NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
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*22 SEP 28 A9:00
S. No.
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Introduced by Senator MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
AN ACT
MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING FILIPINO FILMS, CREATING THE 
NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In an article on audio-visual archiving published by the National Commission 
for Culture and the Arts, Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA) member, 
Josephine M. Atienza discussed that film gives us the most effective record of the 
past, of the culture, the people's values, attitudes, mores and way of life. For film 
students and practitioners, exposure to Filipino film classics can give a sense of history 
and perspective. For film educators, alternative to Western models are provided. And 
for the general public, they will be given the chance to enjoy (again) the films which 
shaped their (or their parents') formative years.
On the same article, she further said that the significance of a national audio­
video archive may be compared to that of the national library (in terms of printed 
materials) or the national museum (in terms of artifacts). Considering that in the 
Philippines film and related media have the broadest mass base, undoubtedly the 
biggest influence on the popular culture, the significance of an audio-visual archive 
also takes on a sociological and anthropological level.
Para sa isang bansang may mahaba at kapuri-puring kasaysayan ng paglikha 
ng pellkula, na kakatapos lamang magdiwang ng isang siglo ng pelikulang Filipino,


nararapat lamang na ang pamahalaan ay magtatag ng isang institusyon na 
mamamahala sa isang pasilidad na may kadalubhasaan at malalim at tunay na 
malasakit at pagmamahal sa pelikulang Filipino. Ito ay pagkilala sa kahalagahan ng 
pellkula bilang tagapangalaga ng kultura at kasaysayan at pagsisiguro na ito ay 
maipapamalas sa mga susunod na henerasyon.
This bill seeks to recognize the importance of preserving our films, by 
establishing a national film archive following internationally- accepted standards, in 
charge of collecting, archiving, conservation, preservation, management, restoration 
and storage of Filipino films that upholds the nation's historical, cultural, and artistic 
legacy and heritage.
As a nation with a long and glorious film history, the passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought.
maOTel "LWO
ro" M. LAPID ,
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
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*22 SEP 28 A9«0
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
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AN ACT
MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING FILIPINO FILMS, CREATING THE 
NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "National Film Archives of
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the Philippines Act of 2022".
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared to be the policy of 
the State to undertake initiatives that will promote the growth and development of the 
local film industry, conserve and promote the nation's historical and cultural heritage 
and legacy of Filipino cinema.
Towards this end, the State shall establish a national film archive following 
internationally- accepted standards, in charge of collecting, archiving, conservation, 
preservation, management, restoration and storage of Filipino films that protects and 
upholds the nation's historical, cultural, and artistic legacy and heritage.
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SECTION 3. Coverage. — This Act shall apply to all Filipino films ranging from
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motion pictures to cinematic masterpieces, documentary, news reels, silent films,
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avant-garde works, significant amateur footage, television shows to sound recordings,
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and studio productions to independent, orphan and even experimental films produced
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here and abroad.
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SECTION 4. Creation of National Film Archive. — The National Film Archive of
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the Philippines (NFAP) is hereby created, replacing the Philippine Film Archive (PFA)
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under the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), organized under
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Republic Act No. 9167.
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Where certain functions are declared redundant on account of the
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reorganization, the Film Development Council of the Philippines shall provide for the
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reassignment, insofar as practicable, of affected employees to similar positions within
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the Council and its attached agencies, taking into consideration their skills and
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experience, without loss of seniority or other rights and privileges. In any case, all
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relevant laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations concerning the rights
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of government employees in the reorganization of an office shall be respected.
