Chito Miranda hits new bill imposing tax on foreign artists

MANILA, Philippines- Chito Miranda on Wednesday scored a bill filed at the House of Representatives, which seeks to impose tax on foreign artists before performing in the country.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat filed House Bill 4218 or the OPM Development Act of 2014, which requires foreign artists to pay equity tax before having a concert in the Philippines.

The bill said that the tax collected would be a compensation for the lost income of OPM artists due to the absence of audience and sponsors for their concerts.

The bill was actually meant to protect OPM artists.

Miranda, however, said in his posts in Twitter that the bill will “drive away” foreign artists instead of encouraging them to visit the country.

Bakit kelangan magbayad ng equity ang foreign acts? We should welcome them! Not drive them off! Hindi yan ang sagot para umunlad ang OPM.

— Alfonso Miranda Jr (@chitomirandajr) March 23, 2014

He added that it wasn’t the foreign artists’ fault if the OPM industry is not patronized by Filipinos. He said that aside from fighting piracy, artists should make music that people could consider is “worth listening” to.

Sorry uminit ulo ko. Gusto singilin ang mga foreign acts ng masmalaking tax kasi nalulugi daw ang Pinoy acts. Hindi nila kasalanan yun!

— Alfonso Miranda Jr (@chitomirandajr) March 23, 2014

As artists, all we have to do is make music worth listening to. Hindi kasalanan ng mga foreign acts ang lack of support ng mga pinoy sa OPM.

— Alfonso Miranda Jr (@chitomirandajr) March 23, 2014

Habulin nyo yung mga pirata at yung mga illegal downloading sites. Dun nalulugi ang mga pinoy artists! Hindi dahil sa foreign acts!

— Alfonso Miranda Jr (@chitomirandajr) March 23, 2014

Kasalanan na ng mga foreign acts kung bakit kulang ang kita ng Pinoy artists? Dapat nga masaya tayo na pumupunta sila dito eh.

— Alfonso Miranda Jr (@chitomirandajr) March 23, 2014

In the end, Miranda said that OPM artists should work hand-in-hand in making good music, asked for the support of radio stations and the government to be more persistent in fighting piracy.

Kelangan talaga natin ng support mula radio stations and proper enforcement against piracy. That, i understand.

— Alfonso Miranda Jr (@chitomirandajr) March 23, 2014

Pero higit sa lahat, kelangan natin gumawa ng magagandang kanta kasi papakinggan yan ng pinoy kahit gaano pa kasikat ang mga banyagang kanta

— Alfonso Miranda Jr (@chitomirandajr) March 23, 2014