“Strangely, the number of infomercials in TV and in radio of officials representing government agencies suddenly increased. In effect, large amounts of money which can be spent on more important stuff are being wasted on these. What is your take on this issue and do we have laws that prohibit reckless spending on infomercials in the guise of public service?” Posted on 01/09 8:55 PM

Manny Villar

One of the best ways to inform the public is through television, and TV ads are often employed to bring one’s message across – often with much success. So in that sense, I really do not find anything wrong with the airing of TV ads or infomercials – because they are meant to inform. In the case of cabinet secretaries, it is important, however, to look at the timing, and the motive. If they are using them for their own self-interest, they must pull them out immediately, out of delicadeza. But if their real intention is to inform the public about what their department or agency has been doing, it’s perfectly alright to air them, so long as they are not featured in the ads. Nagmumukha kasing sila ang bida sa mga ads nila, at hindi ang departamento o kagawarang hawak nila. Dapat parang “report card” ang dating ng mga TV ads nila, and they should employ them sparingly. Our executive offices may have a budget allocated for advertising expenses but that doesn’t mean they can spend them indiscriminately. Finally, it is a basic policy in public administration and clearly provided in the Constitution that government funds should not be used for private gains.
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