Ad agency uses foreign footage in Philippines tourism video, later apologises.

An advertising agency in the Philippines has apologised for using visuals of tourist attractions in other countries in a promotional film.
Visuals from the ad included rice terraces in Indonesia, sand dunes in the United Arab Emirates, and a plane landing in Switzerland, reports BBC.
The ad agency, DDB Philippines, apologised for the “unfortunate oversight,” it said. Christina Garcia Frasco, Philippines’ tourism secretary, stated that public money was not utilised for the film.
According to Frasco, the Department of Tourism frequently sought confirmation from the agency that the elements used in the ad were their own and unique, said the report.
“ALL these occasions, DDB repeatedly assured the DOT that the originality and ownership of all materials are in order,” she said.
It was created as part of the “Love the Philippines” campaign, which was launched in late June at a cost of $900,000, the BBC report added.
Analysis by French news agency AFP and Philippine blogger Sass Rogando Sasot first revealed the use of visuals from other nations in the ad.
Frasco stated that the department will ensure DDB Philippines accepts responsibility for the video. In its own response, DDB Philippines stated that the usage of stock material in mood films is common in the advertising industry, but it apologised for using other videos in this case, the report also said.
“The use of foreign stock footage in a campaign promoting the Philippines is highly inappropriate, and contradictory to the DOT’s objectives,” it said.
The video has been withdrawn, and the company has stated that it would cooperate with the Philippines tourism department’s inquiry.