MANILA, Philippines?Two Senate bills, introduced by actor-senators Ramon ?Bong? Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, proposed the transfer of the ?organization, operation and management? of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to two movie industry organizations.

Revilla?s bill (2218) suggested the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) as lead executor; Estrada?s bill (2041) recommended the Movie Workers? Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund).

Estrada?s bill seeks to limit MMFF beneficiaries to the Mowelfund (40 percent), Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP, 40 percent) and Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council (MPAPC, 20 percent).

Revilla?s bill proposes a similar division of the MMFF income.

Current slicing

Currently, the MMFF pie is divided, thus: Mowelfund (35 percent), FAP (10 percent), MPAPC (5 percent), Optical Media Board (5 percent), FDCP (10 percent) and President?s Social Fund (35 percent).

MMFF earnings consist of the amusement taxes or, until last year, 30 percent of moviehouse ticket sales, collected throughout the two-week nationwide festival (see ?In The Know? below); 70 percent went to the theater owner and film producer.

The first public hearing on the two bills was held last month, attended by industry stakeholders, MMFF beneficiaries and an MMDA representative (General Manager Robert Nacianceno), recounted Boots Anson-Roa, Mowelfund executive director.

The hearing, spearheaded by Revilla?s Committee on Mass Media and Public Information, was lively and enlightening, recalled Ric Camaligan, MPAPC president. ?The issue was discussed thoroughly.?

In a phone interview on Wednesday, Revilla related that a second public hearing is set next month.

?We cannot rush this matter,? he said. ?We have to present all sides and study them carefully.? He pointed out that he was no longer keen on pursuing the immediate transfer of MMFF to industry organizations. ?The way I look at it, we should give MMDA another chance,? he said. ?It should run the festival again this December. But if MMDA can?t handle it well, that?s the time for us to make a move.?

Revilla also acknowledged that MMDA has the organizational structure to spearhead a festival.

Estrada remains firm in his position, though. In a phone interview, also on Wednesday, he reiterated: ?I want the MMFF removed [eventually] from MMDA?s control. It should be turned over to a movie organization that?s more qualified to run a festival.?

Also last month, MMFF met with various producers (Regal, Star Cinema, MLR, OctoArts, Viva, among others) who earlier signified their intention to join this year?s festival, said Camaligan. Deadline for submission of scripts was Thursday.

(E-mail: bayanisandiego@hotmail.com)