MANILA, PHILIPPINES — DDB Philippines has issued an apology to the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the public for its use of nonoriginal/stock footage in the audio visual presentation (AVP) shown in the launch event of the Love The Philippines campaign.
The statement reads:
“As DOT’s agency on record for the launch of this campaign, we take full responsibility over this matter.
“The AVP in question , uploaded by the agency on social media was intended to be a mood video to excite internal stakeholders about the campaign.
“It is important to note that the AVP was produced by DDB Philippines at its own expense, and no public funds were released, or would be released, to fund the video. This was a DDB initiative to help pitch the slogan.
“While the use of 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. Proper screening and approval processes should have been strictly followed. The use of foreign stock footage in a campaign promoting the Philippines is highly inappropriate, and contradictory to the DOT’s objectives.
“This is an isolated incident and the AVP has already been taken down as of this time.
“The succeeding ad materials have yet to be produced for this campaign. We are fully cooperating with, and assure our full compliance towards the Department of Tourism’s investigation of this matter.
“We sincerely hope this will not diminish the genuine love and appreciation the stakeholders and the public have been showing for the Love The Philippines campaign.”
