MTRCB Statement in Response to DGPI’s Remarks on SB No. 2805

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) calls out the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI) for its irresponsible claim that the Agency is being used as a “cash cow.”

This is an unfair and baseless claim. The MTRCB is a government agency with a clear mandate to protect the public, most especially children, from harmful content. To describe our mandate as profit-driven is both misleading and disrespectful to the 31 board members, many of whom the DGPI knows and may have worked with in the past. 

The remark disrespects the dedicated men and women of the MTRCB who have devoted their careers to monitoring, reviewing and rating thousands of local and international materials to ensure they align with contemporary Filipino cultural values. These 31 Board Members are the ones who actually review and classify the materials submitted to the MTRCB.

We categorically reject this unfounded accusation. The MTRCB is a regulatory body created by law to classify content in a way that protects the viewing public, especially minors, while recognizing constitutional freedoms and respecting the rights of the public and the stakeholders we are duty bound to serve.  

We also note that while Senate Bill No. 2805 was recently passed on third and final reading in the Senate, its counterpart measure in the House of Representatives has yet to be passed. With the 19th Congress ending next week, the measure is unlikely to be acted upon in the current Congress. This means the bill is still far from becoming law and presents ample opportunity for further scrutiny, refinement, and consultation.

We appeal to all stakeholders to approach this matter with reason and respect. We expect no less than civility from entities like the DGPI, which is not a government agency, especially in public discourse. 

While the amendments in the recently-passed SB 2805 seek to include online streaming platforms and online curated content providers (OCCs) and streaming videos on-demand (SVOD), the Board does not seek to rate or review these materials. There is no prior restraint 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. This is by way of appropriate mechanisms for cooperation between the MTRCB and OCCS and SVODs and adoption of safeguards such as “safety by design” principles, and the creation of structured feedback mechanisms and accountability. 

Finally, we emphasize that MTRCB performs in duties under PD 1986 without censorship, without prior restraint, and with full respect to the constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of expression. 

(Sgd.) ROBERTO C. DICIEMBRE
Executive Director II
05 June 2025