MANILA—President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said films should show the social aspect of the country’s state as he led the grand launch of Cine Lokal on Wednesday, April 19.

“Alam mo, motion picture mirrors life or life mirrors the movies. Ganoon ‘yan. So it behooves upon you really to do the social aspect of what’s happening to our country,” he said in his speech at the Cinema 1 of the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Cine Lokal, a partnership between the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and SM Lifestyle Entertainment, dedicates eight SM Cinema theatres for the exclusive screening of FDCP-curated independent and award-winning films.

Also present during the program were FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza Diño and Movie and Television Review Classification Board Chairman Rachel Arenas.

The Chief Executive also called on Filipinos who wish to end corruption to act right away.

“Kaya kayong mga Pilipino, kayong talagang Pilipino na gusto ninyong tumulong sa bayan ninyo, now is the time to do it, really,” he said.

For his part, the President vowed to stop corruption saying that he is doing it almost everyday, noting that he has fired about 96 government officials since he assumed office in June.

He noted that he would need more time to implement reforms, especially in ridding government of corruption.

“Karamihan diyan sa gobyerno, their salaries are just the sort of stipend, just a side income but corruption is the main source of income. So I had to lecture to everybody that, you know, during this time, maybe for five years and a few months, you have to change your lifestyle,” Duterte said.

At the same time, he promised that every centavo of the Filipino’s money will go to the benefit of the people.

“Corruption must stop. Drug must stop even for five years only. There will be a lessening but you can be very sure that every centavo of your money will go for the benefit of the people of the Philippines,” he said.

“Sigurado ‘yan. I assure you as the sun will rise in the east, corruption will stop. I will not allow it,” he added.