06-06-2025
Aktor PH, DGPI oppose Senate bill expanding MTRCB's mandate
The League of Filipino Actors (Aktor PH) and the Directors' Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI) released statements opposing Senate Bill No. 2805, also known as the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Act.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Robin Padilla, aims to update the MTRCB's charter by expanding its mandate to include streaming platforms in its regulatory powers. It was approved on third and final reading on Monday.
In Aktor PH's statement Friday, it urged Congress to "halt" Senate Bill 2805 and lead a dialogue with the creative industry. Aktor PH chairman, Dingdong Dantes, also shared the statement on his Instagram Stories.
"Any legislation that impacts freedom of expression, artistic integrity, and livelihood must be shaped with those who live and work in this space," Aktor PH said.
While the group recognized existing provisions that protect creators, it affirmed its belief in "a self-regulating industry, where accountability is upheld from within, and reforms are made in genuine partnership with the community."
According to Aktor PH, it supports safeguards against harm and exploitation "but not vague standards or sweeping controls" that risk suppressing voices and opportunities in the creative industry.
"We urge our legislators to bring the industry to the table and begin again -- so that any regulatory framework truly protects, not polices, the creative space," Aktor PH said.
On Wednesday, the DGPI also released a statement strongly opposing Senate Bill 2805.
"In its Declaration of Policy, the proposed law deletes the current law's intentions for self-regulation of the film/TV industries and converts the MTRCB into a parens patriae (parent of the country), concentrating instead on its self-anointed role as guardian of public morals — a narrow reading of the State's protective function as it serves only those who find it convenient to yield their parental guardian duties to the MTRCB,' it said.
According to the DGPI, it supports the classification of content to control minors' access and help guide parents on what their children may watch.
However, it rejected "the bill's retention of the X--rating which bans exhibition of provocative or unorthodox content to adults who have the right to decide what they should or should not see."
The group added that the proposed law "impinges on a struggling local film industry" and "would further destroy content creators' rights to free expression and viewers' rights to free access to expression."
The DGPI also reiterated it is against the expansion of the MTRCB's mandate into the online streaming space because this space is considered "a private viewing experience" and not a public exhibition of content.
Meanwhile, the MTRCB said on Thursday that it will "defer to the wisdom of our lawmakers" when it comes to Senate Bill 2805.
"It is worth noting that the House of Representatives has yet to pass its version of the bill. So, it may continue into the next Congress where it will be subjected to deliberations and further discussions," the board said.
According to the MTRCB, the amendments in the bill aim to create "mechanisms for cooperation with online streaming and online curated content providers (OCCs) and streaming videos on-demand (SVOD)."
It also underscored that it "does not seek to rate or review" OCCs and SVODs covered by the amendments.
"There is no prior constraint or a mandatory review before content is shown. Rather, the measure seeks to ensure that the State is not left helpless in addressing valid concerns and issues such as harmful online contents, particularly materials involving child abuse, exploitation, or voyeurism," said the MTRCB. —CDC, GMA Integrated News
