US film company invests $100M in Philippine production

Birns & Sawyer Inc., a major American film equipment company, is investing $100 million in a new film production venture in the Philippines. This project will start in June and will be based in Clark, located in Tarlac province. Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque shared the news in an online interview. She mentioned that the company plans to build a studio and a production company in the area, with the aim of attracting other foreign film firms to the Philippines. The Philippine government is supporting this initiative by offering grants up to $180,000 to Hollywood filmmakers who choose to film in the country. This is part of the "Expanding the Bridge" program, meant to promote the Philippines as a top destination for film and television productions. Roque highlighted that the program aims to showcase the country's diverse landscapes and skilled local talent. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also has a budget of 300 million pesos for film industry incentives and hopes to double this amount this year. Additional benefits, such as rebates for filmmakers, are also included in the initiative.