Apology Issued: DDB Philippines Admits Use of Foreign Stock Footage in ‘Love the Philippines’ Tourism Video
Photo: Department of Tourism
DDB Philippines, the agency responsible for creating and publishing the “Love the Philippines” tourism promotion video, issued an apology to the Department of Tourism (DOT) on Sunday for including stock footage clips from other countries in the presentation.
After facing criticism from local residents and online users who noticed footage from Thailand, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates on the Storyblocks video creation platform, DDB released a statement taking full responsibility for the oversight.
The agency expressed regret to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, the DOT, and the Filipino people for using non-original or stock footage in the audio-visual presentation during the Love The Philippines campaign launch event.
They clarified that the video was intended to excite internal stakeholders about the campaign and was produced at their own expense without using public funds.
DDB acknowledged that using foreign stock footage was inappropriate and contradictory to the DOT’s objectives. They admitted to not following proper screening and approval processes, considering it an isolated incident. The agency has already removed the video and is cooperating with the DOT’s investigation.
Despite the incident, DDB hopes that the public’s genuine love and support for the Love The Philippines campaign will not be diminished.
The DOT previously stated that DDB had assured the originality and ownership of all materials in the video, but they remain committed to holding those responsible accountable and protecting the country’s interests while continuing efforts to promote the Philippine tourism industry.
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