More undoings bared a month after DOT video fiasco

Christina Frasco

Lawmakers on Tuesday learned that two contractual employees of the Department of Tourism (DOT) responsible for uploading the controversial “Love The Philippines” video on the agency’s website had resigned, and that the DOT had also suspended a P124.45-million consultancy contract with DDB Philippines, the ad agency that produced the controversial material.

In July, the DOT terminated a separate, P49-million contract with DDB days after it was leaked on social media that the video—part of a rebranding campaign for Philippine tourism—used images of scenic spots found in other countries.

Facing a House committee hearing on the DOT’s proposed P2.9-billion budget for 2024, Tourism Undersecretary Ma. Elaine Bathan said two employees had already resigned following the furor.

“There were already employees who formally tendered their resignations… There are one or two who have already tendered their resignations and are no longer part of the DOT,” said Bathan, the undersecretary for legal and special concerns.

‘Aghast’

“These are courtesy resignations that were tendered for those we contracted as job-order employees in the branding department,” she told the House committee on appropriations.

At the same hearing, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco stressed that the DOT’s contract with DDB Philippines for the video clearly stated that the consultancy firm should “submit and publish original images.”

Frasco said the DOT could not have known that a reputable advertising firm like DDB Philippines would upload “unoriginal videos,” which was why the department was “aghast” over the damage it did on the rebranding campaign.

“It was never the intention of the DOT to allow unoriginal images to be posted, which is exactly why the contract has been terminated,” said Frasco.

On Paul Soriano

But Rep. France Castro said she was not buying the DOT’s explanation that contractual employees alone were responsible for uploading the video.

“I don’t think it’s logical. So the decision to upload was given to the contractual employees? I don’t believe that,” said Castro.

To this Bathan, replied: “It was not the contractual employee who allowed and approved the uploading of the video. It was the concerted efforts of the DOT, leading to the launch, wherein the entire DOT agreed and allowed DDB to upload or post the video.”

As to the reported involvement of Paul Soriano, the presidential adviser for creative communications, Bathan said the filmmaker was “in the loop” in the production of the controversial video but that the issue was “within the confines” of the DOT.

The undersecretary also maintained that it was DDB Philippines that was responsible for the video under its consultancy deal with the DOT at the time.

Consultancy on hold

Frasco also disclosed that the department had suspended another contract with DDB Philippines worth P124.45 million, one where the ad agency was supposed to provide consultancy services for the promotion of award-winning local tourist spots.

This was after OFW Rep. Marissa Magsino inquired about the status of other DOT contracts related to the rebranding efforts “in light of the (video) fiasco.”

“With regard to the other (DDB) contract that you mentioned, the same has been suspended by the DOT with its exercise of the necessary due diligence, to ensure that it safeguards the interest of the DOT as well as the country. Even as we assure the public that the work produced by the DOT inures to the benefit of the Filipino people and fully promotes the tourism industry,” the secretary said.

But TBP deal stays

But an official of the Tourism Promotion Board (TPB), a DOT-attached agency, said it was pushing through with its own contract with DDB Philippines worth P12.9 million.

This TPB contract taps the DDB for the “conceptualization and development of meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions,” said the board’s chief operating officer, Margarita Nograles, also at Tuesday’s hearing.

“We also did a thorough review of the terms of reference and the deliverables of DDB to us. So far all have been okay, so we will continue with that and we are actually ready to launch that,” Nograles said.

Bathan assured the House committee that the P49-million budget for the now-terminated contract with DDB, which included work for the creation of a new campaign slogan and logo, remained intact and that the DOT would not use any video made by the ad agency.

“The priority of the DOT was to immediately terminate and cancel the contract,’’ she said. “One of the serious considerations is other courses of legal action, including the filing of action in the proper courts, should the same be warranted.” INQ