HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

8396

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative 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 past and present Congress.

International films are becoming a threat to the local film industry. With the
rise of the demand for Hollywood Films, most cinemas and conventional
theatrical venues are further encouraged to prioritize and allot more slots
that cater to these foreign films especially those that have global commercial
appeal.

In order to show support to our local film producers, the State should strive
to encourage the production of quality films and to foster an environment
that will prioritize local films in the various avenues that they are being
broadcasted.

This measure seeks to promote the Philippine film industry through the
establishment of a legislation that aims to safeguard its artistic and
economic development. There will be an annual film quota that will require
all cinemas and theatrical venues to exhibit only Filipino films for a period of
twenty eight days (28), from June 1 to June 14 and from December 18 to
December 31. This measure also seeks to guarantee all Filipino Films a full
week’s run in all commercial theatres and booking priority on “payday
playdates”.

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

‘

JOHN IN YYUL SERVO” NIETO


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

~. 8396.
House Bill No.

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

———  eeSeSSSSSSSSsSsSsSSSsSSSSSSSSSeSssS

AN ACT
PROMOTING THE PHILIPPINE FILM INDUSTRY THROUGH AN
ANNUAL FILM QUOTA AND OTHER SUPPORT MEASURES

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known, cited and referred to as the
"Philippine Film Industry Promotion Act."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared that the State
shall give priority to the arts and culture to foster in Filipinos an authentic
and dynamic sense of humanity, patriotism and nationalism. 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. 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 and develop its disposition. A
vital and Integral part of this cultural treasure is the Philippine cinema
industry, which the State endeavors to constantly maintain, strengthen, and
improve according to global standards, but always with due regard for
contemporary Filipino cultural values. By ensuring an assured space in the
annual calendar for the exclusive exhibition of Filipino films and providing
other support measures, the State aims to develop the cinema industry in
terms of artistry, technical excellence, universal appeal, and a profound
sense of the Filipino spirit, all with the due regard for the artistic, moral,
educational and economic well-being of directors, writers, actors, producers,
crew, theater owners and operators, distributors, suppliers and allied


industries, and other stakeholders, and particularly the Filipino movie
audience.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following
terms shall mean:

A. Filipino Film means a film -
i. Which is wholly or mainly produced in the Philippines;

ii. All the studio scenes of which have been photographed or
filmed in the Philippines; and

ili. Which has been produced by a company incorporated in the
Philippines.

B. Film - A series of pictures projected in a screen in rapid succession,
with objects shown in successive positions slightly changed so as to
produce the optical effect of a continuous picture in which the objects
move, whether the picture be black and white or colored, silent or with
accompanying sound, on whatever medium and within whatever
mechanism, equipment, and/or technology they are projected, and in
whatever material device they are preserved or recorded for instant
projection, for the purpose of this Act the material in which the motion
picture is contained, preserved, or recorded, forms an integral part of
the film subject of this Act

SECTION 4. Annual Film Quota. - There is hereby established by an
annual film quota under which only Filipino films shall be publicly exhibited in
all commercial theaters in the Philippines as well as in all theatrical venues
operated by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the
Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission for the
Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and any such other cinematic venues, whether
privately or government operated, for an annual period of twenty-eight (28)
days, namely from the first to fifth of June, and from the 18th to the 31st of
December. The aforementioned dates shall be without prejudice to any such
additional dates within the calendar year to be determined by the President
of the Philippines following the objectives of this Act. Subject to the
exception under Section 7. Presidential Decree No. 1986, in relation to
Section 3 of this Act, the exhibition of any film, trailer, or publicity material
pursuant to the annual film quota shall be subject to review, classification,



and enforcement by the Movie and Television Review and Classification
Board (MTRCB). Operators of movie theaters and similar venues shall give
priority to publicity materials of films intended for exhibition during the
above quota sub-periods as well as such other periods determined by the
President of the Philippines as stated above within two months before the
respective first days thereof.

SECTION 5. Guaranteed Week's Run and Playdate Prioring. - All
Filipino films shall be guaranteed a full week's run, i.e. seven (7) days, in all
commercial theaters and venues counted from opening day, regardless of
box-office potential or performance. In addition, all Filipino film shall enjoy
booking priority on so called "payday playdates", i.e. exhibition release dates
that fall on, or are close to, the 15th or end of any calendar month.

SECTION 6. Organization of Film Festivals. - The establishment herein
of the annual film quota shall be without prejudice to the organization of film
festivals and screenings to coincide with any or both of the sub-periods, or
such additional periods to be determined by the President of the Philippines
as stated above, under Section 3 hereof, and consistent with the objectives
of this Act. The said festivals may be organized, consistent with their
respective statutory mandates, by the FDCP, CCP and NCCA,
singly/collectively and/or in collaboration with film industry stakeholders,
cultural associations, and educational institutions as well as with other
government agencies, such as but not limited to the MTRCB in regard to
content classification and audience sensitivity, and local government units,
including any leagues or other aggrupations thereof; provided that: nothing
herein shall be construed to prevent local government units to singly or
collectively and/or in collaboration with the other entities, whether private or
governmental, to organize their own festivals to coincide with and take
advantage of the film quota established herein. The organizers of film
festivals referred to in this section shall have the authority, insofar as they
are allowed by law, to formulate their own rules and regulations, for the
conduct thereof, the selection of entries and participants, the granting of
awards and incentives, the designation of beneficiaries, sources of funds,
and such other aspects of holding a film festival whether national, regional,
provincial or local in scope; provided: that such rules and regulations shall
always ensure transparency in the selection and awarding process, as well
as the prompt publication, both online and in print, of the box office



performance of all entries during any festival no later than seven after its
termination.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Chairpersons
of the FDCP, NCCA, and CCP. In coordination with the MTRCB, the Film
Academy of the Philippines, cinema-related guilds, local government units
and other relevant agencies, entities, institutions, and associations
interested in the development of the Philippine film industry shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations within one hundred twenty
(120) days from the effectivity of date of this Act, including any guidelines
for any festivals or screening applications and awards incentives, source of
funds, and monitoring and compliance measures.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of the Act is declared
invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain
and continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to
or inconsistent with the provisions of the Act are repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effecti Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette and two (2) newspapers of
general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,