Sotto says FDCP is overstepping their powers as a "cinema evaluation board"
November 23, 2020 08:58 AM
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, principal author, and sponsor of the law that created FDCP, thinks the council has been overstepping its authority over to television and advertising companies.
"What is the legal basis for exercising their authority over the entire audio-visual sector including television productions? I guarantee you they do not have that authority."
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, while discussing the 2021 proposed budget of the Film Development Council of the Philippines overstepped (FDCP), cited occasions wherein the council had overstepped its abilities.
Sotto had principally authored and sponsored Republic Act 916, the law that established the FDCP. He reminded the council that their scope is limited to films and that it does not extend to television. He said that some television and advertising directors complained to him about the FDCP's new requirements regarding health and safety protocols during shoots amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"What is the legal basis for exercising their authority over the entire audio-visual sector including television productions? I guarantee you they do not have that authority," said Sotto.
Moreover, Sotto found out that FDCP had required television productions to report to the council a week before their first shooting day. The Senate President, a former actor, noted that it would be too demanding for productions to do so since shoot dates are sometimes scheduled at the last minute.
Sotto: MMFF should remain under MMDA
Earlier this year, the FDCP revised its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), which Sotto said could be a way for them to acquire authority on the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
He added that the council had previously asked chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo to allow them to revise their IRR.
"Mayroong bubwit na nagbigay ng message dito sa amin na FDCP ang humingi ng sulat kay Sal talaga at iniisip nilang dagdagan ang powers dahil gusto nilang kunin 'yung Metro Manila Film Festival," Sotto said.
(An informant told us that FDCP requested a letter from Sal himself, and that they're trying to add to their powers so they can take over the Metro Manila Film Festival)
Sotto added, "Eighteen years after, you will come up with a new IRR when the original IRR after 2002 was unquestioned? Bakit gagawa ka ngayon ng IRR at bibigyan mo ng bagong power itong council? (Why will you make a new IRR and give more power to this council?)"
The Senate President reminded the FDCP that the purpose for establishing their council in the first place was to have a "cinema evaluation board."
