GMA to tackle movie tax issue today

With the fury of filmmakers and moviegoers still breathing down her neck on the banning of the movie Live Show, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is looking to use different tactics in swaying public opinion back to her side.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Jr. disclosed yesterday that the President plans to present the recent approval of the reduction of the amusement taxes on movies to the filmmakers as a "peace offering" for the Live Show issue.

The President is set to meet with all 17 of the Metro Manila Mayors and some of the major filmmaking outfits today at Malacañang to discuss the issue of the amusement tax reduction.

A resolution was recently passed by the Metro Manila Council to reduce the amusement tax on movie viewing from P30 to P15 for the benefit of the filmmakers.

Abalos explained that the reduction in the amusement tax should serve as an incentive for the producers and directors to come up with more movies with particular emphasis on quality.

The reduction in amusement taxes is being looked at by spin doctors in Malacañang as a means to take the ire of the filmmakers away from the President because of her decision to ban the showing of the controversial movie Live Show.

Viva Films patriarch Vic del Rosario was personally invited to attend today’s meeting in Malacañang to draw the other filmmakers to bring their support back to the President.

Arroyo’s decision in Live Show was made in response to the call of the Catholic Church to ban the movie because of its lewdness.

Abalos, for his part, defended the President’s decision and he stressed that freedom of expression has its limits and that morality should always prevail.

He noted that the issue of Live Show was not about the content or objective of the film but the manner of depiction of sex as well as its presentation in the trailers and print advertisements.

"Let’s have some morality in our way of life. The presentation of the movie itself already presents a problem," Abalos said. – Marvin Sy