Got to talk to current TIEZA Head Mark Lapid and began our conversation about Travel Tax and funding. The Travel Tax on their end goes to infrastructure support for different spots in the country. He also mentioned the difference between them and the DOT. Their different mandate and roles in building hospitals, fixing airports with CAAP, terminals, wheelchair access, monitoring systems, conveyor belts, esplanade, boardwalks, lighting are just some of their duties. These are submitted by local government units and their board, in many places he mentioned in the interview.
He also talked about how his family still comes first, next is public service and showbiz. He treats showbiz as part of his passions, while politics affects so many people. The infrastructure gap in airports is huge compared to neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. They're doing a revamp and want all other domestic airports capable to land bigger airplanes and have those other airline companies to land directly in the provinces so they don't get congested in NAIA.
He also talked to us about his relationship with his Dad becoming his number 1 critic and supporter. He also said how close they are with Coco Martin who they had the pleasure to work together in different Coco Martin led series, just to help since they have experience with it.
They've done this for several years and enjoy it. Imagine, they wanted this to be a 2 week guesting and they were there for almost a decade. He says "It's the art of "pakikipagkapwa tao". When we came back to the set, we were surprised about the big improvements, in the past you can't have a second take because of expenses. The digital era was freeing. I think I only feel better because of my wife (about his looks and health). We also want to lower taxes in cinema and encourage more creatives to release movies and make the public go back and watch in cinemas. I am against AI use, but if it's dangerous stunts, maybe we can consider but not to the detriment of production workers that can do a better job at it. We want to support it."
Mark Lapid reiterated that services their office implement to improve infrastructure needs to come from somewhere. Since the government still has no funds allocated for the TIEZA, they might ask for an extension for the Travel Tax until it gets funding somewhere else. There are people and the public that do benefit from their work, and it is essential to make sure the infrastructure gets maintained and managed well.
