Marcos transfers Film Academy from DepEd to DTI

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has issued an order placing the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to further boost the country’s film industry.

Under Executive Order (EO) 70, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Oct. 2, FAP will be governed by a Board of Trustees to be chaired by the FAP director general and co-chaired by the DTI secretary.

“To maximize the full potential of the Philippine film industry, it is imperative to ensure that world-class Filipino talents in the field of motion picture arts and sciences are given due recognition and assistance by the national government,” EO 70 read.

“It is necessary to strengthen the FAP and further define its duties and functions to complement the programs, activities and projects of existing government bodies involved in the promotion and development of the Philippine film industry,” it said.

Members include a representative of the Office of the President; the labor secretary; the director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); the chairperson of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); the chair of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and two private sector representatives of reputable guilds, organizations and associations in the film industry.

FAP was created through EO 640 issued in 1981 as amended by EO 513 signed in 2006 under the oversight of the Department of Education (DepEd) to give due recognition, awards, distinction and other forms of reward for the significant efforts and accomplishments of motion picture arts and sciences in the country, among others.

EO 70 directs the FAP to establish the National Film Awards to give recognition to outstanding motion pictures, artists and relevant stakeholders.

It also mandates the FAP to collaborate with the DepEd, TESDA, FDCP, the Commission on Higher Education, the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council, the private sector, the academe and other relevant agencies for the provision of programs, training and other forms of support towards the welfare and professionalization of film workers.

The FAP is also directed to guide, assist and steer representative guilds and associations in various creative and technical sectors towards the professionalization of the Philippine film industry.

It may also collaborate and coordinate with international organizations and other relevant agencies, such as the Department of Tourism, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines and local government units, to professionalize and promote the film sector.

The funding for the initial implementation of the order will be charged against the current and available appropriations of the member-agencies of the FAP.