Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7278

HOUSE BILL NO. ___~_

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Since its birth in 1919, Philippine cinema has produced an estimated 8,000 films.
‘Among those are works by National Artists and cinematic classics that captured and
showcased the cultural, historical and artistic heritage of our nation. Preservation of
this audiovisual heritage was supported by the State with the creation of the Film
Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) through Republic Act No. 9167 in
2002. Among the agency's objective was the conservation and protection of film

negatives and prints by establishing a film archive.

Despite the establishment of the National Film Archives of the Philippines (NFAP) by
the FDCP, there is still need to strengthen this mandate of film preservation and further
the advocacy of film restoration in the country. While the initiative has had success in
restoring classics, such as Manuel Conde's “Genghis Khan” among others, full
legislative support in obtaining and maintaining film collections as well as budgetary
support is imperative. Of the 8,000 titles the Philippine Cinema has produced, less
than 50 percent are accounted for. Many have been destroyed due to natural

calamities and fires or simply from neglect, as film reels are highly sensitive.


This bill aims to institutionalize the NFAP to be managed and maintained by the FDCP.
The NFAP shall be mandated to ensure the preservation and conservation of existing
film archival resources as well as acquire film prints and digital masters of films that
have enduring archival value. By institutionalizing the NFAP, it is likewise assuring
facilitation in the acquisition of a permanent structure or building to house the country's
film archival holdings and resources of the government. This will ensure the protection

of sensitive film negatives and help in the preservation of our cinematic heritage.

The approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

LUIS RAYMUN| RAY” ILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7278

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Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

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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.

SECTION 2. The National Film Archive of the Philippines shall have the following
powers and functions:

14. Plan, formulate and implement an archival administration program for the
efficient recovery, restoration, conservation, preservation, 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 researches using materials here and abroad, including
background studies about films considered for inclusion in the National Film
Archive, and;

4. Acquire through transfer, donation, purchase or any other means film prints and
digital masters of films which 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 for access to the Film Archive for scholarly and research process,
subject to reasonable guidelines;

10.Make Filipino films readily available for education, historical, and cultural
purposes to all segments of Philippine Society, as well as the international
community;

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.

SECTION 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 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, That such service of the unexpired portion shall not be
counted as a term.


The National Film Archives shall establish its own staffing pattern, and salary and
compensation scheme, within six months from the effectivity of this Act, subject to the
tules and regulations of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the
Civil Service Commission (CSC).

SECTION 4. Film companies or individual producers are hereby required to submit, at
reasonable cost, a copy of their film to the National Film Archive within three (3)
months from its official release.

SECTION 5. The Film Development Council shall, in consultation with the National
Historical Institute, National Commission on Culture and the Arts, and the National
Archives of the Philippines, issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement
the provisions hereof.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. — 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.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — If for any reason, any portion or provision of this
Act be declared unconstitutional, other parts or provisions hereof which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,