The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Monday terminated its contract with the ad agency that used foreign footage in a video promoting the country as a tourist destination.

This came after DDB Philippines apologized for what it called an ‘‘unfortunate oversight.”

”As DDB Philippines has publicly apologized, taken full responsibility, and admitted in no uncertain terms that non-original materials were used in their AVP, reflecting an abject failure to comply with their obligation/s under the contract and a direct contravention with the DOT’s objectives for the enhanced tourism branding, the DOT hereby exercises its right to proceed with termination proceedings against its contract with DDB,” the DOT said in a statement.

No payments have been made to DDB under the tourism branding campaign contract, the department said.

”The DOT shall exercise its right to forfeit performance security as a result of default in obligations under the contract, as well as to review standards of performance or lack thereof vis-à-vis any claims for payment and/or any other engagement. Further, the DOT reserves the right to take all other action against acts deemed inimical to the interest of Philippine tourism,” it added. 

Some people took to social media to point out that parts of the video showing footage of the rice terraces, dolphins jumping out of the water, a fisherman, sand dunes, and a plane approaching the runway were allegedly sourced from Storyblocks, which offers stock video clips for a fee.

The questioned video was part of the ”Love the Philippines” campaign, the country’s new tourism slogan, that was launched on June 27.

Acknowledging its error, DDB Philippines apologized to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, the DOT, and the Filipino people.

It said the AVP was ”intended to be a mood video to excite internal stakeholders about the campaign.”

“While the use of stock footage in mood videos is standard practice in the industry, the use of foreign stock footage was an unfortunate oversight on our agency’s part. Proper screening and approval processes should have been strictly followed,” DDB said in a statement on Sunday.

“The use of foreign stock footage in a campaign promoting the Philippines is highly inappropriate and contradictory to the DOT’s objectives,” it added.

Still, DDB said it was an ”isolated incident” and that the AVP had already been removed from social media platforms.

”As DOT’s agency on record for the launch of the campaign, we take full responsibility over this matter,” it said.