LAWMAKERS moved to consolidate three measures so government can provide cash incentives to artists who received international acclaim.
Camarines Sur Rep. LRay F. Villafuerte said the House Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts formed a technical working group (TWG) to combine the provisions of House Bill (HB) 1281 (“Creative Philippines Act”), HB 4540 (“An Act Protecting the Rights and Welfare of Filipino Artists, providing benefits and for other purposes”) and HB 1934 (“The Artists’ Incentives Act”).
The lawmaker said the TWG has started working on a substitute bill.
HB 1934, for one, has proposed a tax-free cash award of P500,000 to P1 million to Filipino creative artists who have won top awards in international film festivals or award-giving institutions, said Villafuerte, who is one of the four authors of this bill.
“The international awards bestowed upon the works of our Filipino artists call for appropriate government acknowledgement,” Villafuerte, who is president of the National Unity Party (NUP), said. “We need to grant cash incentives to Filipinos in the creative industry, who have received recognition and honor in prestigious and notable competitions abroad.”
“With this measure, our artists will surely be encouraged to engage in various forms of arts to represent the country and further hone their skills and craft in the various arts,” he added.
In HB 1934, its four authors led by Villafuerte said their proposed cash incentives for award-winning artists supports the state policy in the 1987 Constitution to “give priority to education, science and technology, arts and culture and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress and promote total human liberation and development.”
Award-giving bodies
DURING a recent committee hearing, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairman Tirso S. Cruz III had said no individual cash awards are being given to actors, directors, producers, cinematographers and other creative people behind films that have been recognized by prominent award-giving bodies abroad.
Cruz recommended, though, that the proposed law must specify the award-giving bodies or film festivals whose Filipino artist-winners deserve to get the proposed incentives.
In HB 1934, its four Bicolano authors said that notable and prestigious competitions, film festivals and other exhibition shall refer to those that have given recognition and awards to artistic works for the last five years and are well-known for their international profile, audience size and the quality and breadth for their competition, festival or exhibition.
These international competitions and film festivals shall include, but not be limited to, the Cannes Film Festival in France, Sundance Film Festival and New York Film Festival in the United States (US), Toronto International Film Festival in Canada, Berlin International Film Festival in Germany, Venice Film Festival in Italy and the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea.
Villafuerte said “the creative industry is an essential cultural asset in the country as they showcase arts, skills and creativity. In the context of the Philippines, our history and culture has been showcased in various music, performing arts, craft, design and film.”
“With this, the art industry has evolved through time and allowed artists, literary writers, filmmakers, film production entities and performers in the creative sector to gain international recognition and prestige,” they said.
Tax-free perks
HB 1934 proposes that incentives apply to all filmmakers, film production entities, literary writers, artists and performers in the creative sector whose works merited the highest recognition for technical or artistic excellence in internationally notable and prestigious competitions, film festivals and other exhibitions as may be determined by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the FDCP.
HB 1934 proposes a P1-million tax-free incentive to artist, production entities, itinerary writers, artists and performers in the creative sector who have garnered the highest award from an international competition, film festival, or exhibition determined by the NCCA, FDCP and CCP. The bill also proposes P500,000 to winning artists, production entities, literary writers, artists and performers in the creative sector who have garnered special recognition and/or any other award not considered as the highest award from an international competition, film festival, or exhibition determined by the NCCA, FDCP and CPP.
The bill said if there would be more than one winner of a particular award, the amount shall be equally divided among the winners.
Villafuerte had authored HB 1934 with fellow CamSur Reps. Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte and Tsuyoshi Anthony G. Horibata and Bicol Saro Rep. Nicolas Enciso C. VIII.
HB 1281 was authored by Pangasinan Rep. Christopher V.P. de Venecia while HB 4540 was introduced by Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael D. Vargas.