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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Someone should take responsibility for tourism video fiasco, says Gordon

Someone should take responsibility for tourism video fiasco, says Gordon

Published Jul 4, 2023 09:26 am
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Gordon told the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) and DDB Philippines that someone should take responsibility for the controversy regarding the department's partner advertising firm, who used stock footage from other countries in a video to promote tourism in the Philippines. (Photo credits to Dick Gordon/Facebook)
Gordon, who served as Tourism Secretary and popularized the slogan "Wow Philippines" from 2001 to 2004, is saddened by tourism video fiasco and the ongoing conflict over who is to blame and who derails the project. "Some of our people may have wasted time, but we must fix the problem as a nation. Somebody has to own up for us to restart the campaign. That is the only way. DDB Philippines must admit negligence for not checking the photos in the DOT's Audio Visual Presentation (AVP). How they left the country red-faced in the international community," Gordon said in a statement on July 4. He emphasized the need to acknowledge mistakes and the tourism is far too important to dwell on this deception. The organization must correct the mistake immediately. "An agency as big as DDB cannot overlook a mistake that big. It is their duty to review and have everything checked, or the mistake will bite you. More importantly, it will rapidly hurt the Philippines."  "The damage is gargantuan, and this fiasco over the use of photos of Thailand, Indonesia, and Dubai in the AVP astounded the world. Filipinos must exact accountability," he added. Gordon even suggested that the DBB should correct its mistake with an emphasis on what to love about the Philippines: the sense of responsibility of Filipinos and the easy access that drives the tourism culture. *(Rhowen Del Rosario)*

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Sen. Richard Gordon Richard Gordon DOT
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