Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3630

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As a manifestation of support to this timely piece of legislation, this representation
respectfully refiles this bill which has constantly been receiving support from the
Senate (Sen. Angara’s SB 1330), and the past and present Congress.

Countries from different parts of the world have made themselves famous for their
tourist destinations - from the enchanting cherry blossoms of Japan to the
refreshing beaches of Hawaii. The undeniable splendors of such destinations have
captivated the hearts of tourists from all over the world. One helpful avenue that
supplemented their popularity is through their appearance in various films and
television programs. Many producers are fascinated by the beauty of such sites
and have chosen to set their films therein.

Just like other countries, the Philippines prides its self of a variety of equally, if
not, more enchanting destinations. Recognized as a prime tourist destination, the
Philippines is home to numerous world-class tropical beaches, dive spots, world-
renowned surfing destinations, remarkable mountain ranges and landscapes,
breathtaking waterfalls, and so much more.

It has long been established by a number of studies that tourism has made
positive economic impacts to the Philippines. Tourism has paved way for foreign
investments that have helped with the development of our economy.

Ultimately, this bill will not only serve as an enabling platform for the Philippines to
showcase its astounding world-class destinations, but also an opportunity for us,
as a nation, to develop our efforts towards tourism while giving our local
filmmakers, production houses, and technical crews their well-deserved
recognition.

In view of the foregoing, the approval for this measure is earnestly sought.

JOHN ‘IN IL SERVO” C. NIETO


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3630
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR FILM AND TELEVISION
TOURISM IN THE PHILIPPINES, MARKETING THE INDUSTRY GLOBALLY
AND PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT FOR THE SECTOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Film and Television
Tourism Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
State to treat film and television tourism as a special investment and tourism tool
for national development.

Consistent with the national goal of creating new areas of business to generate
employment opportunities as well as to recognize Filipino talent, film, and
television tourism in the country is hereby made a new investment priority. It can
be in the form of making the Philippines as a location shooting or filming area for
various media activities, including, but not limited to making the Philippines a
duplicate site. It can also be by preserving or promoting the nation’s historical and
cultural heritage and resources as well as artistic creations or sceneries depicted in
films, and converting it into tourist attractions. It can also be in the form of
championing Filipino film practitioners and artists and their participations in foreign
productions.

SEC. 3. Creation of Philippine Film and Television Tourism Authority
(PFTTA). - The affairs related to film and television tourism shall be administered
by the Philippine Film and Television Tourism Authority (PFTTA), thus replacing the
Philippine Film Export Service Office (PFESO) under the Film Development Council
of the Philippines (FDCP), organized under Executive Order No. 674, Series of
2007.

The PFTTA shall be headed by the Chief Operating Officer (COO), a position which
shall be equivalent to an Executive Director III position of the Film Development
Council and which shall be a career executive service officer position to be
recommended by the Chairperson of the Film Development Council of the
Philippines and appointed by the President.


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The members of the Authority shall be composed of representatives from the
following agencies:

. Department of Tourism;

. Department of Trade and Industry;

. Department of Interior and Local Government and its attached agencies;
. Department of National Defense;

. Department of Finance;

. Department of Foreign Affairs;

. Department of Labor and Employment;

. Movie and Television Review Classification Board;

. National Commission for the Culture and the Arts; and

10. Private sector representatives, one each from the movie and television
industries.

WONAMSWNHE

The heads of the above stated departments shall designate their regular
representatives, based on their position in the organization, but not lower than a
Director-level position. The said representatives of the various government
agencies shall, in addition to their duties in the Authority, also serve as the direct
link to streamline and develop the one-stop-shop system.

The Secretariat of the PFTTA shall be based in the Film Development Council of the
Philippines for financial and administrative support. It shall be composed of eight
(8) regular plantilla positions already approved and to be augmented by the
Department of Budget and Management, including existing positions in the
Philippine Export Services Office of the FDCP.

SEC. 4. Functions of PFTTA. - The PFTTA shall facilitate the One-Stop-Shop
System for foreign film or television production entities. It shall undertake the
following:

1. Facilitate the promotion and marketing of the Philippines as location site
for the production of international films and television programs, such as but
not limited to: creating and maintaining a website and/or a manual of
Philippine Film and Television Tourism sites for overseas contract workers,
participating and exposure in World Expo, recognized international film
festivals, activities for cinema and television with global market penetration,
tourism fairs of international significance: Provided, that in case a Filipino
film is considered in a competition, nominated for excellence or cinema
prizes, or to be exhibited in recognition of its achievement in arts in a
recognized international film festival, its Production Team including, but not
limited to its Director, Producer, Writers, and Actors shall be provided with
full government support, such as but not limited to, financial assistance,
security and ease in document processing to attend the said festival.
Provided further, that the PFTTA shall endeavor to put a premium on
promoting, marketing, and distributing Filipino films, television programs of
local content, MTVs, short films and similar other remarkable art works.
Provided, finally, that in the case of expositions or fairs showcasing
outstanding films and TV programs, a single unified Philippine booth must be
endeavored with all relevant stakeholders as participants.

