Cebu City Council Should Make a Local Version of the OPM Bill

The House Bill 4218 or the OPM Development Act of 2014 has been a hot issue dividing local musicians in the country these days especially at the nation capital region.

The bill is authored by Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat. It aims to institutionalize the imposition of equity fees on foreign artists performing in the country.

The bill also empowers and gives additional functions to the National Committee on Music, which would have a say in the accreditation of groups, unions and guilds to be formed by the local artists.

It also aims to provide tax credits to broadcast stations if they abide by the law requiring them to play four local compositions for every hour of a program.

The bill has its pros and cons. One of its cons – there is already a law requiring all stations to play four local music every hour through Executive Order 255 which was in effect since 1987. What this law lacks is the enforcement.

One of its pros – it is a good sign that the local musicians are doing something to remedy the current Philippine music problem. Right now different music sectors like singers abroad, songwriters, indie musicians, and many more are pitching in ideas on how to solve the problem. While this bill has divided the Filipino music sector, it also has united and fired it up.

As someone from Cebu looking at the issue, my hope is that the bill does not focus solely on Manila’s musicians and its problems. I hope it also caters the problems of the musicians from Cebu and the different regions.

I even think Cebu’s local government should also make a local version of the OPM bill or an ordinance that will support the local music. Right now, the Cebu City Council has recently approved an ordinance creating a Cebuano Cinema Development Council to support Cebuano filmmakers that produce historical and cultural heritage of the city. Why not make something like this for Cebu’s local music.

The government can even extend its support to the other arts like visual, literature, dance and theater.

So while Cebu’s musicians and government officials look on to the national level for Rep. Baguilat’s first hearing for HB 4218 in Congress on March 3, maybe our City councilors with the music/art organizations can start making the ordinance that will not only support Cebuano cinema but the other local arts as well.

About the author: N.M. CABANGBANG graduated Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Painting at University of the Philippines Cebu. He is now currently teaching grade 6 – 10 Art at B.R.I.G.H.T.  Academy. He also plays the bass and sings for the band – PALTIK.