Solon calls for immediate remittance of film fest funds to beneficiaries
MANILA, Jan. 4 (PNA) -- A lawmaker at the House of Representatives on Wednesday called for an immediate release of the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival’s (MMFF’s) proceeds allocated to its intended beneficiaries.
Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, chairman of the House committee on Metro Manila Development (MMD), said the funds of the annual film festival should reach the beneficiaries as part of the reform designed to improve the Philippine movie industry.
"There should be no delay in the delivery of the said benefits," said Castelo, urging the MMFF organizers to immediately distribute the beneficiaries’ portion from festival earnings.
Under its mandate, the MMFF allocates relevant portions of its income for its beneficiaries including the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc., Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, Film Academy of the Philippines, Optical Media Board, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
During a House probe last year, the MMD led by Castelo found out that such proceeds from the MMFF failed to reach its beneficiaries or got delayed, thus “causing rifts and demoralization†in the country’s film industry.
"The past MMFF was tainted with corruption. There was no transparency. Outright delay or partial remittance marked the distribution of income to the workers and beneficiaries of the festival," Castelo said.
The Quezon City lawmaker, while pressing for the complete implementation of the reforms, still commended the successful holding of the annual event, noting that such success “marks the birth of a new era in Philippine movie industryâ€. (PNA)
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