Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Creative industry is an essential cultural asset in the country as they showcase arts, 
skills, and creativity. In the context of the Philippines, our history and culture has been 
showcased in various music, performing arts, craft, design, and film. With this, the art industry 
has evolved through time and allowed artists, literary writers, filmmakers, film production 
entities and performers in the creative sector to gain international recognition and prestige.  
In the 2022 Sundance Awards, the film Leonor Will Never Die of director Martika 
Escobar has won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award. In the 78th Venice Film 
Festival, artist John Arcilla has bagged the Coppi Volpi (Volpi Cup) for Best Actor. In 2020, 
director Arvin Belarmino received the Berlin Brandenburg Short Award for Best Film at the 
36th Interfilm Berlin Short Film Festival with the short film “Tarang”. In 2019 moreover, Filipino 
film “Yellow Rose” written and directed by Diane Paragas won the Reel Asian Best Feature 
Film award in the Toronto International Film Festival.  
These recognitions to our Filipino artists call for appropriate government 
acknowledgement. This bill seeks to grant cash incentives to Filipinos in the creative industry 
who have received recognition and honors in prestigious and notable competitions abroad. 
With this measure, artists will surely be encouraged to engage in various forms of arts to 
represent the country and further hone their skills and craft. 
The passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
July 13, 2022
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT 
GRANTING CASH INCENTIVES TO WINNING FILMMAKERS, FILM 
PRODUCTION ENTITIES, LITERARY WRITERS, ARTISTS, AND PERFORMANCE 
IN THE CREATIVE SECTOR, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known and cited as the “Artists Incentives 
Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — Under the Constitution, it is hereby declared 
the policy of the State to "give priority to education, science and technology, arts, and 
culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, 
and promote total human liberation and development." Moreover, the Constitution 
provides that "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." 
Towards this end, the State shall extend its support to filmmakers, film production 
entities, literary writers, artists, and performers in the creative sector by providing 
incentives based on international recognition and merit in order to encourage the 
creation of more high-quality works of art — which in turn — shall elevate the stature 
of the country in the world's stage. 
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SECTION 3. Coverage. — This Act shall apply to all filmmakers, film production 
entities, literary writers, artists, and performers in the creative sector whose works 
merited the highest recognition for technical or artistic excellence in internationally 
notable and prestigious competitions, film festivals, and other exhibitions as may be 
determined by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Film 
Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), and the Cultural Center of the 
Philippines (CCP). 
For the purposes of this Act, notable and prestigious competitions, film festivals, 
and other exhibition shall refer to those which have given recognition and awards to 
artistic works for the last five (5) years and are well-known for their international profile, 
audience size, and the quality and breadth for their competition, festival or exhibition: 
Provided, that for the film industry, these events shall include, but not be limited to the 
following: 
a) Festival de Cannes; 
b) Sundance Film Festival;  
c) Toronto International Film Festival;  
 
d) Venice Film Festival; 
e) Berlin International Film Festival; 
f) New York Film Festival; and 
g) Busan International Film Festival 
 
SECTION 4. Incentives for Winning Artists. — For winning filmmakers, film 
production entities, literary writers, artists, and performers in the creative sector, the 
following amounts shall be granted as incentives tax free: 
a) One million pesos (Php 1,000,000.00) to artist, production entities, 
itinerary writers, artists, and performers in the creative sector who have garnered 
the highest award from an international competition, film festival, or exhibition 
determined by the NCCA, FDCP, and CCP; and 
b) Five hundred pesos (Php 500,000.00) to winning artists, production 
entities, literary writers, artists, and performers in the creative sector who have 
garnered special recognition and/or any other award not considered as the highest 
award from an international competition, film festival, or exhibition determined by 
the NCCA, FDCP, and CPP. 
 


 
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Provided, that should there be more than one winner of a particular award, the 
amount shall be equally divided among the winners. 
 
SECTION 5. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this 
Act shall be charged against the National Endowment for Culture and the Arts 
established under Section 50 of Republic Act No. 10066 or the "National Cultural 
Heritage Act of 2009" subject to existing budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and 
regulations. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within thirty (30) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, NCCA, FDCP, CCP and the Department of Finance (DOF), 
in consultation with other government agencies and concerned stakeholders, shall 
promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to carry out the provisions 
of this Act: 
Provided, That the non-promulgation of the rules and regulations provided 
under this section shall not prevent the immediate implementation of this Act upon 
effectivity.  
 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, executive 
issuances or letters of instruction, rules and regulations or any part thereof 
inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason or reasons, any part or parts 
of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid by any competent court, other 
sections or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
effect. 
 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,