Abalos pushes removal of 10% amusement tax
VILMA Santos and Vice Ganda will headline the 50th edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival with their movies “Uninvited” and “The Breadwinner” as part of the 10 well-chosen entries for the annual film festival that will run from December 25, 2024 to January 7, 2025.
In a bid to help the movie industry and attract more moviegoers, Former Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. is pushing for the removal of the 10% amusement tax.
Speaking at the announcement of the second batch of official film entries for the 50th edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) on Tuesday, Abalos said his proposal will be a big boost to efforts to help the industry still grappling with the effects of the pandemic.
“Three years ago, ako po ang MMDA chairman and head ng execom ng 2021 MMFF. Ito po ang pinaka-kritikal na panahon ng pelikulang Pilipino. May COVID noon at sarado ang mga sinehan. In fact, nang pinaplano namin ang MMFF, ang aming parada ay hindi sa kalye kung hindi sa Pasig River para walang mahawa,” Abalos recalled.
He continued: “Kausap ko noon ang mga producers, nandiyan sina Percy, at ang tanong ko, paano kayo kikita. Isa lang ang sinabi nila sakin, kumita man kami o hindi, tuloy pa rin ang pag-produce namin ng pelikulang Pilipino. Iba itong movie industry, through thick and thin, tuluy-tuloy. Ang ating istorya, ang ating experience at ang ating pagka-Pilipino ay nasa pelikula.”
Abalos said, however, there is a need to attract moviegoers to support the local film industry.
One solution Abalos suggested amending Republic Act 960, which allows local governments to charge cinemas up to 10% of their earnings from ticket sales.
Abalos, a lawyer and former MMDA chairman, said that while the movie industry is slowly bouncing back, removing the tax will help the movie industry.
Abalos also lauded the current leadership of the MMDA and the MMFF, led by Atty. Don Artes, who had earlier announced that the Metro Manila Council, composed of all mayors in the National Capital Region, has agreed to waive the amusement tax on local films in the National Capital Region for the next three years.
“We must replicate this in the entire country. Hindi lang dapat tuwing MMFF. We must remove the amusement tax, or lessen it, to help reduce the cost and lower ticket prices, as it is a pass-on charges that consumers ultimately bear,” Abalos said.
Aside from the film of the Star for All Seasons, the MMFF also announced the second set of films participating in the 50th edition of the MMFF. These include “My Future You” starring Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin, directed by Crisanto Aquino; “Topak,” starring Arjo Atayde and Julia Montes, directed by Richard Somes; “Hold Me Close,” starring Carlo Aquino and Julia Barretto, directed by JP Laxamana; and “Espantaho,” starring Judy Ann Santos and Lorna Tolentino, directed by Chito Roño.
The first batch of MMFF entries announced last July includes “And the Breadwinner Is…,” a drama-comedy starring Vice Ganda and Eugene Domingo, directed by Jun Lana; “Green Bones,” starring Dennis Trillo and directed by Zig Dulay; “Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital,” starring Jane de Leon and Enrique Gil, directed by Kerwin Go; “Himala: Isang Musikal,” a reimagined musical by Pepe Diokno starring Aicelle Santos and Bituin Escalante; and “The Kingdom,” starring Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual.
