Press Release
May 13, 2009

Zubiri backs housing dream of local movie industry workers
allocates P2.5 million as seed fund for NMPP's housing project

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said he will allocate P2.5 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to give life to the housing dream of 6,000 members of the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Pelikulang Pilipino (NMPP).

The Majority Leader said the financial grant is his hare in the down payment for housing units the National Housing Authority (NHA) will give to 200 qualified members of the NMPP, as initial beneficiary of the project.

The senator said his participation to the project was made possible through the efforts of Director Joel Lamangan, president of the NMPP and the housing authority.

He said the NHA's support to the housing project boosts the local film industry worker's housing dream. The NHA agreed to place the housing program under the community mortgage package since most of the NMPP members are not enrolled in PAGIBIG.

"I laud the efforts of Director Joel Lamangan and the NMPP for pursuing the housing dreams of their members," Zubiri said.

"The movie industry sector has long been one of the sectors neglected by the government for the last 25 years. Unfortunately, we do not have an industry such as South Korea that produces and export telenovelas like those shown here in the Philippines."

"Unlike India's famous Bollywood that has produced the Academy award winning "Slumdog Millionaire" and actors and actresses of multi-million contract, the Philippines' film industry is characterized by the plight of seasonal workers or behind the scene workers who have very little or no benefits at all."

The NHA and the NMPP board have been meeting, as early as March this year to formalize the criteria and the selection process.

The senator said among the areas being considered for the housing project include Caloocan and San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan in which the member could opt to acquire a ready for occupancy lot or just a lot which they later develop through the community mortgage package of the National Housing Authority.

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