FDCP chair reveals Robin Padilla gave P150M aid to finish film heritage building
MANILA, Philippines — Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairperson Jose Javier Reyes said the Philippine Film Heritage Building in Intramuros is now complete, which took years to finish with the aid of the P150 million from Senator Robin Padilla.
In an interview with fellow director Joel Lamangan in “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” aired on July 1, Abunda asked about the status of the building that was mentioned in the flood control issue involving controversial contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya.
"Natapos na siya pero dumaan kami sa kalahating butas ng karayom. Kasi originally, nu’ng in-estimate ‘yan ng kontratista ni then-chairman Tirso Cruz, ang ibinigay na presyo P150 million to build that building,” Joey said.
The FDCP held its groundbreaking in October 2023. The construction of the building is made possible through the tripartite agreement between the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the Department of Tourism-Philippines (DOT), and the TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority).
Cruz resigned as the chair of FDCP in March 2024, and Reyes was appointed its new chair the following month.
Reyes said Padilla gave them P150 million, and when he looked into the project and found that it was incomplete, he was informed that the P150 million was only for the project's first phase. They needed another P100 million to continue.
“Tapos binigyan kami ng pera, nang insertion ni Senador Robin Padilla ng P150 million tapos sabi sa amin, ‘O tapos na ang building.
“Sabi sa amin, tapos na ang building. Hindi na si Tirso ang chairman, ako na ang chairman. Pagdating ko kalahati pa lang (nagagawa). Sabi ko, ‘Bakit ganito?’ Sabi nila, 'yung P150 million, Phase 1 pa lang ’yon, kailangan pa ng another P100 million.
“Sabi ko, jusko, saan ako kukuha ng P100 million? Kahit lumuhod ako sa lahat ng senador at congressman, saan ako kukuha ng P100 million?”
Reyes then talked to First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, who instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Vince Hizon to finish the project.
“So, doon medyo pumilintik ang tenga ng First Lady. Anyway, nu’ng pumasok si Vince Hizon (DPWH secretary), ni-require ng First Lady kay Vince na tapusin itong building. Ngayon tapos na tapos na tapos na,” he added.
The facility is designed to serve as a central repository for Philippine film, housing a collection of works, memorabilia, and equipment for the preservation and restoration of audiovisual materials.
It will also be the new headquarters of the FDCP and home to the Cinematheque Centre Manila and the Philippine Film Archive.
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