Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid is now pushing for the passage of a bill seeking to establish the National Film Archives of the Philippines that would be in charge of collecting, archiving, conservation, management and restoration of Filipino films that upholds the nation’s historical, cultural and artistic legacy and heritage.
Lapid, in filing Senate Bill No. 1352, said it is imperative that the govenrment undertake such initiative to come up with a national film archive that follows internationally-accepted standards and where these Filipino films can be stored, in order to promote the growth and development of the local film industry.
It is also important to conserve and promote the nation’s historical and cultural heritage and legacy of Philippine cinema, he said.
“Para sa isang bansang may mahaba at kapuri-puring kasaysayan ng paglikha ng pelikula, na katatapos lamang magdiwang ng isang siglo ng pelikulang Pilipino, nararapat lamang na ang pamahalaan ay magtatag ng isang institusyon na mamamahala sa isang pasilidad na may kadalubhasaan at malalim at tunay na malasakit at pagmamahal sa pelikulang Pilipino (For a nation that has a long and honorable history in film-making, that has just celebrated a century of Filipino films, it’s only fitting for the government to establish an institution that will manage a facility that cherishes and loves to preserve Philippine cinema),” Lapid said in a statement.
“Ito ay pagkilala sa kahalagahan ng pelikula bilang tagapangalaga ng kultura at kasaysayan at pagsisiguro na ito ay maipapamalas sa mga susunod na henerasyon (This is in recognition of films as caretaker of culture and history and ensuring that this can be shown to the next generation),” the senator stressed.
The bill, which shall be known as the “National Film Archives of the Philippines Act of 2022,” shall apply to all Filipino films ranging from motion pictures to cinematic masterpieces, documentary, news reels, silent films, avant-garde works, significant amateur footage, television shows to sound recordings, and studio productions to independent, orphan and even experimental films produced here and abroad.
The NFAP will replace the Philippine Film Archive (PFA) under the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), organized under Republic Act No. 9167.
Under the bill, the NFAP shall be mandated to conduct a national study of the film preservation problems facing the nation, and to prepare a national preservation plan to address the problems posed by the study.
It shall also be tasked to create a National Film Registry, the database on basic information of motion pictures, cinematic masterpieces, documentary, news reels, silent films, avant-garde works, significant amateur footage, television shows to sound recordings, and studio productions to independent and even experimental films produced here and abroad.