THE ABYSMAL STATE OF LOCAL FILM INDUSTRY: Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, during Tuesday’s plenary session November 8, 2022, raises the issues “plaguing the barely surviving” film industry in the country, noting that only nine local movies have been released out of 20 Filipino films reviewed by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) since January this year. Estrada, himself a movie actor, said that the audio visual services sector, which comprised of 760,000 workforce is nowadays “on the verge of collapse even during the pre-pandemic period.” To help the ailing industry, the senator said the government should consider removing the amusement tax from ticket sales, which will also help film producers recover from losses. Aside from government subsidy, Estrada said “the government should encourage the promotion of Filipino culture/cuisine, tourism and heritage as part of the content; create or provide scholarships, workshops for scriptwriters, production personnel, musicians to strive for excellence in this field/industry; and provide tax breaks or lower taxes on the industry to incentivize the local entertainment industry.” (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)