Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. has urged the government not to leave employees of the Optical Media Board (OMB) in limbo.

During the Senate’s hearing on the proposed budget of the OMB for 2025, OMB’s primary function was put into question after Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada raised the possibility of abolishing the OMB.

Estrada noted that the primary function of the OMB was to curb film piracy in the Philippines, but the advent and evolution of digital technology has rendered the agency’s main purpose moot and academic.

“Nobody is into piracy today. I think that was your main function before—to catch all the film pirates and to file cases against them. So, what is the duty and responsibility of this agency now? I hope you won’t be offended but the OMB has to or must be abolished,” Estrada said.

Estrada, who has a pending bill on the abolition of the OMB, suggested that the 52 plantilla employees be transferred to the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) or other government agencies related to the movie industry.

In the absence of a leader in their agency, senators learned that no one is now signing the vouchers for salaries, benefits and other documents of OMB employees after the resignation of OIC-CEO James Ronald Macasero who filed for the upcoming election.

Because of this, Revilla, an actor turned politician, said there is a risk that OMB employees will not be paid this December, when Christmas is approaching.

Revilla, former chairman of the Videogram Regulatory Board that became the OMB, said he sympathizes with government workers who may lose their jobs if the abolition of the OMB pushes through.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, Revilla said he agrees with the proposal for these OMB employees to be transferred to another office.

"The situation of OMB employees is also difficult due to the loss of their leader who gives direction. There is also the fear that their agency will be completely dissolved,” Revilla said.

“My only point is, if it really comes to that, the employees should not be neglected. They should be re-tooled and given training so they could be transferred to other government agencies,” the senator added.

“Let's not just leave them in the air,” Revilla appealed to his colleagues.

Sen. Mark Villar, who defended the P53.028-million, urged his colleagues to support the proposed 2025 budget of the OMB during Tuesday’s plenary session, November 12.

Villar pointed out that since the OMB regulates the mastering, manufacturing, importation, and exportation of optical media products and manufacturing materials, lawmakers can look at ways on how they can refresh and maximize the people at the OMB and make the agency more relevant with today’s technology.

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