Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House BILLNO. 4407

Introduced by Representative DEOGRACIAS B. RAMOS, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 1919, Jose Nepomuceno, a well-known photographer with a background in
painting and electrical engineering, produced and exhibited the first Filipino film,
Dalagang Bukid. Originally written as a zarzuela, the film featured Marceliano
Ilagan and Atang de la Rama and was subtitled in English, Spanish and Tagalog.

There is no known copy of Dalagang Bukid and Nepomuceno’s other works such
as La Venganza de Don Silvestre (1920) and Un Capullo Marchito (1921)
existing. Eduardo de Castro’s Zamboanga, which starred Fernando Poe Sr. and
Rosa del Rosario, remains as the oldest known Filipino film with a surviving

copy.

The absence of a government entity whose sole mandate is to trace, acquire and
preserve Filipino films for present and future generations has hurt efforts to
establish a National Film Archive. The discovery of the 1937 film at the US
Library of Congress was a result of research conducted by a local filmmaker.

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp, which owns the largest Filipino film library,
estimates around 3,500 out of the 8,000 films ever made still exist. However,
government agencies involved in promoting and preserving the arts are held
back by funding issues, multiple responsibilities, storage concerns and the
technical expertise needed to preserve films properly.

This bill seeks to create the National Film Preservation Commission, whose
mission is to build, preserve and maintain the Philippines’ film heritage and
promote Filipino cinema.

The importance of film in education and providing a country an insight into its
past cannot be stressed enough. More than entertainment, the viewing public is
able to learn more about the country and its people as the images, story and
sounds provide an insight into who we are.

The immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Segbnd Distfict, Sorsogon


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

4407

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative DEOGRACIAS B. RAMOS, Jr.

AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL FILM PRESERVATION COMMISSION,
DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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 as the “Law Creating the National
Film Preservation Commission.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to give priority
to education, arts and culture in order to foster patriotism and nationalism,
accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and
development.

SECTION 3. Creation. - The National Film Preservation Commission, hereinafter
referred to as the “Commission” is hereby established for the sole purpose of
acquiring, maintaining and preserving culturally or historically significant Filipino
films.

SECTION 4. Composition. - A National Film Preservation Board will be
established to oversee the operations of the Commission. The Board shall be
composed of a Chairperson and 11 members.

The five individuals who shall be ex officio members of the Board are as follows:

. Secretary of the Department of Education

. President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines

. Director of the National Museum

. Chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines
Commissioner of the National Commission on Culture and Arts

ea0co


The five regular members shall serve for a term of three (3) years and will come
from various film organizations:

. A representative from the legally constituted film directors association;

. A representative from the legally constituted film producers association;

. A representative from the legally constituted theater owners association;

. A representative from the legally constituted screenwriters association;
and

5. A representative from the Society of Film Archivists.

BwNe

SECTION 5. Powers and Functions. - The Commission shall have the following
powers and functions:

1. Acquire and preserve film prints and digital masters of films deemed
culturally and historically significant to Filipinos;

2. Promote appreciation and build cultural value of any
National Film Archive;

3. Review and approve films nominated for inclusion in the National Film
Archive;

4, Obtain background materials, production reports, shooting scripts and
other similar materials related to films approved for inclusion in the
National Film Archive; and

5. Provide for reasonable access to the Film Archive for scholarly and
research process.

ino film in the

SECTION 6. Funding. - The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation shall
provide the Commission Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P250,000.00) every
month for the first six (6) months of its creation.

Funding for the seventh month onwards will be sourced from movie ticket sales.
The amount of one peso (P1.00) will be deducted from every movie ticket sold
by a theater owner or the party leasing the theater. Theater operators shall
provide the Commission a monthly report on the total number of tickets sold for
each movie.

SECTION 7. Film Selection and Acquisition. - Film producers are required to
provide the Commission a copy of their film within six months from its official
release. The Commission will shoulder the costs involved in copying the film.

For films released five years from the date of the Commission‘s formal creation,
the Board shall review nominations submitted by the general public and
representatives of the film industry. Full-length feature films must have a
theatrical release to be qualified for nomination. A total of 10 films will be
chosen annually for inclusion in the National Film Archive.

SECTION 8. Appointment. — The Office of the President shall name a
Commissioner who will head the body. Within 120 days from the enactment of
this Act, the Commission shall fill 10 staff positions; determine duties and the
compensation scheme.


SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Section 3 Paragraph 10 of Republic Act No.
9167 is hereby deleted:

[10. “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.” ]

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 11. Implementation. The National Commission on Culture and Arts in
consultation with the Department of Education and the Film Development
Council of the Philippines shall issue such rules and regulations as may be
necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act.

SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette and two (2) newspapers with a nationwide
circulation.

Approved,