The Department of Tourism announced the construction of the Philippine Cinema Heritage Building, a film heritage museum aimed at stimulating tourism in Intramuros, Manila.
The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) signed a 22-year agreement with the DOT and its infrastructure arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), to construct the museum building in its Intramuros location.
“Film has the power to distill these moments, memories, and vestiges of our culture into an art form that can be fully appreciated by our fellow Filipinos and the world. And therefore, it makes sense for us, in the Department of Tourism, to support as much as we can, this thriving industry that really does require government intervention for it to be sustainable for the long term,” said DOT secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco.
FDCP Chair and Chief Executive Officer Tirso Cruz III, TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid, and DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco also signed the memorandum of agreement.
Said to be a state-of-the-art center for Philippine cinema tourism and culture, the soon-to-be-built Philippine Cinema Heritage Building will take up 800 square meters along Sta. Lucia Street in the Walled City.
What to Expect from the Philippine Cinema Heritage Building
Cinematheque Centre Manila and the Philippine Film Archive, along with a movie museum/gallery, media library, film storage/vaults, and a film scanning and restoration facility, are expected to be housed in the museum. The FDCP's offices, lounges, and board room will also have a cafe, retail store, and merchandising area.
The goal of this most recent partnership with the FDCP is not just to construct the building but also to advance the creative sector in the Philippines, according to the DOT.
“[W]e foresee that with our archives in cinema and film in the film industry, having a home, as well as in reaching out to the farthest reaches of the Philippines as far as the development of film tourism, it can only serve to grow the portfolio of Philippine tourism and most importantly, provide employment and livelihood to our fellow Filipinos,” Frasco added.
The Department of Finance, who is the registered owner of the lot where the building is set to be constructedt, has given permission to use the land.
