QC FILM DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FORMED

Just weeks after passing an ordinance to abolish the amusement tax for local films, the Quezon City government has approved in principle the creation of a film development commission to further consolidate its efforts to assist the ailing local film industry.

To be headed by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., as chairman, and Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista, as co-chairman and action officer, the commission will be composed of 14 commissioners which will come from City Hall and the private and government sectors involved in the film industry.

The commission has created a seven-man IRR (implementing rules and regulations) drafting and technical working group which is tasked to come up with an initial report and a final draft of the IRR for the approval of the commissioners. The committee has two months to draft the IRR for the recently approved commission.

A memo from the vice-mayor’s office listed the 14 commissioners of the commission. They are the following:

Majority Floor Leader Antonio Inton, Minority Floor Leader Rommel Abesamis, Ms. Joy Belmonte, chairperson of the QC Performing Arts, Atty. Victoria Loanzon, special secretary to the mayor; Dr. Mary Ruby Palma, GAD Council, and Jaime Pilapil, president of the QC Press Club;

Mayor Jeorge E.R. Ejercito Estregan (president of the Kapisanan ng mga Artista ng Pelikulang Pilipino at Telebisyon); Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso, faculty coordinator for theater and extension services of the UP Film Institute; Chairwoman Consoliza Laguardia of the Movie and Television Regulatory and Classification Board (MTRCB); Director Tony Reyes, president of the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines; Mowelfund Executive Director Boots Anson-Roa; Engr. Roesholm Camaligan, president of the National Cinema Association of the Philippines (NCAP); Pablo S. Gomez, president of the Screenwriters’ Guild of the Philippines; and Manny Nuqui, president of the Philippine Motion Pictures Producers’ Association.

The IRR technical working group is composed of: Nonoy Lauzon of the UP Film Center; Nick Deocampo of Mowelfund; actress and producer Harlene Bautista; independent filmmaker Sigfried Sanchez; Allan Ponsaran of the QC Performing Arts; Eric Henry Joseph Mallonga of the MTRCB; and visual arts-animation expert Bernadine Cervantes.