THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE: REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHLIPPWES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
‘ Q f ? :  e “,. , . 
. 
S E N A T E  
S.B. NO 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. 
EX~LANATORY NOTE 
A people is defined by its history and culture. Films, in turn, reflect our history 
and culture, reflect them as faithhlly as well as literature and other forms of art. Films 
mirror the soul of the nation. 
Our history and culture live in films which unfortunately are more Eragile and 
perishable than documents, books, and other works of art. Many of our films of the past 
century, many of them great, have already been lost forever. Torn, shredded or decayed 
beyond reclaim, or irretrievably disintegrated, destroyed, lost. 
Most countries with a film industry have national film archives or libraries where 
this fragile art form can be cared for and preserved so present and kture generations can 
enjoy and use it. Even Third World Countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, India, and Cuba 
have national film archives. 
Hobbled by Hollywood and other foreign competition, our film industry does not 
have sufficient long-term resources to sustain a national film archive. It needs the 
assistance of government. 
This bill seeks to answer the long-recognized need. It proposes to 
amend R.A. No. 9167 by assigning responsibility for the care and preservation of selected 
films to the Film Development Council. 
It is for this reason that this bill is filed. The measure provides for the protection, 
preservation, conservation, restoration, recognition and identification of cinematic films 
by the National Film Development Council. 
Among the responsibilities and powers of the Council is the establishment of the 
National Film Archives that shall list all cinematic films that are culturally, 
historicallyand esthetically significant to Filipino Heritage. 
It is hoped that this bill, classic films like I‘ Noli Me Tangere”, “Ikgao”, “Juan 
Tamad goes to Congress”, “Maynila sa mga KuKo ng Liwanag”, “Insiang”, “Oro, Plata, 
Mata”, “ Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang”, “Gengis Khan”, and many other masterpieces 
be preserved and we will not be deprived of our cinematic patrimony. 


It is also hoped that with this measure, our filmmakers would set higher standards 
for themselves to equal, if not surpassed, the best films of all times to be selected and 
compiled by the Council. It is therefore imperative that we preserve our cinematic film 
masterpieces to set the current filmmaking and film appreciation within the context of 
excellence. 
Therefore the immediate passing of this bill is earnestly sought. 
JR. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9167 BY PROV ING FOR A NATIONAL 
FILM ARCHIVE TO BE MA~AGED BY THE FILM DEVELOPMENT 
COUNCK 
Be it enacted by fhe Senate and the House of Represenfatives of the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled: 
SEC. 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9167 is hereby amended as follows: 
“Sec.3. Powers and Functions - The Council have the following powers and 
functions: 
X 
X 
X 
“10. 
To ESTABLISH AND MA 
TAIN A NATIONAL FILM 
ARCEIVE in order to conserve and protect film negatives and/or prints as part of the 
nation’s historical, cultural and artistic heritage;” 
‘W. TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE AND 
GE THE A V A I L A ~ ~ I T Y  
OF FEATURE FILMS FOR EDUCATION 
PURPOSES AND 
IN EDUCATIONAL ~ S T ~ T U T I O ~ S  
AND 
OTHER ENTITIES 
THE FILIPINO’S CULTURAL AND SOCIAL 
E AND TO BETTER UNDER~TAND AND A 
TITY AND NATIO 
‘‘$2. TO ENS 
THE E S T A ~ ~ I S H ~ E ~ T  
OF AN OUTREACH 
M, WHICH iVlAKES RESOURCES A V A ~ A ~ L E  
TO DISADVANTAGE 
ITZES. THE MAIN AIM OF THE OUTREACH SECTION IS TO 
THE 
CINEMA 
PEOPLE 
W 
THE 
DISADVANTA~ED 
IS DONE PJ CONJUNCTION 
UNITIES CAN BENEFIT FROM IT. 
OTHER O~GANI~ATIONS 
SUCH AS SCHOOLS, C ~ ~ R C H E S  
AN 
UNITIES; AND” 
OTHER FUNCTIONS AS 
THE PRO~SrONS OF THIS ACT” 


SEC. 2 Section 13 ofRepublic Act 9167 is hereby amended as follows 
“Sec 13. Privileges of Gradedfilnas- films which have obtained an “A” or “ B  
grading fkom the Council pursuant to Sections 11 and 12 of this Act shall be entitled to 
the following privileges 
X 
X 
X 
B. FILMS WHICN HAVE OBTAINED A RATING OF “A” OR “By’ 
SHALL BE AUTOMATICAL~Y INCLUDED AMONG THE FILMS WHOSE 
COPY OR COPIES SHALL BE P ~ S E R ~ D  
AND KEPT AT THE NATIONAL 
FILM ARCHIVE AS PROVlODED IN SEC. 14-A.” 
SEC.3 There is hereby added a new section to read as follows 
“SEC. 14-A. 
NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE- THERE IS HEREBY 
CREATED A NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE TO BE MANAGED AND 
~ I N T A ~ ~ D  
BY THE FILM DEVELO 
NT COUNClL,. TBE F=M 
NEGATIVES TO BE C O N S E R ~ D  
AND PROTECTED BY THE NATIONAL 
FlLM ARCHlVE SHALL BE SELECTED AS FOLLOWS: 
A. 
THE CINEMA EVALUATION BO 
SHALL RECEIVE, 
EVALUATE, AND APPROVE ALL REQ 
FOR mcLusroN 
THE NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE OTHER THAN THOSE 
TED “A” OR “B” AS P ~ O V ~ E D  
IN SEC. 13; AND 
B. 
~ O ~ m A ~ I O ~ S  
FOR ~ C L U S I O ~  
MAY BE MADE FOR 
OLD OR CLASSIC FILMS AS WELL A§ NEW FILMS, 
INCLUDING FEATURE FILMS, DOC~J~ENTA 
OTHER TYPES OF FILM, BY FILM ~ V ~ W E R S  
AND CRITICS, 
FILM ACADEM~S OR SCHOOLS, PRO~UCERS, D I ~ C T ~ ~ S  
AND OTHER INTE~ESTED PARTIES.” 
SEC. 4. There is hereby added a new section to read as follows. 
“SEC. 14-B. THE COUNCIL SHALL FOLLOW THE ~ I G ~ E S T  
KNOWN 
S OF PRESERVATION OR MAINTENA~CE OF A R C ~ ~ V E D  
FILMS TO PREVENT DAMA~E OR LOSS 
RU SPOILAGE, DECAY, 
D I S ~ ~ E G ~ T I O ~ ,  
~ C ~ E ~ T I O N  
AND OTHER CAUSES.” 
SEC. 5. There is hereby added a new section to read as follows: 
“SEC. 14-C. ACCESS TO THE FILM ARCHIVES- THE COUNCIL 
SHALL F O ~ u L A T E  
SUITABLE RULES FOR ACCESSING FILMS IN 
THE A ~ C H ~ §  
BY 
USERS AND MAY CHARGE FEES 
T H E ~ ~ O R E ,  
PROV 
COPYING OR DUPL~CATION SHALL 
NOT BE ALLOWED 
TTEN P E ~ I S S I O N  
OF 
GHT HOLDER.,’ 


SEC. 
6. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - The Film Development 
Council shall, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the 
necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the same. 
SEC. 7. SeparabiZity Clause- If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
provisions hereof 
SEG. 8. Repealhag Claim?. -All laws, decrees. executive orders, issuances, rules 
and regulations, or parts thereof, not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 9. Eflectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the OMicial Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national 
circulation. 
Approved,