SONA team’s request to film Benguet tourist spot denied

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The municipal government of La Trinidad in Benguet has denied a request by a team of videographers to take footage of a tourist destination in the area.

The footage was supposed to be used as backdrop for the State of the Nation Address of President Duterte.

The team, which included movie director Joyce Bernal, was supposed to film Mt. Yangbew, a local tourist destination some 30 minutes drive from this city.

La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda said the team was allowed to take videos of flower farms in Barangay Bahong.

“Safety and health protocols were observed during the activity and the team was not allowed to interact with the villagers,” Salda said.

It was not the first time that Bernal’s team was denied filming in the Cordilleras.

Earlier, the local governments of Sagada in Mountain Province, Banaue in Ifugao and Tublay in Benguet denied the team’s request to shoot local scenery.

Salda allowed entry to the team after talking over the phone with Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag and Cordillera tourism officer-in-charge Jovy Ganongan, who assured him that proper health protocols would be observed and no villagers would be involved in the shooting.

Salda also consulted the Office of the Governor and Marlo Iringan, director of the of the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Cordillera, before allowing entry to the film crew.