Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
More than a source of entertainment, our locally produced films are a mirror of our 
society. How we grow as a nation is essentially reflected by our local films. More 
importantly, the Filipino movie industry is a potent tool for educating the public and is 
likewise a catalyst for public opinion. 
Films are part and parcel of our heritage. They are a part of what the 1987 Constitution 
recognizes as the nation’s artistic and historic wealth. Article XIV, Section 14 states 
that “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.” 
In the same vein, the succeeding section provides, “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.” 
Some of our Filipino filmmakers have made waves in the arena of filmmaking both 
locally and abroad. Several of their cinematic works were critically acclaimed while 
actors and directors have been recognized internationally. The Filipino film has made 
its mark in the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival, Venice International Film 
Festival, and the British Independent Film Awards. 
Brillante Mendoza is one of the most celebrated Filipino film directors being awarded 
the Best Director, Prix de la mise en scène, for his 2009 film “Kinatay” in the Cannes 
Film Festival. This is just one of the many awards he received from international bodies 
for his film creations. 
In 2016, Jaclyn Jose starred in Brillante Mendoza’s Palme d’Or nominated film 
“Ma’Rosa” where she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress. This is a 
historic feat because Jose is the first Southeast Asian to be conferred with the award. 
For its part, the Philippines, through the annual Cinemalaya Philippine Independent 
Film Festival and other independent film festivals that screen short films and full-length 
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titles, have been instrumental in encouraging the creation of locally produced 
independent films. These efforts have put Philippine cinemas back to their glory days 
as some critics remark. 
 
To further build on the gains of the Filipino film industry, this bill seeks to provide 
incentives to all our local filmmakers who have been awarded the best film prize or its 
equivalent including those that merited recognition, for technical excellence in 
respected international film competitions or cinema festivals. This bill also proposes to 
fully exempt the acclaimed film from taxes which pertain to its screening and 
commercial exhibition including those levied by local government units. 
 
Considering all the advantages that our local film industry can acquire from this bill 
and its prior approval on the third reading during the 17th Congress, the immediate 
approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT  
GRANTING INCENTIVES TO FILIPINO FILMMAKERS WHO ARE GIVEN 
HONORS IN NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALS AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Film Industry Incentives 
Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
promote and support the development and growth of the local film industry, which 
includes both mainstream and independent films, produced by Filipino filmmakers or 
production entities that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with 
fresh insights and artistic integrity. 
Towards this end, the State grants incentives to filmmakers or production entities 
based on merit to encourage the production of more high quality film projects for the 
local and global markets. 
SECTION 3. Incentives for Filipino Filmmakers. – The following incentives shall be 
granted to Filipino filmmakers or production entities, whose films merited the highest 
recognition for technical or artistic excellence in notable international film festivals, to 
wit: 
a)
Five million pesos (Php 5,000,000.00) to the filmmaker or production entity that
produces the international award-winning full-length feature or documentary film;
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b) 
Three million pesos (Php 3,000,000.00) to the filmmaker or production entity that 
produces the international award-winning short feature or documentary film; 
c) 
Two million pesos (Php 2,000,000.00) to film directors, main artists, screenplay, 
or 
technical 
support 
filmmaker 
personnel 
including 
the 
scriptwriter 
cinematographer, editor, production designer, music scoring, sound director, 
audio or video technicians who have receive the highest international awards in 
their respective categories; 
d) 
One million pesos (Php 1,000,000.00) to supporting artists or technicians who 
have garnered the highest award in their respective categories; and 
e) 
The international award-winning films as stated in paragraphs (a) and (b) or this 
section shall be automatically qualified to receive an “A” rating from the Cinema 
Evaluation Board. 
 
For purposes of this Act, “notable international film festivals” refer to international film 
festivals which have given recognition and awards to high quality films for the last five 
(5) years and are well-known for their international profile, audience size, and the 
quality and breadth of their festival and industry programs. 
 
SECTION 4. Eligibilities for Incentives. – To be eligible to receive the incentives 
under Section 3 (a) of this Act, the international award-winning film must be made or 
performed by a Filipino filmmaker or production entity as the case may be. The total 
production budget for each of the full-length feature or documentary film must not 
exceed Ten million pesos (Php 10,000.000.00). The film length must be between 
ninety (90) to one hundred twenty (120) minutes. 
 
To be eligible under Section 3 (b) of this Act, the film must be made by a Filipino 
filmmaker or production entity. The total production budget for the short feature or 
documentary film must not exceed Five million pesos (Php 5,000,000.00). The film 
length must be less than ninety (90) minutes. 
 
SECTION 5. Appropriations. – For the effective initial implementation of this Act, 
there is hereby established the Special Film Industry Incentives Fund, hereinafter 
referred to as the Special Fund, which shall be administered by the Film Development 
Council of the Philippines. The amount of Fifty million pesos (Php 50,000,000.00) from 


 
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the Philippine Gaming Corporation and another Fifty million pesos (Php 
50,000,000.00) from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office shall constitute as the 
Special Fund. 
 
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this 
Act shall be included in the annual budget of the Film Development Council of the 
Philippines. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from 
the approval of this Act, the Chairperson of the Film Development Council of the 
Philippines shall, in coordination with the Director-General of the Film Academy of the 
Philippines and the Chairperson of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this 
Act. 
 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect in fifteen (15) days after 
publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines. 
 
Approved,