Estrada to MMDA: Give more money to save RP movie industry

Former President Joseph Estrada is urging Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando to allot more funds for the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund) and help save the country’s dying movie industry.

Speaking at the Mowelfund’s 34th anniversary the other night at its building in Cubao, Quezon City, Estrada said funds allotted for the Mowelfund from the yearly proceeds of the Metro Manila Film Festival have been reduced from about P16 million to P4 million since 1986.

“This is one of the reasons why the movie industry is in distress now. During the Marcos regime all amusement taxes from the 10-day (film fest) would go to the Mowelfund,” said Estrada, who founded the Mowelfund in 1974.

Estrada noted that since the administration of former President Cory Aquino and Joey Lina, who headed the forerunner of the MMDA, the Metro Manila Commission, the money given to Mowelfund has decreased “as other institutions have also become beneficiaries of the proceeds” of the film fest.

Estrada asked Fernando to give the “full amount” of amusement taxes earned during the film fest to Mowelfund.

“Anyway, the government benefits from the amusement tax generated from movie industry through the rest of the year,” he said.

Fernando said he would consider Estrada’s appeal. — Jose Rodel Clapano