No wonder it's so much fun

‘It’s more fun of the Philippines’ campaign violated procurement rules finds state auditor

According to the Philippines’ audit commission there was irregularities in the way the tourism authorities assigned their ad agency for a P1.2 billion (US$26 million) project that led to the hugely popular and highly awarded ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’ campaign.

In a 2014 report released over the weekend, the government’s Commission on Audit said that tourism advertising contracts were not put out to public tender, and were renewed and extended by an amount larger than stated in the original contract. This violates Republic Act 9184, better known as the procurement law, the audit body pointed out.

Aquino need not approve 1.2-billion DOT ad contracts questioned by COA–Palace

Malacañang maintained on Tuesday that the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) P1.2-billion advertising contracts being questioned by the Commission on Audit (COA) for alleged irregularities did not require President Aquino’s approval.

“Unless fully justified by management, the renewal of advertising services contract with the advertising consultant and the extension of advertising services may not be allowed in audit,” the COA auditors said.

They pointed out that the procurement of advertising services was “not even included in the Annual Procurement Plan” of the department’s TPB constituting, the COA said, a violation of the provisions of the Procurement Law.