
The DoT said in a statement: “No payments have been made by the DoT to DDB under the tourism branding campaign contract. The DoT shall exercise its right to forfeit the performance security as a result of a default in obligations under the contract, as well as 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.”
“The Department of Tourism remains fully committed to developing and promoting the Philippines as a powerhouse of natural wonders, culture and heritage, and a fount of warmth and hospitality which is a source of great love and pride for all Filipinos.”
Meanwhile, ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro said the use of DoT’s “deceptive stock footage” is not only a disservice to Filipinos but also to foreigners who may be misled.
“The DoT allocated almost P50 million for this type of work. Taxpayer money should be used judiciously and with utmost transparency, especially when it comes to promoting our country,” she stressed, adding, “This type of shoddy work undermines the credibility and integrity of our tourism industry.”
Contract termination
Following the backlash, the DoT said that it will pull out its contract with the DDB.
“As DDB Philippines has publicly apologized, taken full responsibility, and admitted in no uncertain terms that non-original materials were used in their AVP, reflecting an abject failure to comply with their obligation/s under the contract and a direct contravention with the DoT’s objectives for the enhanced tourism branding, the DoT hereby exercises its right to proceed with termination proceedings against its contract with DDB,” the DoT statement said on Monday.
DDB Philippines on Sunday maintained that while using stock footage in mood videos is standard practice in the industry, the use of foreign stock footage was “an unfortunate oversight on our agency’s part.”
No payment
While Tourism Secretary Frasco revealed that the “Love the Philippines” tourism campaign cost P49 million, the DoT clarified that it had made no payments to DDB under the tourism branding campaign contract.
Based on the terms of reference of the Procurement of Consulting Services for the Integrated Marketing Campaign for the Rebranding of the Philippine Tourism Brand posted on DoT’s website on 26 May 2023, the project’s approved budget was P250 million.