Dutch media eyes Palawan as next reality TV show location

MANILA – A Dutch reality TV show is looking at northern Palawan as its potential filming site this year, describing the country as “a one in a million location” for shooting all reality shows.

The Philippine Embassy in The Netherlands on August 16 said the Amsterdam-based Monday Media Production wants to bring a 145-member production team on the island in September 2021.

The shoot of the still undisclosed program will be in cooperation with the Philippine Film Studios, Inc. should the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-IED) approve the producers’ request, the proposal of which will be presented on August 18.

All foreign projects shooting in the Philippines need prior approval of the IATF-EID.

“The local production company counterpart for this project (PFSI) is in coordination with the FilmPhilippines Office of FDCP and the project’s details and dates for shooting are yet to be presented to the IATF for its review,” said the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) on Tuesday.

If approved, Tourism Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the Department of Tourism will assist in ensuring that they are billeted at accredited hotels and by providing recommendations on locations to shoot in.

“The Department of Tourism welcomes such initiatives as they not only showcase the beautiful destinations and unique cultures of the Philippines, but also generate revenue and provide jobs for tourism stakeholders and workers residing near the area of production,” she said in a text message.

“This is especially helpful during this time when the tourism industry has been affected by the travel restrictions,” she added.

The Monday Media Production had also produced the reality show “Expeditie Robinson” which debuted in 2000.

Out of its 23 seasons, nine were filmed in the Philippines, including the pristine waters and shores of Caramoan, Camarines Sur.

Since last year, the DOT said there have been “a number of requests” from foreign production companies to film their shows and movies in the country. It did not elaborate, however, how many were granted approval.

The FDCP refers the requests to the IATF for approval pending the vetting of safety protocols the TV crew will be implementing during the production such as RT-PCR testing, observing the 14-day mandatory quarantine, and a strict travel bubble between the point of origin and location shoot.