MANILA, Philippines?Deposed president Joseph Estrada, who came into public view as an actor in the mid-?50s, urged the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the agency in charge of the Metro Manila Film Festival, to give more funds to the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund) as he lamented the declining state of Philippine movies.

Speaking before industry players last Saturday during the 34th anniversary of Mowelfund, an organization that he and his contemporaries founded, Estrada said the Philippine film industry is in dire circumstances.

He blamed high taxes and production costs, as well as rampant piracy, for the slowdown.

?Today, we have many challenges not only in Mowelfund, but the Filipino film industry itself. There is ? a declining number of Filipino films produced every year. This is complicated further by high production costs, high taxes and the problem of piracy,? Estrada said.

He quipped that he is going back to movie-making to help the industry and to give his son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, stiff competition. The younger Estrada won the Best Actor Award in last year?s MMFF for his portrayal of a returning overseas Filipino worker in the movie ?Katas ng Saudi.?

The former president is slated to work with comedienne Ai-Ai de las Alas for a yet-untitled movie for Star Cinema.

The elder Estrada also bemoaned the dwindling funds for Mowelfund, which used to be the main beneficiary of the MMFF.

He urged MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando, who was in the audience, to help the agency which has provided help for movie workers and workshops for aspiring actors, directors, and writers.

?From an average of proceeds ranging from P13 to P16 million annually, the Mowelfund?s share has now gone down to roughly only over P4 million, as other institutions have also become beneficiaries of the proceeds of the Metro Manila Film Festival,? he added.