(Center, upper row) Former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)  Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. (Abalos Team)

In a bid to attract more moviegoers, Former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. is pushing for the removal of the 10 percent amusement tax imposed on the movie industry.

Speaking at the announcement of the final five entries of the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) on Tuesday, Oct. 22, Abalos said his proposal will be a “big boost” to help the industry, which is still grappling with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The senatorial aspirant recalled that during his tenure as Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman, the health crisis severely impacted the movie business. 

“Kausap ko noon ang mga producers, at ang tanong ko, paano kayo kikita. Isa lang ang sinabi nila sakin, kumita man kami o hindi, tuloy pa rin ang pag-produce namin ng pelikulang Pilipino,” noted Abalos, who is running under the administration’s “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas” slate

(I was talking to the producers, and my question was, how will you earn? They told me one thing, whether we make money or not, we will continue producing Filipino films.)

“Iba itong movie industry, through thick and thin, tuluy-tuloy (This movie industry is different, through thick and thin, it goes on),” he added.

Abalos said he will pursue the revocation of the amusement tax by amending Republic Act (RA) No. 9640.

This law, in particular, amended Section 140 (A) of RA No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code. It allowed local governments to charge cinemas up to 10 percent of their earnings from ticket sales.

The former DILG chief said the country should follow the resolution by the Metro Manila Council (MMC) earlier this year, which waived the amusement tax on the screening of local films in Metro Manila over the next three years.

“We must replicate this in the entire country. Hindi lang dapat tuwing (It shouldn't be just during the) MMFF,” Abalos said.

“We must remove the amusement tax, or lessen it, to help reduce the cost and lower ticket prices, as it is a pass-on charge that consumers ultimately bear,” he added.

During the annual MMFF, which runs from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7, the amusement tax is waived to attract more moviegoers to go to the cinemas.

Last year, the 10 entries in the film festival grosses a record-high P1.069 billion in combined box office.