Poe eyes more funding for Film Development Council

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Senatorial candidate Grace Poe said she will be pushing for more funding from the government for The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to better promote quality Filipino movies that will feature family values and nationalism.

The daughter of movie icon Fernando Poe Jr., Poe is running as a guest candidate of the administration's Liberal Party.

Poe said the film industry in the country needs further boost to encourage more locally produced films from independent film makers and the resurgence of “epic action movies” that are centered on Filipino nationalism, values and even history.

“Our film and theater industry, along with artist talents need more government support if we want to see a further development in our film and theater industry,” Poe, whose previous stint includes being the chairperson of the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), said.

Poe is also in favor of the passing of the controversial Freedom of Information (FOI) bill.

House Bill 6766, An Act Strengthening the Right of Citizens to Information held by the Government, or the FOI bill, was approved in the committee level on November 27, 2012 but a report on the proposed law was only approved two weeks after.

Poe, however, said that she is not in favor of the provision on the right to reply, forcing media practitioners to get both sides of the story.

She said that media men can fairly distinguish the aspects of balancing their news coverage based on ethics and the people’s right to know.