Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR FILM AND TELEVISION TOURISM 
IN THE PHILIPPINES, CREATING AN INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE ON FILM AND 
TELEVISION TOURISM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 17, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that “The State shall give priority 
to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and 
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and 
development.”  
Film tourism in the Philippines is becoming a growing interest nowadays as it creates 
significant impact in connecting audiences to destinations used as film locations. Through 
film tourism, more people can be encouraged to visit these scenic spots in real life, which 
can boost the tourism industry of a certain place. 
This bill encourages people to visit tourist attractions in the Philippines once they view 
Filipino films. Through the Department of Tourism, this bill hopes that the number of local 
and foreign tourists will increase in the hopes that the tourism sector will recover from the 
Covid- 19 pandemic. This bill aims that billions of pesos worth of investments will flow 
through Filipino businesses through film tourism.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
December 2, 2022
4:16 pm
6480


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR FILM AND TELEVISION TOURISM 
IN THE PHILIPPINES, CREATING AN INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE ON FILM AND 
TELEVISION TOURISM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the 
Philippines 
in 
Congress 
assembled: 
 Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the ''Philippine Film and Television 
 Tourism Act" 
 Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared to be the policy of the 
State to treat the film and television tourism as a special investment and tourism tool 
 for 
national 
development. 
 Consistent with the national goal of creating new areas of business to generate 
 employment opportunities as well as to recognize Filipino talent and culture, film and 
television tourism in the country is hereby made a new investment priority, including 
 but not limited to: making the Philippines a location for shooting or filming area; 
 preserving or promoting the nation's historical and cultural heritage and resources as 
well as artistic creations or sceneries depicted in films, and converting it into tourist 
 attractions; and championing Filipino film practitioners and artists and their 
 participations in foreign productions. 
Section 3. Creation of the Philippine Inter-Agency Committee on Film and 
 Television Tourism (PIAC-FTT). - The Philippine Inter-Agency Committee on Film and 
 Television Tourism (PIAC-FTT) is hereby created, replacing the Philippine Film Export 
Service Office (PFESO) under the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), 
 organized 
under 
Executive 
Order 
No. 
674, 
Series 
of 
2007. 
 The PIAC-FTT shall be headed by an Executive Director, a position which shall 
 be equivalent to an Executive Director III position of the FDCP and which shall be a 
 career executive service officer position to be recommended by the Chairperson of the 
 FDCP 
and 
appointed, 
by 
the 
President. 
6480


 It 
shall 
be 
composed 
of 
representatives 
from 
the 
following 
agencies: 
 1. 
Department 
of 
Tourism; 
 2. 
Department 
of 
Trade 
and 
Industry; 
 3. 
Department 
of 
Interior 
and 
Local 
Government; 
 4. 
Department 
of 
Finance; 
 5. 
Department 
of 
Foreign 
Affairs; 
 6. 
Bureau 
of 
Immigration 
and 
Deportation; 
 7. 
Department 
of 
Labor 
and 
Employment; 
and 
 8. 
Tourism 
Infrastructure 
and 
Enterprise 
Zone 
Authority. 
 The heads of the above stated departments of government shall designate their 
 regular representatives, based on their position in the organization, but not lower than 
 a Director-level position. The said representatives of the various government agencies 
 shall, in addition to their duties provided in this Act, also serve as the direct link to 
 streamline 
and 
develop 
a 
one-stop-shop 
system. 
 The Secretariat of the PIAC-FFT shall be based in the Film Development Council 
 of the Philippines for financial and administrative support. It shall be composed of 
existing plantilla positions and new positions that the Department of Budget and 
Management may create that shall be necessary for the effective implementation of 
this Act. 
 
Section 4. Functions of PIAC-FTT. - The PIAC-FTT shall facilitate a one-stop- 
shop system for foreign film or television production entities. It shall perform the 
following: 
Facilitate the promotion and marketing of the Philippines as location site for the 
production of international films and television programs, such as but not 
limited to: creating and maintaining a website and/ or a manual of Philippine 
Film and Television Tourism sites for overseas contract workers; participating 
and exposure in World Expo, recognized international film festivals, activities 
for cinema and television with global market penetration, tourism fairs of 
international 
significance; 
2. Formulate a ten-year Comprehensive Plan detailing an inventory of film tourism 
sites in the country, areas for improvement, sectors to be tapped, partnerships 
and 
marketing 
strategies 
both 
local 
and 
international 
in 
application; 
3. Offer tax credits to productions deemed eligible under this Act, which it shail 
issue no more than one month after the completion of principal photography; 
4. Formulate and recommend a reward and incentive package for foreign 
film/television entities interested in shooting films/television programs in the 
country 
and 
monitor 
the 
implementation 
thereof; 
Provide assistance to foreign film production entities in processing pertinent 
documents and various requirements relative to the production of international 
films/television programs in the country and in complying with environmental 
regulations; 
6. Coordinate with various government agencies and local government units in 
assisting the entry and exit of a foreign film/television production team, such 
as but not limited to producers, artists and production crew; 


