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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Zubiri believes DOT chief has no ill-intent in the tourism campaign fiasco

Zubiri believes DOT chief has no ill-intent in the tourism campaign fiasco

Published Jul 6, 2023 07:06 am
Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri believes that Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and the DOT have no ill-intent in the DOT promotional video fiasco. "But I nevertheless expect them to take this incident very seriously, and hold accountable those who have wronged the Filipino people and the tourist spots that were replaced with alien places," Zubiri said in a statement issued today, Thursday, July 6. The DOT is being criticized for the misleading inclusion of stock footage in the "Love the Philippines" campaign video, ‘’but let us also allow the Department to correct this misstep, reflect on what happened, and improve its campaign going forward,’’ he added. The concerned ad agency has already owned up to its negligence and the DOT has already gone on record rightly taking responsibility for the controversy, and terminating the contract with the agency.  "We all should come together in support of the country and of our tourist destinations, which could be considered at par with other world-class attractions," Zubiri said He emphasized that the harm to the Philippine reputation as a rising global tourism power should be repaired immediately, which should go beyond producing a correct version of the controversial promotional video.  "The DOT leadership's call to stick with their new campaign slogan is duly noted, but this should not be the end-all of the corrective process," he stressed. He reiterated his call to all relevant agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Department of Health (DOH) to work closely with the DOT to improve Philippine tourism infrastructures "so that we can bring in to the country the much-needed billion tourism dollars." Zubiri emphasized that the success of the "Love the Philippines" campaign would also live and die with the cooperation and collaboration of all government stakeholders so that the country’s public transport, connectivity, health protocols, logistics, and people would be ready to deliver and accept the love Philippine tourism deserves.  "This is the meat of the daunting task that the DOT needs to focus on as it buckles down to work to address their shortcomings," he said. "We need to support the DOT and our tourism stakeholders even more this time, as we need to infuse into our country the needed billions of dollars brought in by tourists from all over the world," he stressed. "And we should refrain from damaging further our image as a rising global tourist destination," he added.

Related Tags

Senator Migz Zubiri Christina Gracia-Frasco Love the Philippines DOT
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