fil
Republic of the Philippines x
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

2320

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Recently, the restored versions of the Filipino film classics Mavnila
sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag (Lino Brocka) and Genghis Khan (Manuel
Conde) have been in the news. It is a known fact, however, that many other
Filipino films in the past have not been so fortunate, and some may have
indeed vanished, irreversibly. It has been estimated that thousands of films
have suffered this fate due to lack of systematic identification, preservation
and restoration efforts. What is curious though is that time and again a copy
ofa film deemed lost accidentally turns up at the United States L. ibrary of
Congress or elsewhere. This bill therefore is premised on that hope or
chance, no matter how slim and diminishing, that some copies of “lost”

Filipino classics may still be traced, acquired and preserved for the benefit
of our present and future generations.

Under our present laws, film archiving is mentioned in Section 3 of
Republic Act No. 9167, the law which created the Film Development
Council of the Philippines. Under the said provision, one of the powers and
functions of the Council is “to ensure the establishment of a film archive
in order to conserve and protect film negatives and/or prints as part of the
nation’s historical. cultural, and artistic heritage.” Other than this passing
mention, however, ofa film archive not much has been done along the line
of protecting and conserving our film reservoir, understandably due to the
usual problems of funding constraints and lack of technical expertise and
storage infrastructural facilities.

The 1987 Philippine Constitution (Article XTV), however. mandates
that insofar as our arts and cultural heritage is concerned

“The State shall foster the preservation. enrichment.
and dynamic evolution ofa Filipino national culture based on

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the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic
and intellectual expression.” (Sec. 14)

“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.” (Sec. 15)

“All the country’s artistic and historic wealth
constitutes the cultural treasure of the nation and shall be
under the protection of the State which may regulate its
disposition.” (Sec. 16)

This bill gives life, infuses meaning, and fleshes-out the intent of the
foregoing constitutional provisions with the end in view of promoting our
cinematographic arts and building and conserving our Filipino film
heritage. Indeed, the film industry is much more than a commercial
enterprise designed for public entertainment. Cinematic films mirror the
human and social conditions, dramatizes the people’s struggles towards
total liberation and enhances our understanding and appreciation of our
social values and national identity

Based on the foregoing premises, the early approval of this bill is
eamestly requested

aH
LUCY TORRES-GO}
Representative
Fourth District of Leyte



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session
2320
HOUSE BILLNO.

Introduced by Honorable Lucy Marie Tor

AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE TO BE MANAGED
BY THE FILM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. There is hereby created a National Film Archive of
the Philippines to be managed and maintained by the Film Development

Council.

SEC. 2. The National Film Archive of the Philippines shall have the

following powers and functions:

1. Plan, formulate and implement an archival administration
program for the efficient recovery, restoration, conservation. preservation
maintenance, utilization and disposal of cinematographic films including

the adoption of security measures and film protection program


2. Review and approve films nominated for inclusion in the National
Film Archive:
3. Conduct archival researches using materials here and abroad.

including background studi

about films considered for inclusion in the

National Film Archive, and:

4. Acquire through transfer, donation, purchase or any other means
film prints and digital masters of films which have enduring archival value:

5. Ensure the preservation and conservation of existing and future
film archival resources of the government;

6, Reproduce and authenticate copies of cinematic films, subject to

copyright laws:

7. Facilitate the acquisition of a permanent and suitable building for

the National Film Archives to house the country’s film archival holdings

8. Promote appreciation of and build cultural values from the

cinematic films in the National Film Archive:

9. Provide for access to the Film Archive for scholarly and research

process, subject to reasonable guidelines:

10. Make Filipino films readily available for educational. historical.
and cultural purposes to all segments of Philippine society. as well as the

international community;


IL. Give technical assistance to all government offices.
instrumentalities. and agencies, national or local, in the planning.
implementation and evaluation of their film archives administration
program: and

12. Conduct training programs .on film archives management,
including the establishment of an archival system for both public and

private sectors.

SE

The National Film Archive of the Philippines shall be
headed by an executive director with a rank equivalent to a bureau director

and who shall be assisted by two deputy executive directors

The President of the Philippines shail appoint the executive director
and the two deputy executive directors of the Film Archive from a list of
nominees submitted by the Film Development Council: Provided. ‘That

said officials to be appointed to the Film Archive shall be knowledgeable

of the artis

istic, historical, cultural and/or technical aspects of film-

standards,

evaluation, restoration and/or archiving along world-cla

The executive director and the deputy executive directors shall serve
for a term of two (2) years and shall be eligible for reappointment for a

second term: Provided. That no director shall serve for more than two (2)


secutive terms: Provided further, if any director fails to complete a
term, the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall serve only for the
unexpired portion of the term of the director whom he/she succeeds. unless
re-appointed: Provided finally, That such service of the unexpired portion

shall not counted as a term.

‘The National Film Archives shall establish its own staffing pattern.
and salary and compensation scheme, within six months from. the
effectivity of this Act, subject to the rules and regulations of the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Civil Service

Commission (CSC).

SEC. 4. Film companies or individual producers are hereby required
to submit, at reasonable cost, a copy of their film to the National Film

Archive within three (3) months from its official release.

S'

C. 5. The Film Development Council shall, in consultation with
the National Historical Institute, National Commission on Cultural and
Arts, and the National Archives of the Philippines. issue the necessary rules

and regulations to implement the provisions hereof.


SEC. 6. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following

its enactment into law and thereafter.

. 7. All acts, decrees, executive orders. rules and regulations
and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended

SEC. 8. If for any reason, any portion or provision of this Act be

declared unconstitutional, other parts or provisions hereof which are not

affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect

SI

C. 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general

circulation.

Approved,

Yl