2. Assist in the implementation of a reward and incentive package for foreign
film / television entities interested in shooting films / television programs in
the country and submit recommendations related thereon;


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3. Assist foreign film production entities in processing pertinent documents
and various requirements relative to the production of international films /
television programs in the country and in complying with environmental
regulations;

4. Coordinate with various government agencies and local government units
in assisting the entry and exit of a foreign film / television production team,
such as but not limited to producers, artists and production crew;

5. Provide direct link between foreign production entities, producers,
filmmakers and artists with local production manpower services, local artists,
bit players and technical crew, facilities and the like;

6. Utilize the services of tourism attaches abroad, through the Department
of Tourism, in the promotion and marketing of Philippine locations
sites/resources and local film production manpower;

7. Maintain an inventory of areas in the country that may be utilized as a
film and television tourism site and a registry of sectors including artists,
film practitioners, technical personnel and other for ready referrals;

8. Identify key film and television tourism sites used by international or local
filmmakers and establish a PFTTA mark;

9. Keep progress report and actual impact of the initiative taking into
consideration the increase in the number of film tourists and its contribution
to the economy; and

10. Implement the Comprehensive Plan of the inter-agency committee.

SEC. 5. Powers of the PFTTA. - The PFTTA shall have the power to issue a One-
Stop Shop authenticated security seal, which shall be recognized by the various
government agencies related to facilitating the processing of pertinent documents
such as, but not limited to work permits, visa applications, ATA Carnets-type
document.

SEC. 6. Creation of Inter-Agency Committee on Film and Television
Tourism. - An Inter-Agency Committee on Film and Television Tourism
hereinafter referred to as (IAC- FTT) is hereby created. It shall be the governing
Board and policy - making body of the PFTTA.

SEC. 7. Composition of the IAC-FTT. — The Film Development Council of the
Philippines (FDCP) Chairperson shall act as the Administrator. The Department of
Tourism Secretary or his representative shall act as Co-Chair. The inter-agency
committee shall have six members; three (3) each from the private and public
sector representative but not limited to business and investments, league of local
government units, artists and film practitioners, travel and airline sector, historical
and cultural heritage, overseas Filipino workers, film and television groups and
other relevant partners, to be determined by the Chairperson and Co-Chair.

The Chairperson, Co-Chairperson and the members of the 1AC-FTT shall be entitled
to allowances and per diems, in accordance with existing policies, rules and
regulations on the matter.


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The IAC-FTT shall automatically cease to operate upon the submission of the
Comprehensive Plan to Congress, or within five (5) years from the approval of this
Act, whichever comes earlier. The IAC-FTT will automatically cease to exist upon
the expiration of the five (5) years, unless otherwise extended by Resolution of
both Houses of Congress.

SEC. 8. Functions of the IAC-FTT. - For purposes of this Act, the Inter-Agency
Committee shall:

1. Formulate a Comprehensive Plan detailing an inventory of film tourism
sites in the country, areas for improvement, sectors to be tapped and
partnerships, marketing strategies both local and international in
application;

2. Conduct the feasibility of establishing a Film and Television Museum and
study the promotion for the establishment of more Sound Stage Studios;

3. Coordinate with various stakeholders and market players for research and
study on feasibility of a reward and incentive system, and other aspects
combining tourism and film, including, but not limited to the system of
categories for the application of rewards and incentives depending on the
cinema grade and length of exposure of the identified Philippine Film and
Television Tourism site;

4. Coordinate with all Embassies and Consulates of the country to promote
film and television tourism;

5. Coordinate and partner with various associations of Filipino overseas
workers abroad in marketing, disseminating and propagating information on
Philippines as a film tourism destination;

6. Coordinate and partner with known Filipinos of international stature in
promoting the country and fulfilling the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 9. Preferential Incentives. — International or foreign film and television
production entitles may upon certification from the PFTT be granted the following:

1. Multiple Entry Visa - Foreign nationals who are members of the
international film production entities, as duly endorsed by the PFTT A shall
be issued a multiple entry special visa within seventy-two (72) hours upon
submission of all required documents, and which shall be valid for a period
of one (1) year to enter the Philippines; Provided, That a responsible officer
of the applicant entity submits a duly authenticated certificate to the effect
that the person who seeks entry into the Philippines is a member of the
applicant entity and will work exclusively for film and television production.

The admission and stay shall be coterminous with the validity of the multiple
entry special visa. The stay, however, is extendible for one hundred eighty
(180) days upon submission to the Bureau of Immigration of a sworn
certification by a responsible officer of the applicant entity; that its permit
remains valid and subsisting, and that no other source of income has been
made.


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2. Tax and Duty Free Importation - The international or foreign film or
television production entity shall enjoy tax and duty free importation of
filming equipment as determined and endorsed by the PFTTA.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Film Development
Council, Department of Tourism, Department of Finance and the Bureau of
Immigration and Deportation, shall promulgate and issue the implementing rules
and regulations within ninety (90) days upon approval of this Act.

SEC. 11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the provision of
this Act shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - In the event that any provision or part of this
Act shall be declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall remain valid
and in full force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - Section 105(j) of the Tariff and Customs Code is
hereby repealed, accordingly. All other laws, orders, decrees, issuances, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,