US filmmaking equipment provider Burns & Sawyer has committed to increase its planned investment in the Philippines to $100 million from a previously pledged $50 million, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Tuesday.
The Los Angeles, California-based company runs an Asia-Pacific office – Birns & Sawyer-Manila – in New Manila, Quezon City.
“If all goes well, then the investment will reach $100 million,” Roque said in a message to Malaya Business Insight through the department’s press relations office.
Birns & Sawyer intends to spend $15 million to $17 million to set up a production company in Clark, Pampanga. This can start operations as early as June 2025, Roque said.
Since the production company will shoot in the Philippines, Roque said this is a welcome development to showcase the country’s tourism sites, its creative industry and talents.
On March 5, Birns & Sawyer made a pledge to Roque in Los Angeles that they were ready to commit $50 million to their Philippine operations.
In a separate statement on March 13, the DTI said it launched the Expanding the Bridge Initiative also in Los Angeles on March 6.
The initiative’s Film Location Incentive Program offers a cash rebate of up to 25 percent and grants of up to P10 million ($180,000) for international co-productions through the International Co-Production Fund.
The initiative will tap into programs that aim to encourage major film and television projects to shoot in Philippine locations and promote local talent and content.
Birns & Sawyer plans to develop two additional sound stages in other key cities outside of Metro Manila.
It intends to work with local schools and universities and train fresh graduates in film production, the DTI said.
Birns & Sawyer has ongoing initiatives in the Philippines such as cinematography workshops and co-production grants, and is involved in the FilAm Creative Film Festival. The festival supports emerging Filipino-American filmmakers.
Birns & Sawyer-Manila sells, rents and provides system integration services especially camera and production equipment rentals.
