FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHJLIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A people is defined by its history and culture. Films, in turn, reflect our history and 
culture, reflect them as faithfully 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 fragile 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 and destroyed.. 
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 future 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 the 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, historically 
and aesthetically significant to Filipino Heritage. 
It is hoped that this bill, classic films like the “Noli Me Tangere”, “Ifugao”, “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 
to equal, if not surpassed, the best films of all times to he 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 passage of this bill is earnestly sought 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
19 
Introdnced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilln, Jr. 
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9167 BY PROVIDING FOR A 
NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE TO BE MANAGED BY THE FILM 
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SEC. 1. Section 3 ofRepublic 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 MAINTAIN A NATIONAL FILM 
ARCHIVE in order to conserve and protect film negatives and/or 
prints as part o f  the nation’s historical, cultural and artistic 
heritage;” 
“11. TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE AND 
ENCOURAGE THE AVAILABILITY OF FEATURE FILMS 
FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES AND EXHIBITION IN 
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER ENTITIES 
TO DEVELOP THE FILIPINO’S CULTURAL AND SOCIAL 
VALUE 
AND 
TO 
BETTER 
UNDERSTAND 
AND 
APPRECIATE 
THE 
FILIPINO 
IDENTITY 
AND 
NATIONHOOD;” 
“12. TO ENSURE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN 
OUTREACH 
PROGRAM, 
WHICH 
WILL 
MAKE 
RESOURCES 
AVAILABLE 
TO 
DISADVANTAGED 
COMMUNITIES. THE MAIN AIM OF THE OUTREACH 
SECTION IS TO TAKE THE CINEMA PEOPLE WHERE 
THE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES CAN BENEFIT 
FROM IT. THIS IS DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH 
OTHER 
ORGANIZATIONS 
SUCH 
AS 
SCHOOLS, 
CHURCHES AND COMMUNITIES: AND” 


“13. TO PERFORM SUCH OTHER FUNCTIONS AS MAY 
BE NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF 
THIS ACT.” 
SEC. 2 Section 13 ofRepublic Act 9167 is hereby amended as follows: 
“Sec 13. Privileges of Graded films- films which have obtained an 
“A” or “B” grading from the Council pursuant to Sections 11 and 
12 of this Act shall be entitled to the following privileges: 
xxx 
B. FEMS WHICN HAVE OBTAINED A RATING OF “A” 
OR “B” SHALL BE AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED 
AMONG THE FILMS WHOSE COPY OR COPIES SHALL 
BE PRESERVED AND KEPT AT THE NATIONAL FILM 
ARCHIVE AS PROVIDED I N  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 MAINTAINED BY THE FILM 
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIZ. THE FILM NEGATIVES TO 
BECONSERVEDANDPROTECTEDBYTHENATIONAL 
FILM ARCHIVE SHALL BE SELECTED AS FOLLOWS: 
A. THE CINEMA EVALUATION BOARD SHALL RECEIVE, 
EVALUATE, AND APPROVE ALL REQUESTS FOR 
INCLUSION IN THE NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE OTHER 
THAN THOSE RATED “A” OR “B” AS PROVIDED IN SEC. 
13; AND 
B. NOMINATIONS FOR INCLUSION MAY BE MADE FOR 
OLD OR CLASSIC FILMS AS WELL AS NEW FILMS, 
INCLUDING FEATURE FILMS, DOCUMENTARIES AND 
OTHER TYPES OF FILM, BY FILM REVIEWERS AND 
CRITICS, 
FILM 
ACADEMIES 
OR 
SCHOOLS, 
PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS AND OTHER INTERESTED 
PARTIES.” 
SEC. 4. There is hereby added a new section to read as follows: 
“SEC. 14-B. THE COUNCIL SHALL FOLLOW THE 
HIGHEST KNOWN STANDARDS OF PRESERVATION OR 
MAINTENANCE OF ARCHIVED FILMS TO PREVENT 
DAMAGE 
OR 
LOSS 
THRU 
SPOILAGE, 
DECAY, 
DISINTEGRATION, 
INCINERATION 
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 
COUNCJL SHALL PORMULATE SUITABLE RULES FOR 
ACCESSING FILMS IN THE ARCHIVES BY LEGITIMATE 
USERS 
AND 
MAY 
CHARGE 
FEES THEREFORE, 
PROVIDED THAT COPYING OR DUPLICATION SHALL 
NOT BE ALLOWED EXCEPT WITH THE WRITTEN 
PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT 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. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
provisions hereof. 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause - 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. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national 
circulation. 
Approved