CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 24 โ The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) – 10, through the Local Governance Regional Resource Center โ Region 10 (LGRRC-10), conducted a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the proposal to position and develop Northern Mindanao as a film industry production and site location hub at the DILG Regional Office 10.
The activity gathered key stakeholders from the creative industry, local government units (LGUs), media, and academic institutions to generate insights, policy recommendations, and collaborative strategies to support the development of Northern Mindanao as a competitive and sustainable film production destination.
The initiative recognized the potential of the creative economy as a driver of regional growth. By promoting Northern Mindanao as a filming location, the region is expected to attract investments, stimulate local enterprises, create employment opportunities, and strengthen tourism and cultural promotion efforts.
The proposal aligns with DILGโs mandate to assist LGUs in advancing local development initiatives and enhancing economic resilience.
During the discussion, participants provided inputs on policy support mechanisms, infrastructure readiness, investment incentives, capacity-building needs, and inter-agency coordination. The exchange also identified opportunities and challenges in positioning the region within the national film production landscape.
The dialogue gathered representatives from the creative sector, academe and regional policy stakeholders to surface practical insights on industry readiness and governance alignment.
The session was enriched by the participation of Mr. Jhonny Paul Lagura, Regional Chairman of the Northern Mindanao Regional Creative Industries Development Council, Consultant on Innovation Governance and Head of the Center for Digital Iligan Innovation and Sustainability (CDIIS), DSWD Undersecretary Fatima Aliah Q. Dimaporo, the Integrated Performing Arts Guild delegation led by Executive Director Dr Steven P.C. Fernandez, and film makers Marcos Mamay,ย Joe Bacus and Jeff Balsamo. ย
Joining them were representatives from USTP Claveria Arts and Culture, Pasundayag Community Arts & Production, Inc., Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT)and CDO Journalists and Influencers, among other stakeholders from the creative sector.
Key areas explored included strengthening the full production ecosystem such as script development, animation, post production capacity, incentive structures, streamlined local processes, and inter agency coordination. Participants emphasized that positioning Northern Mindanao as a competitive production destination requires multisectoral alignment, infrastructure readiness, policy support, and measurable economic impact.
Insights gathered from the Focus Group Discussion are expected to inform strategic recommendations for advancing the regional creative economy while ensuring that growth remains inclusive, sustainable, and aligned with local governance frameworks.
The outputs of the activity will be submitted to the Regional Development Council (RDC) 10 Economic Development Committee for consideration, particularly on advancing the identification and development of potential film production sites where both international and local film industries may thrive in Northern Mindanao. (By A. Tiglao| DILG 10 CPIU & CDIIS)
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