Alin Mall is a blogger I know who has taken an interest in the latest issues surrounding Online Promotions, blogs, and bloggers. This is the letter i sent her.
Dear Aling Mall,
Just writing to tell you what happened during the Briefing /Dialogue with Bloggers on the Consumer Act (RA7394) and the Sales Promotion Permit Press. It was held at the BOI Buildng along Buendia or what is now known as Gil Puyat Avenue. The meeting was held at the AV room an comfortable air-conditioned room on the Penthouse of the said buiding. When I came in the tables were arranged U-Shaped. It reminded me of a board room arrangement – something you have seen in the first Godfather film, Dr Strangelove and oddly enough the first Star Wars movie. Big conference tables though lent some sort of formality and even sinister air in those movies. Here though the presence of a hollow center sort of dissipited the formality. Well it was just a feeling I got.
Briefing /Dialogue with Bloggers on the Consumer Act (RA7394) and the Sales Promotion Permit Press
Anyway, the meeting was fruitful in that it was recognized that there was a need to look into more closely on the nature and community of blogging in the Philippines as it relates to Online Promotions. And two things were spelled out.
First, There would a threshold or point when the yearly value of all prizes raffled out or awarded during online contests in blogs was set. If the total yearly exceeded the amount of one million then this would be the only time a blog has to start applying for a permit.
Second, There would a threshold or point when the yearly value of all prizes raffled out or awarded during online contests in blogs and that was sponsored by a sponsor was set. If the total yearly exceeded the amount of two hundred thousands pesos, then this would be the only time a blog has to start applying for a permit.
Third, I guess the ruling said above would apply for three months. In the meantime a Technical Working Group would be formed to help with the interpretation of policy regarding onlie promotion. And there will also be two more forums regarding the issue of onlime promotion.
View of the Dialogue from where I was sitting
In the meantime we have time to prepare the paper on Online Promotion on Blogs.
I guess that is all for now Aling Mall. Again it is important to be part of this process. Otherwise we might not have our chance to speak.
Yours Truly,
Juned
