The House Special Committee on Creative Industries has pushed for the overhaul of the Philippine film sector after it tackled the proposed Local Film Industry Development Act in its fifth regular meeting held recently.
The bill is a consolidated measure that would restructure the Filipino film industry and enhance its international competitiveness.
Under the bill, the Film Development Council of the Philippines will be converted into a "more robust" Philippine Film Commission, which aims to modernize governance within the film sector.
During the hearing, movie actress and producer Bela Padilla stressed the importance of the creation of a new film commission that would help foreigners who want to film in the Philippines that would not only allow them to shoot efficiently, but to protect Filipino filmmakers.
"There are so many creative Filipino talents. We have amazing actors, directors, writers, but right now we're not seeing, I guess, what the government can do for us also," Padilla said
The meeting followed the 2nd ASEAN-United Kingdom (UK) Creative Economy Symposium that was held on March 14-15 and is part of the Philippines' chairmanship of ASEAN 2026, bringing together regional leaders and UK partners to foster collaborative policy dialogues and business engagements.
Panel chairman and Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez personally attended the symposium, which he said would "build bridges" between talent and policy.
"Together, we are transforming creative hubs into engines of national identity and global competitiveness. Ang ating pagkamalikhain ay hindi lamang sining, ito ay pundasyon ng ating ekonomiya at dangal bilang mga Pilipino (Our creativity is not just art, but also a foundation of our economy and honor as Filipinos)," Benitez said.
