.ir.l1ltit 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
{tU,;r of fqe ~f(l'l'b". 
First Regular Session 
'13 
AUG -8 P2 :39 
SENAfZ42 
S. No. ---------
1 
_____________________________ 
R_~_:_('_j_. --'-' , ny; 0 (
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Articles 14, Sections 14 and 15 read: 
Section 14. The State shall foster the preservation, enrichment, and 
dynamic evolution of a Filipino national culture based on the principle in unity in 
diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression. 
Section 15. 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. 
Our indepimdent film industry has created a growing international interest in Filipino 
works, borne out of the increasing number of awards garnered by our filmmakers at prestigious 
film festivals. Some of these recent winners include Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, 
which won 15 international awards, including three awards at the Berlinale (The Teddy award, 
International Jury Prize at the Kinderfest and Special Mention from the Children's Jury of the 
Kinderfest). It was also the first Philippine film nominated for Best Foreign Film at the 
Independents' Spirit Awards in the U.S. Kubrador was honored with the International Critic's 
Award by the FIPRESCI (short for Federation Internationale de la Presse Cinematographique, in 
English, known as International Federation of Film Critics) during the 2006 Moscow 
International Film Festival; and in 2007, it was nominated Best ASEAN film in the Bangkok 
International Film Festival. Rigodon won the best feature film award in the international 
competition category at the eighth International Panorama of Independent Filmmakers in Athens, 
Greece in 2006. Rigodon was also invited to screen at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 
2007. Neo-Lounge, an outstanding documentary, was adjudged Best Documentary Film in the 
34th Brussels International Independent Film Festival in 2007. 
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Independent films are called such because they were not produced by the established film 
companies, and by necessity, finished 011 much smaller budgets. Their independence allows them 
to challenge the status quo, tackling heretofore unexplored subject matter, inviting the audience 
not only to feel but to think. They present a genuine alternative cinema to the current crop of 
mainstream productions in movies and television, which are primarily geared towards profit, and 
as such, are dictated by the usual commercial formulas. 
Currently, the government supports independent films through the Film Development 
Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and through programs such as the Cinemalaya Philippine 
Independent Film Festival. 
However, this is not enough. 
In 1999, figures from the FDCP showed that the 
Philippines produced 199 films. But it took a dive in 2004, producing only 55 films. Nestor 
Jardin, president of the Cinemalaya in 2005, and a board member of the Film Development 
Council, said that this decline could be attributed to a lot of things; one of which was the high 
production costs that come with putting together a film as well as high amusement taxes imposed 
here in the Philippines. 
Thus, if not given financial support, independent filmmakers may soon fall into the trap 
of pandering to the audience in order to sell their movies. Since these films cannot and should 
not rely on box office receipts to recoup their production costs, the state should take steps to 
encourage these filmmakers to maintain their independence by rewarding those films which 
performed well in prestigious film competitions. These filmmakers can use these grants to offset 
their costs and use the rest as seed money for their next'note-worthy project . , 
• This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 
2 


'sCtllltr 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
ll)H,;r "f til' o:!>m.'lrV 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
AUG -8 P2 :39 
SENA,TE. A2 
SO No. 
.l r:: '1. 
~ 
________________________ 
~R::.:I~·:("_o·l:..:':_o -"-:/~1\Y:_t_ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
I 
AN ACT 
2 
ENCOURAGING THE PRODUCTION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENT FILMS BY 
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PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO FILMMAKERS WHO ARE GIVEN HONORS IN 
4 
CREDIBLE INTERNATIONAL FILM COMPETITIONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Independent Films 
6 
Act." 
7 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote and support 
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the development and growth of the local film industry, in general, and the production of 
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independent films, in particular. The State shall endeavor to discover, encourage, and honor the 
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cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino 
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experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. 
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SECTION 3. Grants for Award-Winning Films. -
To achieve this law's purpose, 
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Philippine independent films that have been awarded the Best Film prize or its equivalent, 
14 
including those that merited recognition for technical excellence, in respected international film 
15 
competitions or cinema festivals, shall be given the following incentives: 
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3.1 A grant of five million pesos (I!5,000,000.00) to the film production or entity that 
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produced the award winning full-length feature or documentary film; 
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3.2. A grant of three million pesos (I!3,000,000.00) to the film production or entity that 
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produced the award witming short feature or documentary film; 
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3.3. Full tax exemptions relevant to the screening of the film and its commercial 
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exhibition, including those levied by local government units (LGUs); 
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3.4. The award winning film shall be given an automatic rating of an "A" film by the 
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Cinema Evaluation Board. 
3 
SECTION 4. Implementing Agency. -- The National Commission for Culture and the 
4 
Arts (NCCA) is hereby authorized and directed to adopt a system to implement and carry out the 
5 
provisions of this Act. The NCCA shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, 
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promulgate rules and regulations to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 5. Appropriations. -
A special fund amounting to fifty million pesos 
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(P50,000,000.OO), which shall be sourced from the funds of the Philippine Amusement and 
9 
Gaming Corporation (P AGCOR), is hereby created to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
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Other amounts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act are hereby authorized 
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to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
14 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
15 
valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
17 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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