DDB Philippines, a Philippine advertising agency, has apologized for using images from other countries in a tourism promotional video. The campaign used images of rice terraces in Indonesia, sand dunes in the United Arab Emirates and a plane landing in Switzerland.
After what the agency described as an “unfortunate lapse”, Philippine Secretary of State for Tourism Christina Garcia Frasco clarified that no public funds were used to make the video. In addition, the person in charge stated that the Ministry of Tourism requested on several occasions the advertising agency DDB Philippines to confirm that the materials used in the video were their own and original.
“On all occasions, DDB has repeatedly ensured that the originality and ownership of all materials are in order,” said Christina García Frasco, quoted by the BBC.
The video was made as part of the “Love the Philippines” campaign, launched at the end of June, and cost €825,000. The one who discovered that the video contained videos from other countries was the AFP news agency, after an analysis, and the Philippine blogger Sass Rogando Sasot.
Now, the Philippine Government has stated that it will ensure that DDB Philippines takes responsibility for the video. Meanwhile, the agency explained that the use of stock footage in videos is “normal” in the advertising industry, but apologized for using other videos in this case.
“The use of foreign stock footage in a campaign to promote the Philippines is highly inappropriate and contradictory to the objectives,” they said.
The video was removed and the company said it would help the state tourism department with its investigation.
Source: TSF
