By Hanah Lee Tabios
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat on Tuesday said top ad agencies team up for free to refresh DOT’s It’s More Fun in the Philippines campaign and to help the department with the re-opening of Boracay set on October.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat
(CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a private gathering among the private sectors and members of the press, Puyat mentioned names that approached her to work with her pro-bono.
“We have David Guerrero of BBDO. We have Dave Ferrer of J. Walter, Lyle Sacris, we even have Cecile Dominguez. There’s another one Joel who wasn’t able to go, but all these ad agencies are all working together for the first time to help me how to open Boracay and refresh the campaign for free,” she said.
She also pointed out that the campaign slogan will still be retained.
Though the department will still allot budget for the production cost, Puyat reiterated that the biggest cost sometimes is the creativity of these people.
Puyat also said that Boracay will also have e-tricycles. David Guerrero and Dave Ferrer also came up with this idea that everything has to be sustainable.
Other big artists
OPM artists like Rico Blanco, Armi Millare of Up Dharma Down, Sharon Cuneta, Ogie Alcasid, and even Noel Cabangon who she mentioned as anti-administration but is pro-country, even offered to make tourism campaign jingles for free.
“You all have this goodwill from people and all these big stars. I don’t think it’s about me. It’s about the country because we love our country so much. Filipinos have become more nationalistic and proud of her own and everybody is just waiting to be asked,” Puyat stated.
On Duterte’s SONA
Puyat, who also attended the SONA along with his father former senator Alberto Romulo proudly supported the President’s report particularly on the sustainable and responsible tourism part of his speech. She stated that each cabinet member contributes to the President’s speech, hoping that it would be included in the SONA.
“My dad knows this. Every time before the SONA, we contribute to the President’s speech; hoping that he will pick it up and I’m proud to say that he picked it up,” she said.
She pointed out that the beauty of the sudden six-month closure and rehabilitation of Boracay is that people now understands what sustainable tourism is all about.
“Before it was just a concept; nobody could actually figure out what could do it. But now because of what happened to Boracay, people are policing themselves, the private sector have been policing themselves, the LGU...well I don’t know if they have been warned but I’ve been talking to secretary Año and Secretary Cimatu, we will not be afraid to close them down if they do not follow,” she added.
When asked whether there is an agency to manage Boracay administration upon its opening, Puayat said that there are Senate and House bills filed but Task Force Boracay, from what she understands, will be enforced for the next two years.