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SECTION 5. Functions. — The National Film Archives of the Philippines shall
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have the following functions:
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a. Implement a comprehensive national film preservation program for motion
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pictures, cinematic masterpieces to documentary, news reels, silent films,
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avant-garde works, significant amateur footage, television shows to sound
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recordings, and studio productions to independent, orphan and even
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experimental films produced here and abroad, in conjunction with other film
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archivists, educators and historians, copyright owners, film industry
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representatives, and others involved in activities related to film preservation;
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b. Consult with film archivist, educators and historians, copyright owners, film
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industry representatives, including those involved in the preservation of film,
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and others involved in activities related to film preservation;
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c. To coordinate activities to assure that efforts or archivists and copyright
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owners, and others in the public and private sector, are effective and
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complementary;
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d. Develop a coordinated study and strategy to address the policy and
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technological problems, share information and resources for possible solutions,
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and avoid duplication of effort by and within public and private entities;
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e. Generate public awareness of and support for these activities;
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f. Make materials more accessible in ways fully consistent with copyright laws,
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focusing on public domain collections important for educational and historical
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research;
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g. Undertake studies and investigations of film preservation activities as needed,
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including the efficacy of new technologies, and recommended solutions to
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improve these practices;
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h. Establish criteria and procedures under which films may be included in the
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National Film Registry, except that no film shall be eligible for inclusion in the
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National Film Registry until 10 years after such films first publication;
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i. Establish procedures under which the general public may make
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recommendations to the National Film Archives regarding the inclusion of films
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in the National Film Registry;
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j. Fund projects such as the archival preservation and restoration of film
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collections, or the establishment of regional storage facilities to house
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endangered film collections from many institutions in archival conditions; and
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k. Facilitate the acquisition of a permanent and suitable structure and facilities,
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including online storage, for the National Film Archives of the Philippines to
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house the country's film archival holdings.
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SECTION 6. National Preservation Plan. — The NFAP shall conduct a national
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study of the film preservation problems facing the nation, and to prepare a national
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preservation plan to address the problems posed by the study.
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The study shall determine whether there is a critical need to develop a
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coordinated national strategy to address the loss of film materials used and enjoyed
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especially for historical and educational purposes. The national plan shall suggest to
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focus the preservation efforts on those films without commercial viability or copyright
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ownership, but which are educationally and historically significant and therefore most
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in need of maintenance for future generations.


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The NFAP shall prepare the national preservation plan. They shall convene all
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the parties interested in film production, preservation and dissemination into the
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preparation of the study and the national plan and ensure the participation of
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organizations and individual participants in public hearings and drafting sessions.
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SECTION 7. National Film Registry. — The NFAP shall establish a National Film
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Registry, the database on basic information of motion pictures, cinematic
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masterpieces, documentary, news reels, silent films, avant-garde works, significant
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amateur footage, television shows to sound recordings, and studio productions to
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independent and even experimental films produced here and abroad.
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The NFAP shall publish in the Official Gazette the titles of each film that is
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included in the National Film Registry.
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SECTION 8. Implementation. — Within one year of enactment, the National
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Film Archives of the Philippines shall conduct a study on the current state of film
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preservation activities in the country and subsequently establish a comprehensive
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national film preservation program for motion pictures, cinematic masterpieces,
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documentary, news reels, silent films, avant-garde works, significant amateur footage,
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television shows to sound recordings, and studio productions to independent and even
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experimental films produced here and abroad, in conjunction with other film archivists,
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copyright owners and others in the film community.
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SECTION 9. Report - Not later than one (1) year after the date of the
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enactment of this Act and each year thereafter, the National Film Archives of the
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Philippines shall submit to both Houses of the Congress a report containing the results
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of the study conducted under Section 6 of this Act.
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SECTION 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation
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of this Act shall be charged against the budget of the Film Development Council of the
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Philippines in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Film Development
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Council of the Philippines, National Archives of the Philippines, National Commission
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for Culture and the Arts, Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Department of
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Finance in consultation with other government agencies and concerned stakeholders,
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shall promulgate and issue the implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90)
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days upon approval of this Act.
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SECTION 12. Separability Clause. — In the event that any part, section or
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provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid by a competent court,
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the remaining provisions thereby shall remain valid and in full force and effect as if
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the sections or provisions so annulled or voided had never been incorporated herein.
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SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders,
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issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of
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this Act are hereby repealed or modified and/or superseded as case nnay be by this
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Act accordingly.
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SECTION 14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation.
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Approved,