PH film industry incentives not competitive enough in Asean, says FDCP chair

Tirso Cruz III

MANILA, Philippines — The incentives offered within the Philippine film industry are not competitive enough when compared to other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-member states, actor and Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairman and CEO Tirso Cruz III said on Tuesday.

During the hearing of the House of Representatives’ Committee on creative industry and performing arts, Cruz said that while the incentives offered to the film industry can be considered above average, it pales in comparison to those provided by Asean nations counterparts.

“At best, I would say we’re a little above average. That’s compared to the incentives that we give out,” Cruz initially answered when asked by committee chair and Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher de Venecia.

“Right now, we’re not competitive enough, unfortunately, if I may say so,” he added.

The question was raised during the hearing where House Resolution No. 653 by Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar was discussed.

Villar’s resolution sought to assess the plight of the Philippine cinema to encourage financial growth and revive its glory days.

During the meeting where attended by officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), FDCP, and other concerned agencies, De Venecia raised a concern about the competitiveness of the Philippines.

This prompted Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo to suggest that local officials look at the international film industry as a model.

De Venecia lamented that the lack of incentive competitiveness has led to the loss of potential projects.

“Because there was this story that was shared before that we lost an Avengers account to a neighboring Asean country only because they had more competitive incentives than we did. And I guess that’s the same for many other Hollywood films that could’ve been shot in the Philippines,” De Venecia said.

The discussions led to De Venecia requesting FDCP to provide a side-by-side incentive comparison with other Asean countries to determine the country’s ranking and the reasons for the country’s lack of competitiveness. With reports from Niña Cuasay, trainee

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