Ad-supported Public Works: Go or No?
As you and I very well know, the Philippines has never really — and probably never will — have the budget to match the multitude of things that need repairing in this country. And we’re just talking about public works.
So, would you be willing to to allow advertisers to take charge of repairs, as KFC did in several U.S. cities by filling in potholes? On the one-hand, it’s CSR (corporate social responsibility) which is good — but on the other hand, isn’t it also institutionalized and abetted outdoor advertising of the ugliest and crassest kind?
The big question is: In principle, would you mind if a brand found its way into all manner of public spaces IF it would so some good for the community?
I can imagine so many possibilities aside from streets: public walls, school roofs, streetlights, garbage trucks, police cars, fire trucks, and so on being adopted by a corporate sponsor out to do good for a change (and for its brand). There have to be rules of course. On logo sizes for one thing.
(Fictional conversation: Politician’s’s aide arguing with the marketing / brand guy: “Hey, you better make your logo smaller because the Mayor’s / Congressman’s / Whatever’s name has to be bigger).
I know that this kind of thing is being done on a small scale already in isolated areas for small projects here and there. I’m asking if this was on a bigger scale — would you agree?
Tell us what you think in the comments box.
(Found via Adfreak / Adweek )
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isobels_burden says:
May 24th, 2009
4:17 pm
As long as these private corporations don’t get tangled up with politicians, I guess a KFC logo-studded street can be better for us. I mean, folks can still get something good out of patronizing brands than putting some trapo who’d rather waste a privileged speech about a joke on Letterman on the seat.
BlooM says:
June 23rd, 2009
3:06 am
It’s a matter of regulation. As long as we can keep to a limit, a standard and set of guidelines, then it should be fine. Of course we cannot forget that the Philippines has a plethora of laws (the good, the bad and the senseless) that STARVES for enforcement. Since Gobyerno is all bark and no bite, I guess we’re only in for a massive “dirtification” of the country’s roads. Sorry Makdo and Jalibi.