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" 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. 
2325 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
AN ACT 
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SUPPORTING THE PRODUCTION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENT FILMS BY 
PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO FILMMAKERS WHO ARE GIVEN HONORS IN 
NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL FILM COMPETITIONS 
Explanatory Note 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution ensconced some of the most note-worthy guarantees 
recognizing outstanding Filipino intellectual property including cinema: 
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Article XIV, Section 14 provides that "The State shall foster the preservation, emichment, 
and dynamic evolution of a Filipino national culture based on the principle in unity in 
diversity on a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression." 
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Article XIV, Section 15 states that "Arts and letters shall enjoy the patronage of the State. 
The State shall converse, promote, and popularize the nation's historical and cultural 
heritage and resources, as well as artistic creations." 
In recent years, the production of independent films by our esteemed Filipino filmmakers 
has been flourishing. In fact, several cinematic works were critically acclaimed while actors and 
directors had already been recognized in the international arena, including the prestigious Cannes 
International Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival, San Sebastian International Film 
Festival, and the British Independent Film Awards, as well as appearances and screenings in' 
Toronto, Utah, Brussels, New York, Warsaw and London. 
For its part, the Philippines, through the ten-year old Cinemalaya, CinemaOne, Sineng 
Pambansa and other indie film festivals that screen short films and full-length titles, have its fair 
share in encouraging the creation of locally produced independent productions. These efforts by 
the Cultural Center of the Philippines and other film groups put Philippine cinemas back to their 
glory days. Recently, big names in the movie industry were drawn to independent films, the King 
of Comedy Dolphy through "Markova" (Best Film, Brussels International Film Festival), Vilma 
Santos in 2013 via "Ekstra" (Cinemalaya) and Nora Aunor who joins for the first time this year, 
is headlining the tale of whistle blower and their tragedy, in "Hustisya" (Cinemalaya). 
This bill seeks to further promote the production of Filipino indie films and provide support 
to filmmakers, including the aspiring ones and students, who operate on meager budgets to produce 
their artistic craft. 
In view of the notable works of independent Filipino filmmakers and in order to show 
suppOli to them, approval of this measure is fervently sought. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. B. No. _2325 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
AN ACT 
'14 JUl28 A9 :01 
1 
SUPPORTING THE PRODUCTION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENT FILMS BY 
2 
PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO FILMMAKERS WHO ARE GIVEN HONORS IN 
3 
NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL FILM COMPETITIONS 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short title. -
This act shall be known as the "Philippine 
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Independent Film Incentives Act of 2014." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote and 
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support the development and growth of the local film industry, in general, and the 
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production of independent films, in particular. The State shall endeavor to discover, 
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encourage, and honor the cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate 
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and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. 
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SECTION 3. Grants for Award-Winning Films. - To achieve this law's purpose, 
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Philippine independent films that have been awarded the Best Film prize or its 
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equivalent including those that merited recognition for technical excellence in respected 
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international film competitions or cinema festivals shall be given the following 
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incentives: 
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3.1 A grant of Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) to the film production or entity 
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that produces the award winning full-length feature or documentary film; 
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3.2 A grant of Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000.00) to the film production or entity 
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that produces the award winning short feature or documentary film; 
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3.3 Full tax exemption relevant to the screening of the film and its commercial 
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exhibition, including those levied by local government units; 
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3.4 The award-winning film shall be considered and shall have the honor of 
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being give an automatic rating of an "A" film being granted by the Cinema Evaluation 
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Board. 


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SECTION 4. Eligibility for Grants. - To be eligible for a grant under Section 3.1., 
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films must be made by Filipino filmmakers who have not yet directed more than three 
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(3) full-length commercial feature films. The total production budget for the full-length 
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feature or documentary film should not exceed Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000.00). The 
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film length should be between 90 to 120 minutes. 
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To be eligible for a grant under Section 3.2., the film must be made by a Filipino 
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filmmaker. The total production budget for the short feature or documentary film 
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should not exceed One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00). The film length should not be 
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more than 20 minutes (no minimum length). 
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All films should not have been produced by commercial producers to guarantee 
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the filmmakers' creative control over the film. 
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SECTION 5. Implementing Agency. - The National Commission for Culture 
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and the Arts (NCCA) is hereby authorized and directed to adopt a system to implement 
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and carry out the provisions of this act. The NCCA shall, within sixty (60) days from 
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effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations to carry out and enforce the 
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provision of this Act. 
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SECTION 6. Appropriations. - A special fund amounting to Fifty Million Pesos 
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(P50,OOO,OOO.OO) which shall be sourced from the funds of the Philippine Amusement 
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and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is hereby created. Other amounts as may be 
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necessary to carry out the proviSions of this Act, are hereby authorized to be 
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appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the act or the provision not otherwise 
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affected shall remain valid and subsiding. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, preSidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
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or inconsistent with the provision of this Act, is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,