MANILA - The Senate on Monday honored the late film director Peque Gallaga for his contributions to the Philippine film industry.

Through Senate Resolution No. 398, senators lauded the veteran director, described as a "visionary" who helped develop talents from the Visayas.

"He was able to harness many talents in Negros, Bacolod... He was quite an incredible man with so much ideas for the film industry, such a ground-breaking director at his time," Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said in his sponsorship speech.

Sen. Imee Marcos, who worked with Gallaga in the production of his acclaimed "Oro, Plata, Mata," said Filipinos must remember the director's "extraordinary filmography."

• The towering, wondrous legacy of Peque Gallaga

Actor-turned-senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. credited Gallaga for the success of his career in the entertainment industry.

"Napakapalad ko po at siya ay nakasama ko at ako ay dinirek niya sa pelikulang Dugo ng Panday. He is a very good director at napalaki po ng naitulong niya sa aking career simula noon," Revilla said.

"Siya ay napakagaling na direktor, napakabuting kaibigan at siya po ay sinasaluduhan naming lahat," he said.

"Nagluluksa po tayo kasama ang buong industriya ng pelikulang pilipino sa pag panaw ng isang institusyon sa industriya ng sining."

The 76-year-old filmmaker died in a hospital in Bacolod City last week due to pneumonia, his family said.

• 'Oro Plata Mata' director Peque Gallaga passes away at 76