Manila: Classic Filipino films may soon be preserved and made more accessible to the public after the House Committee on Creative Industries approved on Monday the consolidation of House Bills Nos. 5053 and 8298. House Bill No. 5053 seeks to establish a National Film Archive of the Philippines, while House Bill No. 8298 proposes the establishment of a Film Restoration Program for classic films under the proposed 'Film Development Council of the Philippines Act of 2026.'

According to Philippines News Agency, Committee Chairperson and Negros Occidental Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez underscored the need to modernize the 'Film Development Council of the Philippines Act of 2002,' noting that significant changes have taken place in the film industry since its enactment. 'The growing popularity of streaming platforms has opened new opportunities to better support the Philippine film industry,' he said.

House Bill No. 5053 mandates the creation of a National Film Archive of the Philippines, which shall formulate and implement programs for the archival administration of cinematographic films, as well as the acquisition of digital masters and film prints with enduring archival value. The conduct of archival research would help ensure the systematic preservation and archiving of Filipino films.

House Bill No. 8298, meanwhile, aims to restore classic films and make them accessible to the public through museums, digital platforms, and other avenues. The films covered by the program would remain subject to existing copyright laws, ensuring that future generations would have the opportunity to view and appreciate them as cultural assets.

FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe expressed support for the measures, citing the challenges involved in archiving and restoring old films, particularly due to high maintenance costs. 'With these measures in place, it will greatly help Filipino filmmakers in conserving their works in their original form,' Poe said.