7. Provide direct link between foreign production entities, producers, filmmakers 
 and artists with local production manpower services, local artists, bit players 
 and 
technical 
crew, 
facilities 
and 
the 
like; 
 8. Utilize the services of tourism attaches abroad, through the Department of 
 Tourism, in the promotion and marketing of Philippine locations sites/resources 
 and 
local 
film 
production 
manpower; 
 9. Maintain an inventory of areas in the country that may be utilized as a film and 
 television 
tourism 
site 
and 
a 
registry 
of 
sectors 
including 
artists, 
film 
 practitioners, 
technical 
personnel 
and 
others 
for 
ready 
referrals; 
 10. Identify key film and television tourism sites used by international or local 
 filmmakers 
and 
establish 
a 
PIAC-FFT 
mark; 
 11. Keep a progress report and actual impact of the initiative taking into 
 consideration the increase in the number of film tourists and its contribution to 
 the 
economy; 
 12. Conduct the feasibility of establishing a film and television museum; 
 13. Coordinate with various stakeholders and market players for research and 
 study on feasibility of a reward and incentive system, and other aspects 
 combining tourism and film, including, but not limited to the system of 
categories for the application of rewards and incentives depending on the 
 cinema grade and length of exposure of the identified Philippine Film and 
 Television 
Tourism 
site; 
 14. Coordinate with ail Embassies and Consulates of the country to promote film 
 and 
television 
tourism; 
 15. Coordinate and partner with various associations of Filipino overseas workers 
abroad in marketing, disseminating and propagating information on Philippines 
as a film tourism destination, and 
16. Coordinate and partner with known Filipinos of international stature in 
promoting the country and fulfilling the implementation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 5. Partnership with Locai Government Units (LGUs)— The PIAC-FFT 
shall partner and collaborate with Local Government Units in the performance of the 
following: 
1. 
Identifying 
and 
promoting 
film 
and 
television 
tourism 
sites; 
2. Facilitating and providing assistance in the easy issuance of permits, certificates 
and 
other 
documents 
related 
thereto; 
3. Assisting in screening, providing, and identifying the necessary complementary 
manpower 
requirements 
before, 
during 
and 
after 
film 
and 
television 
production; 
and 
4. Providing monetary and non-monetary incentives to the over-all film production 
team as far as practicable. 
 
SECTION 
6. 
Amount 
of 
Tax 
Credit 
- 
a. The minimum tax credit awarded to eligible productions shall be equal to 
twenty percent (20%) of qualified expenses, as defined in Section 7 of this Act. 
b. In addition to the minimum tax credit, qualifying films, television shows, movies 
of the week, mini-series, and web-series may gain further credits under a point- 


based incentive system, to be administered by the PIAC-FFT. Each point shall 
correspond with an additional one percent rebate on all qualifying expenses. 
Any production shall only be able to claim one rebate from the following 
subsections 
in 
their 
entirety: 
1. Eligible productions may receive twenty (20) points if the final product is 
set completely or largely within the Philippines, fifteen (15) points if the final 
product 
contains 
ten 
(10) 
or 
more 
substantive 
scenes 
set 
within 
the 
Philippines, and ten (10) points if the final product contains at least five 
substantive scenes set within the Philippines; 
2. Eligible productions may receive twenty (20) points if at least one-half of 
filming within the Philippines occurs within a community recovering from a 
significant natural disaster that occurred within the preceding three years 
or ten (10) points if at least one-fourth of filming within the Philippines 
occurs 
within 
the 
same 
areas; 
and 
3. Eligible productions may receive two (2) points if they dedicate at least ten 
(10) seconds worth of screen time during the credit roll to a message 
acknowledging the films participation in the film tax credit program of the 
Philippines and providing the URL to a website where viewers can learn 
about 
tourism 
opportunities 
in 
the 
country. 
c. All qualifying international productions shall also receive the following tax 
credits. However, in no situation may the total tax credit amount received for 
 any 
particular 
expense 
exceed 
forty 
percent 
(40%): 
 
 1. Twenty percent (25%) of the cost of construction of any permanent and 
 useful infrastructure 
built 
in 
the 
Philippines 
for 
the 
purposes 
of 
filming, 
 including likely tourist attractions, subject to approval of the Department of 
 Tourism; 
 2. Fifteen percent (15%) of all lodging within the Philippines booked for 
 production 
team 
members, 
for 
production-related 
purposes, 
 3. Ten percent (10%) of the cost of all transportation to or from the Philippines 
 for 
production 
team 
members 
conducting 
eitherproduction-related 
travel 
 or 
the 
transportation 
of 
filming 
equipment 
into 
the 
Philippines; 
 4. Five percent (5%) of the cost associated with the provision of utilities or 
 technology purchased within the Philippines and the employment, as far as 
 practicable, of local talents. 
 
