DDB Philippines, the agency contracted for the launch of the country’s new tourism campaign “Love the Philippines,” apologized on Sunday for what it viewed as an “unfortunate oversight” regarding the inclusion of non-original stock footage in an audiovisual presentation.
In a statement, DDB Philippines said it takes full responsibility after online posts alleged that the AVP used several clips from subscription-based stock footage website Storyblocks that were not shot in the Philippines.
“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 statement read.
“The use of foreign stock footage in a campaign promoting the Philippines is highly inappropriate and contradictory to the DOT’s (Department of Tourism) objectives,” it added.
The DOT on Saturday ordered an investigation into the claims, which blogger Sass Sasot said contained at least five scenes shot in other countries: rice terraces in Bali, Indonesia; a fisherman throwing a net in Thailand; a passenger plane in Zurich, Switzerland; jumping dolphins; and a person driving a vehicle on sand dunes in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
