Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House BILL No. 8214
Iniroduced by Representative “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to Art XIV Sec 14 of the 1987 Constitution the state shall foster the reservation,
enrichment, and dynamic evolution of a Filipino National culture based on the principle of unity
in diversity in a climate of free artistic intellectual expression.

Intemational foreign films especially movies from Hollywood is a threat to local film
industry. The purpose of this bill is to promote the local film industry by establishing an annual
film quota that requires all theatre cinema to exhibit only locally produced movies for a specific
period. This measure will encourage the viewing public to patronize local movies instead for
foreign movie releases.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is eamestly sought.
a
“KUYA” JOSE-ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO #

Representative
First District of Bulacan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. Ga

Introduced by Representative “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT PROMOTING THE PHILIPPINE FILM INDUSTRY THROUGH AN ANNUAL
FILM QUOTA AND OTHER SUPPORT MEASURES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known, cited and referred to as the "Philippine Film
Industry Promotion Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - \t is hereby declared that the State shall give priority
to the arts and culture to foster in Filipinos an authentic and dynamic sense of humanity, patriotism
and nationalism. The State shall foster the preservation enrichment, and dynamic evolution of a
Filipino national culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic and
intellectual expression. All the country's artistic and historic wealth constitutes the cultural treasure
of the nation and shall be under the protection of the State, which may regulate and develop its
disposition. A vital and Integral part of this cultural treasure is the Philippine cinema industry,
which the State endeavors to constantly maintain, strengthen, and improve according to global
standards, but always with due regard for contemporary Filipino cultural values. By ensuring an
assured space in the annual calendar for the exclusive exhibition of Filipino films and providing
other support measures, the State aims to develop the cinema industry in terms of artistry, technical
excellence, universal appeal, and a profound sense of the Filipino spirit, all with the due regard for
the artistic, moral, educational and economic well-being of directors, writers, actors, producers,
crew, theater owners and operators, distributors, suppliers and allied industries, and other
stakeholders, and particularly the Filipino movie audience.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
mean:

a. Filipino Film means a film - Which is wholly or mainly produced in the
Philippines; All the studio scenes of which have been photographed or filmed
in the Philippines; and Which has been produced by a company incorporated in
the Philippines.

b. Film - A series of pictures projected in a screen in rapid succession, with objects
shown in successive positions slightly changed so as to produce the optical effect of a
continuous picture in which the objects move, whether the picture be black and white or
colored, silent or with accompanying sound, on whatever medium and with whatever


mechanism, equipment, and/or technology they are projected, and in whatever material
device they are preserved or recorded for instant projection, for the purpose of this Act the
material in which the motion picture is contained, preserved, or recorded, forms an integral
part of the film subject of this Act

SECTION 4. Annual Film Quota - There is hereby established by an annual film quota
under which only Filipino films shall be publicly exhibited in all commercial theaters in the
Philippines as well as in all theatrical venues operated by the Film Development Council of the
Philippines (FDCP), the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission
for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and any such other cinematic venues, whether privately or
government operated, for an annual period of twenty-eight (28) days, namely from the Ist to 14"
of June, and from the 18th to the 31st of December. The aforesaid dates shall be without prejudice
to any such additional dates within the calendar year to be determined by the President of the
Philippines following the objectives of this Act. Subject to the exception under Section 7
Presidential Decree No. 1986, in relation to Section 3 of this Act, the exhibition of any film, trailer,
or publicity material pursuant to the annual film quota shall be subject to review, classification,
and enforcement by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB)
Operators of movie theaters and similar venues shall give priority to publicity materials of films
intended for exhibition during the above quota sub-periods as well as such other periods determined
by the President of the Philippines as stated above within two months before the respective first
days thereof.

SECTION 5. Guaranteed Week's Run and Playdate Prioring - All Filipino films shall be
guaranteed a full week's run, i.e. seven (7) days, in all commercial theaters and venues counted
from opening day, regardless of box-office potential or performance. In addition, all Filipino film
shall enjoy booking priority on so called "payday playdates”, i.e. exhibition release dates that fall
on, or are close to, the 15th or end of any calendar month.

SECTION 6. Organization of Film Festivals - The establishment herein of the annual film
quota shall be without prejudice to the organization of film festivals and screenings to coincide
with any or both of the sub-periods, or such additional periods to be determined by the President
of the Philippines as stated above, under Section 3 hereof, and consistent with the objectives of this
‘Act. The said festivals may be organized, consistent with their respective statutory mandates, by
the FDCP, CCP and NCCA, singly/collectively and/or in collaboration with film industry
stakeholders, cultural associations, and educational institutions as well as with other government
agencies, such as but not limited to the MTRCB in regard to content classification and audience
sensitivity, and local government units, including any leagues or other aggrupation thereof;
provided that: nothing herein shall be construed to prevent local government units to singly or
collectively and/or in collaboration with the other entities, whether private or governmental, to
organize their own festivals to coincide with and take advantage of the film quota established
herein. The organizers of film festivals referred to in this section shall have the authority, insofar
as they are allowed by law, to formulate their own rules and regulations, for the conduct thereof,
the selection of entries and participants, the granting of awards and incentives, the designation of
beneficiaries, sources of funds, and such other aspects of holding a film festival whether national,
regional, provincial or local in scope; provided: that such rules and regulations shall always ensure
transparency in the selection and awarding process, as well as the prompt publication, both online
and in print, of the box office performance of all entries during any festival no later than seven after
its termination.


SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Chairpersons of the FDCP,
NCCA, and CCP. In coordination with the MTRCB, the Film Academy of the Philippines, cinema-
related guilds, local government units and other relevant agencies, entities, institutions, and
associations interested in the development of the Philippine film industry shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of date
of this Act, including any guidelines for any festivals or screening applications and awards
incentives, source of funds, and monitoring and compliance measures.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. If any provision of the Act is declared invalid, other
parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain and continue to be in full force and
effect.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential
proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions
of the Act are repealed or modifi rdingly.

SECTION 10. Ej Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Offigiél Gazette and two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.