Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
CREATING THE NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE TO BE MANAGED BY THE FILM 
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XIV, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution provides that “Arts and letters shall enjoy the 
patronage of the State. The State shall conserve, promote, and popularize the nation’s historical 
and cultural heritage and resources, as well as artistic creations.”  
Art is an essential tool for nation-building. It is integral to a nation’s struggle for national identity 
as it can evoke dialogue, induce reflection, and charter new relationships and ideas—all of which 
are essential to a healthy society. 
Artistic creations such as movies or films are often utilized to reflect the societal realities, 
community struggles, and a nation’s aspirations. Simply put, movies and films are imprints of our 
nation’s history, culture, and identity. The works of classic Filipino filmmakers Lino Brocka, Manuel 
Conde, and Ishmael Bernal, among many others, are a testament to how our culture and history 
are embedded in films. Unfortunately, we have lost numerous films from the earlier years due to 
inadequate efforts toward the preservation of Filipino classic films. 
In consideration of the many creations which we have permanently lost, this measure seeks to 
create a national film archive that shall be responsible for an archival administration program for 
the efficient recovery, restoration, conservation, presentation, maintenance, utilization, and 
disposal of cinematographic films. This is proposed to ensure that future generations will have 
access to these cinematic imprints of Filipino heritage.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September  14, 2022
8:18 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
CREATING THE NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE TO BE MANAGED BY THE FILM 
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. There is hereby created a National Film Archive of the Philippines to be managed 
and maintained by the Film Development Council.  
SEC. 2. The National Film Archive of the Philippines shall have the following powers and 
functions:  
1. Plan, formulate, and implement an archival administration program for the efficient
recovery, restoration, conservation, presentation, maintenance, utilization, and disposal
of cinematographic films including the adoption of security measures and film protection
program.
2. Review and approve films nominated for inclusion in the National Film Archive:
3. Conduct archival research using materials here and abroad. including background studies
about films considered for inclusion in tile National Film Archive, and:
4. Acquire through transfer, donation, purchase, or any other means film prints and digital
masters of films that have enduring archival value:
5. Ensure the preservation and conservation of existing and future film archival resources of
the government:
6. Reproduce and authenticate copies of cinematic films. subject to copyright laws:
7. Facilitate the acquisition of a permanent and suitable building for the National Film
Archives to house the country’s film archival holdings:
8. Promote appreciation of and build cultural values from the cinematic films in the National
Film Archive:
9. Provide access to the Film Archive for scholarly and research process, subject to
reasonable guidelines:
10. Make Filipino films readily available for educational, historical, and cultural purposes to all
segments of Philippine society, as well as the international community;
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11. Give technical assistance to all government offices, instrumentalities, and agencies, 
national or local, in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of their film archives 
administration program; and  
12. Conduct training programs on film archives management, including the establishment of 
an archival system for both public and private sectors. 
 
SEC. 3. The National Film Archive of the Philippines shall be headed by an executive director with 
a rank equivalent to a bureau director and who shall be assisted by two deputy executive 
directors. The President of the Philippines shall appoint the executive director and the two deputy 
executive directors of the Film Archive from a list of nominees submitted by the Film Development 
Council: Provided, That said officials to be appointed to the Film Archive shall be knowledgeable 
of the artistic, historical, cultural and/or technical aspects of film evaluation, restoration and/or 
archiving along world-class standards.  
 
The executive director and the deputy executive directors shall serve for a term of two (2) years 
and shall be eligible for reappointment for a second term: Provided, that no director shall serve 
for more than two (2) consecutive terms: Provided further if any director fails to complete a 
The term, the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired portion of 
the term of the director whom he/she succeeds unless re-appointed: Provided finally, such service 
of the unexpired portion shall not be counted as a term. 
 
The National Film Archives shall establish its staffing pattern and salary and compensation 
scheme, within six months from the effectivity of this Act, subject to the rules and regulations of 
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC). 
 
SEC. 4. Film companies or individual producers are hereby required to submit, at a reasonable 
cost, a copy of their film to the National Film Archive within three (3) months from its official 
release. 
 
SEC. 5. The Film Development Council shall, in consultation with the National Historical Institute, 
National Commission on Cultural and Arts, and the National Archives of the Philippines, issue the 
necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions hereof. 
SEC. 6. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the 
General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter. 
SEC. 7. All acts, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
SEC. 8. If for any reason. any portion or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional. other 
parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
effect. 
SEC. 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication either in the Official Gazette 
or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,