A news video from Kodao Productions of the legislative consultation held with OPM artists, managers and producers.




In line with his advocacy to support and promote the Filipino music industry, Rep. Teddy Casiño spearheaded a legislative consultation with OPM artists, producers and legislators yesterday, October 14, 2010, at the House of Representatives.

“The Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) is urging Congress to amend the Local Government Code (RA 7160) to exempt all locally-produced cultural productions including theatrical plays, dance and musical concerts featuring Filipino talents. This essentially is to abolish the amusement tax that is, among others, actually killing the music industry,” Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said.

Attendees from the music industry were- from OPM: Ogie Alcasid (President), Dingdong Avanzado (Corporate Secretary) and Elmar Ingles (Executive Director); singer-composer from APO Hiking Society Jim Paredes; managers and concert producers like Angeli Pangilinan, Girlie Rodis, Pelita Peralta-Uy, Kedy Sanchez (GMA Records) and Annabelle Borja (Star Records), among others. Reps. Casiño and Neri Colmenares (Bayan Muna), Antonio Tinio (Act Teachers), Freddie Tinga (Taguig), Lani Mercado-Revilla (Cavite), Emmi de Jesus (Gabriela), Raymond Palatino (Kabataan), Reynaldo Umali (Oriental Mindoro), and Arthur Yap (Bohol) listened and also shared their views during the three-hour consultation on various issues that confront the Philippine music industry. They paid a courtesy call on Speaker Feliciano Belmonte after the meeting.

“We recognize the OPM’s assertion that indeed, Filipino performers continue to bring great honor to the country and our people. We shall work hard to enact laws that would promote the dignity of our musical artists and abolish measures that stunt artistic growth and promotion,” Casiño said.

“We shall work with music industry stakeholders not only on the abolition of the amusement tax on Filipino productions. We shall also pursue policy reforms for the music industry like giving subsidies for Filipino artists and productions, the crafting of a progressive agenda for the culture and arts," Casiño said. #