The Department of Tourism (DOT), the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) officially broke ground for the new Philippine Film Heritage Building in Intramuros, Manila on Thursday, Oct. 26, marking a historic moment in the Philippine cinema.
On Sept. 26, Tourism Secretary Christina G. Frasco, FDCP Chairman and CEO Tirso Cruz III, and TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid inked an inter-agency memorandum that authorized the building's construction.
According to the FDCP, the Cinematheque Centre Manila and the Philippine Film Archive would be housed at the Philippine Film Heritage Building once completed.
“It will also be the new headquarters of the FDCP.”
The FDCP said the building, which will house a remarkable collection of Filipino films, memorabilia, and cutting-edge audiovisual preservation and restoration facilities, is expected to be completed by October 2024.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Frasco, Cruz, Lapid, Intramuros Administration (IA) Administrator Joan Padilla, Pangasinan Representative and Chairman of the Special Committee of Creative Industry and Performing Arts Christopher Vera Perez de Venecia, and Manila City Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul Servo" C. Nieto laid a time capsule at the Baluarte de San Diego.
Cruz said the tripartite agreement between agencies, which greenlighted the erection Philippine Film Heritage Building, is a testament to agencies’ “collective dedication to safeguard and nurture our beloved Philippine Film Heritage.”
“Our facilities will serve as a hub for film enthusiasts, a source of deep & rich knowledge for students, and a treasure trove of Philippine cinema for both our fellow citizens and visitors from all around the world,” he said in a statement.
The tourism department said the building will become a prominent attraction within the historic walled city of Intramuros, providing tourists with an immersive trip through the growth of Philippine cinema.
The Philippine Film Heritage Building is being built as part of the government's larger attempts to boost tourism and cultural appreciation in the country.