NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
of 11)C
*22 ftUG -4 A 9 *44
SENATE
s. No. 1033
RtXEtViOS'.___
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 2019, the country celebrated the 100th anniversary of Philippine cinema. 
The centennial year was declared to honor and commemorate the release of the 
very first Filipino produced and directed feature film, Jose Nepomuceno's "Dalagang 
Bukid" In September 12, 1919. Unfortunately, the movie is now considered a lost 
film, with no surviving print or copy, and that the present generation can neither 
watch nor access this important work anywhere.
Such Is the case for many Filipino films, especially those belonging to the 
Golden Ages of Cinema. Many films, that are snapshots of the nation's history and 
social realities, were unable to survive the test of time, and were left to decay and 
degrade over the years. Also, notable works of our renowned film makers, including 
our National Artists for Film, were also neglected and not properly taken care of.
According to the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), "about 
65 percent" of our vast cinematic heritage "have been lost or destroyed, and 
whatever is left that's unpreserved Is exposed to damage and deterioration each


day1." It is also estimated that out of more than 8,000 movies shot on film, only 
around 2,000 have surviving copies2.
This bill seeks to remedy this problem through the creation of the National 
Film Archive of the Philippines (NFAP) which shall ensure that Filipino films, that are 
part of our historical and cultural heritage, will be protected and preserved.
While Republic Act No. 9167 already directs the FDCP to establish a film 
archive, it functions as a division of the FDCP and performs its mandate with very 
limited personnel and resources. Two decades since the enactment of RA 9167, a 
permanent facility for film preservation with enough storage space and proper
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that more government support can be allocated to its cause, and a more definitive 
national policy on safeguarding our cultural treasures be put in place.
In this light, the Immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
JINGGOY E3ERCITO ESTRADA
1 https://www.fdcp.ph/updates/preserving-past-shaping-future
2https://www.bworlcionline.com/arts-and-leisure/2022/02/01/426945/how-abs-cbn-continues-to-save-phl-
film-heritage/


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. J-033
gienat?
of 'srrrd.in,’
*22 AUG “4 A 9 ‘44
Ut-a;’. ■
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the National Film Archive
Act."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to conserve, 
promote, and popularize the nation's historical and cultural heritage and resources, 
as well as artistic creations.
The State shall pursue, conserve and promote the Filipino cultural heritage 
and resources, including the cinematographic and audiovisual works made and 
produced by Filipinos that are of historical importance and cultural merit. The State 
shall give priority for the safeguard, protection and preservation of Filipino films as 
essential tools for the preservation of the country's history, cultural memory and 
national identity.
Sec. 3. Creation of the National Film Archive of the Philippines (NFAP). - 
There is hereby created a National Film Archive of the Philippines (NFAP) which shall 
be the principal government body tasked to acquire, conserve and protect film 
negatives and/or prints of the nation's historical, cultural, and artistic heritage. It 
shall also be in charge of the safekeeping, maintenance and restoration of all Filipino 
films and other audiovisuals produced in the Philippines.


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Sec. 4. Powers and Functions. - The NFAP shall have the following powers 
and functions:
a) Plan, formulate and implement an archival administration program for the 
efficient recovery, restoration, consen/ation, preservation, maintenance, 
utilization and disposal of cinematographic films, including the adoption of 
security measures and film protection program;
b) Review and approve films nominated for inclusion in the National Film 
Archive;
c) Conduct archival researches using materials here and abroad, including 
background studies about films considered for inclusion in the National
Film Arrhi'/o'
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d) Acquire through transfer, donation, purchase or any other means film 
prints and digital masters of films which have enduring archival value;
e) Ensure the preservation and conservation of existing and futu.re archival 
resources of the government;
f) Reproduce and authenticate copies of cinematic films, subject to copyright 
laws;
g) Facilitate the acquisition of a permanent and suitable building to house the 
country's film archival holdings;
h) Build the necessary facilities and laboratories and acquire state-of-the-art 
equipment for the proper safekeeping and restoration of films in its 
custody;
i) Promote appreciation of and build cultural values from the cinematic film 
in the National Film Archive;
J) Provide for access for scholarly and research process, subject to 
reasonable guidelines;
k) Make Filipino films readily available for educational, historical, and cultural 
purposes to all segments of Philippine society, as well as the international 
community;
l) Establish a media library and/or film theater wherein students, researchers 
and the general public can view and access Filipino films, subject to 
guidelines;


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m) Give technical assistance to all government offices, instrumentalities, and
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agencies, national or local in the planning, implementation and evaluation
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of their film archives administration program;
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n) Provide recommendations and assistance to higher educational institutions
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on the creation and administration of academic courses and trainings in
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relation to film preservation and restoration;
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o) Establish linkages with the private sector, domestic and abroad, in order to
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advance and upgrade capacities in film preservation and restoration, and
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to locate and acquire lost negatives and records of Filipino films; and
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p) Conduct training programs on film archives management, including the
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establishment of an archival system for both public and private sectors.
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Sec. 5. Executive Director. - The NFAP shall be headed by an Executive
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Director with a rank equivalent to a bureau director and who shall be assisted by two
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deputy executive directors.
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The President of the Philippine shall appoint the executive director and the
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two deputy executive directors from a list of nominees submitted by the Film
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Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP); Provided, That said officials to be
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appointed to the NFAP shall be knowledgeable of the artistic, historical, cultural
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and/or technical aspects of film evaluation, restoration and/or archiving along world-
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class standards.
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The executive director and deputy executive directors shall serve for a term of
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two (2) years and shall be eligible for reappointment for a second term: Provided,
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That no director shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms: Provided
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further, If any director fails to complete a term, the person appointed to fill the
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vacancy shall serve for the unexpired portion of the term of the director whom
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he/she succeeds, unless re-appointed: Provided finaiiy, That such service of the
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unexpired portion shall not be counted as a term.
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Sec. 6. Staffing Pattern. - The NFAP shall establish its own staffing pattern,
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and salary and compensation scheme, within six (6) months from the effectivity of
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this Act, subject to the rules and regulations of the Department of Budget and
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Management (DBM) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC).


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Sec. 7. Submission of films. - Film companies or individual producers of
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Filipino films that are commercially exhibited within the Philippines, or directed by a
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Filipino director, are hereby required to submit, at reasonable cost, a copy of their
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film to the NFAP within three (3) months from its official release for the singular
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purpose of preserving a copy of such for the archive.
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Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Film Development Council
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of the Philippines shall, in consultation with the National Flistorica! Commission of the
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Philippines (NFICP), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the
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National Archives of the Philippines (NAP), issue the necessary rules and regulations
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for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.
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Sec, 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
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this Act shall be charged against the agencies' current budget and shall thereafter be
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included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any section or part of this Act is held
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not otherwise affected
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shall remain in full force and effect.
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Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations, issuances or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act,
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are deemed repealed and modified accordingly.
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Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of genera! circulation, whichever
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comes earlier.
Approved,