THE multisectoral alliance against film piracy on Tuesday declared war on the menace that they blamed for the decline—nay, near death—of the movie industry.

To put an end to this “illegal activity” slowly killing the industry, the Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council (MPAFPC) gathered for an Anti-Flicker Piracy Seminar at Club Filipino in San Juan City.

A flicker is a person who secretly and illegally copies a film while it is being screened inside a moviehouse.

The council is composed of representatives from major organizations—the Philippine Motion Picture Producers’ Association, the Movie Producers, Importers, Distributors Association of the Philippines—organized to handle problems of the movie industry regarding film piracy in cooperation with concerned government agencies.

Ric Camaligan, MPAFPC president, warned that the industry is “waning” because of piracy or unauthorized reproduction, sale, rent or disposition of films, a clear violation of Republic Act 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

Camaligan revealed that in the ’90s the industry had at least 1,200 screenings nationwide; this has since gone down to 600 in recent years.

The industry grossed a total of only P4.7 billion, 30 percent lower compared with previous years, Camaligan added.    

He expressed fear that more cinemas, not only in Metro Manila but in provinces, will be closing down if action is not taken against piracy.

“We have to strengthen our system and fight piracy,” Camaligan urged, adding that more teeth to implement the law is needed, including proper coordination with local government units.

The council sees some hope with the support given by Congress to moves to reduce the 30-percent amusement tax.

“We will emerge victorious if we can protect the industry,” he added.

The seminar was attended by representatives from the Department of Justice, Presidential Management Staff, National Bureau of Investigation, National Cinema Association of the Philippines, Motion Picture of America, Metro Cebu Theater Owners Association and the Philippine Motion Pictures Producers’ Association.

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THE multisectoral alliance against film piracy on Tuesday declared war on the menace that they blamed for the decline—nay, near death—of the movie industry.

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