Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chair Liza Diño is eager to build a viable program that will turn the Philippines into a "one-stop hub" for foreign productions.

"Naniniwala ako na lahat stakeholders pagdating sa ganitong klaseng venture. Nakikita naman natin 'yung maidudulot nito sa bansa—generate jobs and businesses for the entire community," Diño told GMA News Online in an interview at the Cine Europa launch Wednesday. "We have to start now kasi very tedious talaga 'yung process to get there."

"I hope by next year once the film markets open up—Cannes, Berlin—sana makagawa na kami ng magandang program to really entice the foreign productions to come here," she said, emphasizing the existing government mandate for FDCP to streamline the process of producing and shooting films in the country.

"The whole idea is for us is to cut the red tape," she added. "The FDCP will be sort of be like a commission that will take care of processing of all the applications, requirements, and permits so that it will be easier for foreign productions to come here to Manila, to come here in the Philippines, and then do their productions here."

Film production is a really huge industry, Diño said. With a more active Philippine Film Export Service Office (PFESO), she hopes that the industry will be recognized for its potential to generate revenue.

The key, she said, is to closely coordinate with various agencies. Diño is keen on building a partnership with the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Tourism, among others, to come up with a package to present to foreign studios and filmmakers.

"Isa talaga sa pinakamagandang come-on is tax rebates. In Thailand, they offer up to 30% tax rebate sa mga production. So after the production, as long as they have receipts, makakakuha sila ng rebates—their accommodations, lahat ng ginastos nila sa equipment.

"I hope that BIR and the Board of Investments will be open to that idea kasi kung titingnan mo naman, it's 70% income coming in. The 30% we're giving away is something that doesn't even exist kung wala 'yung darating na business sa atin."

Diño added, "If we can come up with a really good tax rebate program, I'm sure mas maraming ma-e-entice na foreign productions to come to the Philippines."

Asked about the dangers of the influx of both film crews and tourists to the environment, Diño said that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is on the list of agencies that they want to coordinate with in pursuit of this goal.

"Lahat 'to puwedeng magawa keeping in mind that we still have to preserve and protect our natural resources and the indigenous people na puwedeng magambala at maapektohan ng move na ito," she said. — BM, GMA News

Source: GMA News Online