 SECTION 
7. 
Qualified 
Expenses, 
- 
 a. Qualified expenses for the purposes of determining the amount of a tax credit 
 shall include any expense incurred within the Philippines directly related to pre- 
 
production, 
production, 
or 
post-production 
conducted 
within 
the 
Philippines, 
unless otherwise exempted. However, expenses must be reasonable and prices 
may not substantially exceed the market value of the procured product or 
service. 
 Qualified expenses include, but are not limited to, expenses such as or related 
 to: 


1. Salary, wages, or other compensation such as per diem provided to 
members 
of 
the 
production 
team 
or 
subcontractors 
for 
any 
services 
rendered within the Philippines; Creation, decoration, or operation of sets or shooting 
locations 
and 
production 
offices; 
Filming equipment or supplies;. Locally-sourced photography equipment or services;. 
Locally-sourced 
editing 
equipment 
or 
services; 
 Locally-sourced 
music; 
Catering equipment or services; 
Costumes, make-up, and similar products and services;. Lodging and domestic, or 
international 
travel; 
or. 
Insurance. 
The PFTTO shall reserve the right to disqualify any expenses that clearly do not 
fall within the spirit of the tax credit program, subject to administrative and judicial 
appeal. 
b. As an assumption, the following shall not be recognized as qualified: 
1. Those related to distribution of the film, including but not limited to 
marketing and promotion; 
2. Such as attorney or accounting fees, incurred in the process or as a result 
of 
acquiring 
or 
challenging 
a 
government 
determination 
of 
eligibility 
for 
incentives 
later 
reimbursed 
to 
the 
production; 
3. Items that are later resold by the production, minus any loss incurred; 
4. Any amounts paid to members of the production as a result of profit 
participation, 
residual, 
or 
similar 
agreements; 
and 
5. Expenses associated with the financing of production. 
 
Section 8. Tax Incentives Eligibility. - The following requirements must be 
attained 
to 
be 
eligible 
for 
the 
incentives 
program: 
a. Upon certification by PIAC-FFT that the production is a professional endeavor 
and has met the PIAC-FFT's requirements in terms of the amount of investment 
and 
the 
amount 
of 
jobs 
the 
production 
will 
generate; 
b. Participating productions must agree to cooperate with any audits conducted 
to ensure compliance with program eligibility requirements, both during and 
after production; 
 
Section 9. Offer Preferential Incentives. - International or foreign film and 
television production entities may, upon certification from the PIAC-FFT, be granted 
the 
following: 
1. Multiple Entry Visa. - Foreign nationals who are members of the international 
film production entities, as duly endorsed by the PFTTO, shall be issued a 
multiple entry special visa within seventy-two (72) hoursuponsubmission of 
all required documents, and which shall be valid for a period of one (1) year to 
enter the Philippines: Provided, That a responsible officer of the applicant entity 
submits a duly authenticated certificate to the effect that the person who seeks 
entry into the Philippines is a member of the applicant entity and will work 
exclusively for film and television production. 


The admission and stay shall be coterminous with the validity of the multiple 
entry special visa. The stay, however, is extendible for one hundred eighty 
(180) 
days 
upon 
submission 
to the Bureau of 
Immigration 
of a 
sworn 
certification by a responsible officer of the applicant entity, that its permit 
remains valid and subsisting, and that no other source of income has been 
 made. 
2. Tax and Duty Free Importation. - The international or foreign film or television 
production entity shall enjoy tax and duty free importation of filming equipment 
as determined and endorsed by the PIAC-FFT. 
 
Section 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Film Development 
Council, Department of Tourism, Department of Finance and the Bureau of 
Immigration and Deportation, shall promulgate and issue the implementing rules and 
regulations within ninety (90) days upon approval of this Act. 
 
Section 
11. 
Appropriations. 
- 
The 
amount 
necessary 
to 
implement 
the 
provision of this Act shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
 Section 12. Separability Cause. - In the event that any provision or part of 
 this Act shall be declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall remain valid 
 and in full force and effect. 
 
 Section 13. Repealing Cause. - Executive Order No. 674, Series of 2007, is 
 hereby amended. 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. 
 
 Section 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
 circulation, 
whichever 
comes 
earlier. 
 
 
 
 
Approved