WHAT IS OPM?

The ORGANISASYON NG PILIPINONG MANGAAWIT (OPM) is the leading and most respected organization of Filipino professional singers in the country. It is a non-stock, non-profit corporation duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It was established in October 27, 1986.

The OPM is governed by a Board of Directors (BOD) consisting of 7 members duly constituted through an election. The BOD elects among themselves the officers: a president, and vice-president, secretary and treasurer. All the rest are members of the Board. The BOD is assisted by a secretariat office headed by an Executive Director.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President : OGIE ALCASID
Chairman of the Board : MITCH VALDES
Vice-President for Internal Affairs : GARY VALENCIANO
Vice-President for External Affairs : NOEL CABANGON
Vice-President for Special Projects : CHRISTIAN BAUTISTA
Treasurer : JOSE MARI CHAN
Corporate Secretary : DINGDONG AVANZADO
Executive Director : MA. DINAH REMOLACIO

MISSION & VISION

The Philippine music industry is abounding with world-class professional singers whose worth are upheld and rights are protected under Philippine and international laws.

OPM’s mission is to carry on the task of working for the Filipino Singers’ advancement through:

1. Advocating policies for the growth of music industry
2. Ensuring that policies are correctly implemented
3. Ensuring that members are adequately supported through legal assistance and professional enhancement
4. Continuing promotion for the Filipinos’ patronage of local singers and original Pilipino musical compositionsy
5. Continuing promotion for the recognition of the Filipino singer and song in the international arena

OPM's OBJECTIVES

• Cause the Philippine Government to issue policies under a framework that would nourish the growth of the music industry as a whole,
• Cause all sectors to adhere to policies and support the growth of the music industry;
• Supports the members improve their craft and defend their rights.
• Establish R&D center for the development of Philippine music and information center for public consumption.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Since 1986, OPM has moved from a mere organization of performing artists to cultural advocates – promoting, protecting and pushing for the rights of artists through active engagement in the following advocacies:

• The lobbying at the Senate in August 1996 for the deletion of Section 27 (B) (III) of House Bill No. 6060. The provision sought to limit corporate sponsorship of concerts, live shows and sport events to 0.35% of a company’s gross sales. If enacted, this would have eradicated a lucrative source of livelihood among industry workers as producers would venture to produce shows/concerts featuring only tried and tested singers.

• The eradication of the practice among television stations/producers of nonpayment of honoraria to singers/artists for their guesting is another success story. OPM likewise sought the strict implementation of Executive Order N. 255 s 1987 whereby local radio stations with musical formats play four (4) original Filipino music per clock. OPM spearheaded the lobby in the House of Representatives for the separation of the Amusement Tax being levied on movies from live performances. The latest success of OPM’s active promotion of their collective agenda was the passage of the Intellectual Property Code or Republic Act. No. 8293 which was signed into law in January 1998.

• The much lauded passage of Republic Act No. 8293 though once again burdened OPM with additional tasks to perform. The most telling burden of which is how to collect what is rightfully the artists share. The law imposed an additional remuneration of at least five percent (5%) of the original amount received from the first broadcast or communication of the performance. The law also strengthened the artist’s claims and granted the right to object to any distortion, mutilation or any form of modification of his performance that would be prejudicial to his reputation. The problem that arises is enforceability and monitoring when an organization such as the OPM is not geared towards those twin tasks.

• The creative way of policing the entry of foreign artists in the country by entering into an agreement with the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation providing for an Equity Collection Scheme, the proceeds from which have provided benefits to member through equity payment from foreign performers.

Source: http://opm.org.ph