Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (File photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Jinggoy Estrada may suggest transferring the functions of the Optical Media Board (OMB) to other executive offices like the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) or the Department of Trade and Industry.
“This representation may introduce at the proper time a legislative proposal to transfer the functions of the OMB, if not to abolish the OMB, to other existing executive offices such as the FDCP or the Department of Trade and Industry,” Estrada said during the Senate plenary session that ran until early Tuesday.
“At the proper time, I will move that the budget of the Optical Media Board be reduced and we retain the budget of personnel services. I still believe that the chairman of the OMB has not performed his functions and duties as chairman of the OMB,” he went on.
Estrada noted that abolishing the board “requires a drastic move and amendment of our laws.” He added that it could affect the jobs of some 100 employees.
“I don’t want this to happen following the wrong leadership of their chairman. We do not want the number of unemployed individuals to grow at this time,” Estrada said in Filipino.
Estrada flagged the OMB for not being able to file administrative charges against violators of the Optical Media Act of 2003 (Republic Act No. 9239) since its chairman, Jeremy Marquez, assumed office in November last year.
Marquez, however, clarified that he responded that they have not filed any administrative charges as he did not have the figures when he was being questioned during a previous panel hearing.
With Estrada’s dismay over Marquez’s performance, the senator reiterated that he would give the OMB a P1 budget next year.
The 2023 OMB budget of P71.65 million eventually hurdled the Senate’s approval after debates.