Summit tarpaulins with misspelled Philippines removed

“The exact tarpaulins or billboards pinned in the areas leading to the Mall of Asia (MOA) complex did not conform to the approved final artwork,” said the NOC in a statement read by Atty. Michel Kristian Ablan, Assistant Secretary for Policy and Legislative Affairs of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO). (Photo: Kristian Ablan/Facebook)

MANILA — The ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Committee (NOC) has directed the immediate removal of tarpaulin banners welcoming world leaders and delegates to the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as these misspelled the name of the Philippines.

“The exact tarpaulins or billboards pinned in the areas leading to the Mall of Asia (MOA) complex did not conform to the approved final artwork,” said the NOC in a statement read by Atty. Michel Kristian Ablan, Assistant Secretary for Policy and Legislative Affairs of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

Ablan said the ASEAN 2017 Committee on Media Affairs and Strategic Communications developed brand guidelines within an approved final artwork for rollout nationwide.

“We are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the distribution and display of the subject tarpaulins or billboards,” he added.

Ablan stressed these tarpaulins were neither printed nor distributed by the PCOO, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), or the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“The DILG NCR (Department of Interior and Local Government National Capital Region) already issued a statement (that) clarified that it was issued by them, it was posted by them, and they already took them down and that they are replacing those posters with (the) correct spelling of the country Philippines,” he added.

The letter “i” was missed in the word Philippines in these tarpaulin banners welcoming world leaders and delegates to ASEAN activities.

Some 20 leaders, including United States President Donald Trump, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, are expected to participate in the 31st ASEAN Summit and related meetings to be held here from Nov. 13 to 14.