KBP Asked: Stop Airing Infomercial Using Children

NAGA CITY - Bikol writer and Vox Bikol columnist Victor Dennis Nierva has asked the Camarines Sur chapter of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) on Monday to act immediately on the "political and politically-motivated" infomercials aired in radio stations in this city and in Camarines Sur that use children as voice talents.

Nierva, in a letter to KBP-Camarines Sur President Emmanuel Llagas, has asked the "prompt decommissioning of [the] crass, children-employing advertisements."

Nierva was especially referring to the infomercial created by a local advertising agency aired over local radio stations RMN-DWNX and DWOK starting November that featured a child singing a tune with verses that call as peste (pest) the opponents of the controversial Libmanan-Cabusao Dam Project.

"[Infomercials] employing children as voice talents ... have nothing to do or not in any way connected with the very nature of childhood. On the other hand, these political and politically motivated advertisements come as a way of exploitation, mis-education, and misinformation, in many manners, of our children."

He said his concern regarding the "exploitation" of children in media was even more intensified when he heard a rebuttal advertisement aired over DZGE and other local radio stations that again employed children.

"I believe this battle of advertisements favors only those who have political motives, as well as the advertising agencies responsible for creating the ads, and the radio stations where airtime charge is currently at its peak."

He said media outfits airing the ads might have violated the United Nations' declaration of the rights of the child.

He sought that advertising agencies or any entities responsible for creating ads as such be sanctioned by the KBP. Jonas Cabiles Soltes