ORMOC CITY, Leyte — Leyte Fourth District Representative Richard Gomez has opposed the proposal to ban Korean-hit dramas and foreign-made work but suggests that it could give limited airtime to promote Filipino-made shows instead.
At the sidelines of Ormoc City’s 75th Anniversary, Gomez said he was not in favor of banning K-dramas since it would curtail the freedom of choice of Filipinos.
To recall, Senator Jinggoy Estrada this week proposed to ban foreign shows, including K-dramas during a Senate hearing on Tuesday, saying that it would help Filipinos support local artists who are losing out on opportunities.
Estrada’s statements drew flak, but the senator quickly clarified that his statement only stemmed out of his “frustration.”
Gomez, on the other hand, explained that since online streaming applications like Netflix, which have thousands of subscribers, banning foreign shows is much more uncontrollable.
However, the lawmaker sees it as a weapon for pursuing his proposed measures in the House of Representatives that would provide incentives to local artists and producers of local films.
He also claimed that this move would support filmmakers and actors’ production of high-caliber films particularly given how competitive they are, as seen by the awards they have received in international competitions.
Gomez previously filed House Bill 936, which aims to protect the nation’s film and entertainment industries for future use in schools and other settings, and if passed, will result in the establishment of the National Film Archive of the Philippines, which the Film Development Council will oversee.