(MANILA BULLETIN)

Makabayan solons are insisting on the need for a House inquiry on the controversial "Love the Philippines" promotional video of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

This, despite statements from the DOT that no public funds were spent on the making of the problematic video.

In a still unnumbered resolution, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel asked the House
Committees on Tourism and on Good Government and Public Accountability to investigate the matter "in aid of legislation".

Castro, in a statement Sunday, July 8, said its imperative to ensure that public funds are being utilized appropriately.

The deputy minority leader added that any misuse or mismanagement of public funds should not be tolerated, especially given the pressing needs of the Filipino people in these challenging times.

Prior to the filing of the resolution, contractor Doyle, Dane & Bernbach (DDB) Philippines, admitted to using stock footage from other countries in the promotional video it made for the P49.9-million Love the Philippines tourism campaign.

The foreign stock footage came from tourist sites in Indonesia, Thailand, Switzerland, and Dubai, the resolution said.

It also noted that Presidential Adviser for Creative Communications Paul Soriano was involved in the production of the controversial video. "Reports claim the 'DOT/Paul had
already shot and edited the material without the agency' and the video is not the agency’s
fault," it read.

"While the DOT stressed that no public funds have been paid for the video, Congress should investigate the matter and if there are lapses in appropriate laws, rules and regulations, especially that billions of public funds and resources are allotted for such rebranding," it further read.

"Congress is duty-bound to ensure that public funds are used efficiently and effectively, and that government agencies are held accountable for their actions," stated the authors, who are part of the House minority bloc.

Last July 3, DOT terminated its contract with DDB due to its “failure to comply with their obligation/s under the contract and a direct contravention with the DOT’s objectives for the enhanced tourism branding”.

Love the Philippines replaced the very popular "It's more fun in the Philippines" slogan.