The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Monday announced that it had terminated its contract with DDB Philippines, the department鈥檚 partner advertising firm that used stock footage from other countries in a tourism promotional video for the Philippines. (PHOTOS: DOT, DDB PHILIPPINES)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Senator Lito Lapid on Thursday pointed out that the Department of Tourism鈥檚 (DOT) controversial 鈥淟ove the Philippines鈥� campaign video made by advertising agency DDB Philippines was only meant for 鈥渋nternal stakeholders鈥� and 鈥渘ot yet the public.鈥�
As a win-win option, Lapid urged Filipinos to work together to create a phenomenal tourism campaign, suggesting to use 鈥淲ow, More Fun! Love the Philippines!
In a statement issued Thursday, Lapid stressed that the fiasco should not overshadow the DOT鈥檚 efforts to improve the Philippine tourism industry.
听鈥淭he video in question was there to present the idea, the spirit behind the campaign. And it did just that. There was no malice, no intent to mislead if we treat it as a video that was meant only for the DOT and the internal stakeholders and not yet the public,鈥� said Lapid in a statement.
鈥淓veryone ought to have understood that the actual advertisement videos are yet to be made,鈥� he added.
DDB Philippines issued an apology but stated that the viral video was only meant for internal stakeholders.
Despite the criticism it received, Lapid stressed that he still fully supports the DOT and Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco.
鈥淲hatever slogan is used, it is just one message. For me, we must join our hands and pursue a better tourism campaign to attract more foreign and local tourists, which I dubbed as 鈥淲ow, It鈥檚 more Fun! Love, the Philippines!鈥� he concluded.