Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur’’ Abalos urged omn Thursday, Han. 18,  the local government units (LGUs) to initiate measures that will alleviate the financial woes of the producers in the local film industry.

In a press briefing, Abalos cited the problems that confront the local movie producers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the uncertainty in the movie industry, Abalos pointed out that the film producers opted to invest millions of pesos without any assurance that their investments will bear fruits.

Abalos admitted being aware of the producers’ predicament during his involvement in the Metro Manila Film Festival where they continued to produce films primarily for the love of the movie industry.

“Meron na silang (movie producers) VAT (value-added tax), meron pa silang amusement taxes. VAT is 12 percent, Tax is 10 percent at kung nagshoshooting sila, kaliwa't-kanan na permits ang kailangan nila. In short, siguro roughly kung sa 100 percent, pinakamalaki na siguro ang 30 percent kung kikita sila, more or less, approximate po ito (They have to pay VAT, they still have amusement taxes. VAT is 12 percent. Tax is 10 percent and when they are shooting, numerous permits are required. In short, maybe roughly in 100 percent, at the most their earnings would be at 30 percent more or less, this is only an approximate), Abalos said. 

Aside from these problems, Abalos stated that the movie industry has to contend with piracy, and minimal return of investments (ROI).

“Hindi pa pinapalabas (movie). Nasa telepono na, nasa online platform. Ninanakaw na. Makakababa (morale) yan kung kayo man ang nasa lugar nila, kung ikaw ay producer, pano kung tumigil ka sa mga problemang ito. Wala nang pelikulang Pilipino. Kaya dapat lang tulungan natin sila (With the movie not shown yet in the theaters, it is already aired on telephones, online platforms. They were stolen. If you were in the producers’ situation, it lowers your morale, what if you stop producing due to these problems. Filipino films will disappear. We need to help them),’’ Abalos stressed.

Abalos prodded the LGUs to ease and facilitate the granting of permit requirements to the fil producers and appealed to certain groups to desist from engaging in film piracy to keep the local movie industry alive.

During the press conference, Abalos  was joined by the Board of Directors and members of the Producers sa Pilipinas and respected actor Tirso Cruz III.