Movie star-turned-Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla is eyeing tariffs for their counterparts from abroad in order to help the local film industry generate more Filipino movies and teleseryes.
Padilla said the funds collected from the tariffs of "imported" shows could be used to provide assistance to Filipinos working in the film industry.
"Maaari po bang gawan natin ng paraan na taasan ang tax nitong mga foreign series na pumapasok sa atin? (Can we find a way to raise taxes for foreign series entering the Philippines?). Kahit paano po ang subsidy na makukuha, bigay natin sa workers sa industry natin sa local... Sampahan natin itong mga pagpasok ng foreign dahil maraming nawawalan ng trabaho dito (This will result in subsidies for workers in our local industry. Besides, the entry of foreign shows is costing many workers in our local industry their jobs)," he said in the Senate hearing on the proposed 2023 budget of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
Padilla also supported providing additional funds to the FDCP for the restoration of old Philippine films, as well as the FDCP's bid to have its own building with its own vault to preserve old Filipino films.
According to FDCP Chairman Tirso Cruz III, the building will last for at least 40 to 50 years, and the P500,000 monthly rent can be realigned to helping film industry workers, especially young directors and scriptwriters.
Likewise, Padilla supported the idea of making tourism sites out of areas where Filipino films were made.
"Ang pelikula pag tiningnan natin investment na ito habang buhay (Films are investments for life).
Kung preserved or restored walang pagtanda dito. Kasaysayan ito, kultura. Ito masasabi na treasure natin (If preserved or restored, they are timeless. They are also a part of our history and culture, so they can be considered our treasure)," he said.
"Dito sa Southeast Asia tayo unang gumawa ng pelikula at tayo po palagi ang nananalong best actor, best picture sa Asia.(Here in Southeast Asia, we were the first to make movies and we always won awards for best film and best actor). Lahat po ay nagmamalasakit sa pelikulang Pilipino. Siguro ito ang umpisa na makaabante tayo (Now, so many are trying to help the film industry. Perhaps this is a good point for us to start),” he added.