NOEL FERRER:
Mariing tinutulan ng Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI) ang Senate Bill No. 2805 o Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Act.
Inisyu ito noong Hunyo 4, 2025, Miyerkules ng gabi.
Nabahala ang DGPI dahil sa halip na itaguyod ang "self-regulation" ay ipinairal ang "censorship" sa online streaming content ng bagong panukala ng Senado.
Mapanganib ito, ayon sa DGPI, dahil binabangga nito ang karapatan para sa malayang pamamahayag.
Ibig sabihin, dinidiktahan hindi lang ang paglikha ng sining na sumasalamin sa tunay na buhay, kundi pati ang desisyon ng manonood sa gusto nitong panoorin.
Pati karapatan para sa malayang access sa impormasyon ay sinasagasaan din ng panukala, giit ng DGPI.
Read: MTRCB Censorship: Abolish or Retain?
STATEMENT NG DGPI SA MTRCB ACT
Pahayag ng DGPI: "The DGPI strongly opposes Senate Bill No. 2805 that strengthens the MTRCB and extends its censorship jurisdiction into the online streaming spaces of our private homes, personal computers, phones, and devices.
"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.
"The DGPI stands for the broader interest of those who prefer to do parental duties by themselves, and rely on the MTRCB only for guidance through a genuine classification system (without censorship power) to facilitate these duties, possible only in a climate of free expression and free access to expression.
"The DGPI supports classification (e.g., G, PG, R) sufficient to control access of minors, or guide parents to decide what minors may see, but strongly opposes 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.
"While the bill attempts to frame the MTRCB as protector of children, its provisions unmask its real mission: the unbridled control of Filipino hearts and minds through censorship of material not only for minors but more harmfully for adults, whose freedoms are protected by our Constitution (Article III, Section 4) and by the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19).
"Further, this act impinges on a struggling local film industry. With the government’s other creative industries initiatives attempting to re-energize this sector, it is ironic that this bill seeks to sabotage those gains with its draconian provisions and seems set to cannibalizing what is left with these absurd acts of legislation, best evidenced by the unnecessary drain of finances allotted for ‘each of the thirty (30) members of the board.’ (SB 2805, Page 8, Line 1).
"There is no need to create a redundant new law such as SB 2805 that would further destroy content creators’ rights to free expression and viewers’ rights to free access to expression.
"The bill’s supporters seem to think the film/TV community is not mature, prepared, or responsible enough to deserve self-regulation and the freedom of expression enjoyed by other forms of expression.
"Yet the same community has produced 11 National Artists in Cinema. Among them, Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Ricky Lee, along with countless other responsible, past and present filmmakers have suffered censorship with works that brought honors to our country here and abroad.
"Let us not hinder our current and future creatives from freely exploring and sharing their experiences with these unnecessary and artificial barriers.
"To reiterate, the DGPI stands against expansion of MTRCB’s jurisdiction into the online streaming space because it is largely a private viewing experience, and does not count as public exhibition, and deplores this attempt by the MTRCB to discriminate against those in the audio-visual sector that encompasses film, television, and streaming.
"NO to censorship, State control of hearts and minds, discrimination, use of the MTRCB as cash cow, and the MTRCB’s incursion into streaming.
"YES to freedom of expression, freedom of access to expression, respect for the filmmaker’s and the public’s hearts and minds.
"NO to Senate Bill No. 2805."
Ang DGPI Board of Directors ay kinabibilangan nina Keith Sicat, Carlos Siguion-Reyna, Mark Meily, Baby Ruth Villarama, Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan, Sari Dalena, Ed Lejano, Ruel Bayani, at Joel Lamangan.
Read: VMX actors, producers, MTRCB may reaksiyon sa MTRCB Act
JERRY OLEA:
Inaprubahan ng Senado ang Senate Bill No. 2805 sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa noong Lunes, Hunyo 2, 2025.
Ang sponsor ng Senate Bill No. 2805 ay si Senator Robinhood Padilla, na chairperson ng Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media.
Ang authors ay sina Senators Win Gatchalian, Francis Tolentino, Lito Lapid, at Grace Poe. Co-authors din sina Senators Bong Revilla at Joel Villanueva.
Sa botohan ng mga senador, 21 ang pumayag na ipasa ito, isa ang kumontra, at walang nag-abstain.
Si Sen. Risa Hontiveros ang tanging nag-“NO” sa pagpasa ng MTRCB Act.
Ipinaliwanag ni Risa sa Senado na hindi siya sang-ayon sa panukalang nagbibigay ng "overly broad powers to censor even speech protected by the 1987 Constitution, and even material not meant for theatrical distribution."
Sana raw ay "specific" ang probisyong nakasaad sa panukalang nagre-regulate sa streaming content.
"We can be specific about the materials we should protect people from—media that, by their mere showing, constitute violations of law, including: R.A. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act; R.A. 11930 or The Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act; and R.A. 9995 or Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009.
"Iyan ang mga dapat kalaban ng MTRCB.
"Hindi po ang general na 'contrary to good morals,' 'injurious to the prestige of the Philippines,' o 'undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government.'
"More than this, Mr. President, the regulation of digital services and online content should be carefully done with legislation crafted specifically for this purpose, at hindi lamang add-on sa MTRCB.
"Ang boses at mga sining ng mga Pilipino, online man o offline, ay kapangyarihang pag-aari ng taong-bayan at protektado ng saligang batas.
"Ang anumang regulasyon nito ay dapat hindi labis."
Ipinagpaliban ng Senado ang impeachment kay Vice President Sara Duterte dahil, ayon kay Senator Chiz Escudero, may mahahalagang batas silang dapat ipasa.
Itong MTRCB Act ba ay kabilang sa mga mahahalagang batas na dahilan ng postponement ng impeachment?
Read: Direk Roman Perez Jr., pabor bang saklawin ng MTRCB ang VMX?
MORE REACTIONS FROM DIRECTORS
Ang Facebook post ni Direk JL Burgos kaugnay rito: “MTRCB Act (Senate Bill 2805) a threat to freedom of speech and expression.
"I have no doubts that MTRCB Act (Senate Bill no. 2805) will be used by the powerful few to censor opinion not in favor of the status quo or to be more precise — will be used to suppress truth.
"We have experienced it first hand, Alipato at Muog was initially given an X rating by the MTRCB — as the reviewers cited that the film tends to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government — the same clause that’s been used several times.
"What is dangerous with this Senate Bill 2805 is that it expanded more reasons for the board to ‘Approve, disapprove, or order the deletion of objectionable portions and/or prohibit the importation, exportation, production, copying, distribution, sale, lease, exhibition, and/or television broadcast of movies, television programs, series, and publicity materials for public.’ The MTRCB Act gives more power to the board to technically banning the film for public viewing.
"With the MTRCB Act, these are the grounds for X ratings (i’ll put this as is):
"'(1) are contrary to law, good morals, good customs, public order, or public policy; (2) are grossly injurious to the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines;
"'(3) have a dangerous tendency to encourage the commission of violence, a wrong, or crime;
"'(4) tend to incite subversion, insurrection, rebellion, or sedition against the State or otherwise threaten the economic and/or political stability of the State;
"'(5) tend to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or the duly constituted authorities;
"'(6) glorify criminals or condone crimes; (7) serve no other purpose but to satisfy the market for violence or pornography; drugs; tend to abet the traffic in and use of prohibited drugs;
"'(9) are libelous or defamatory to the good name and reputation of any person, whether living or dead; (10) may constitute contempt of court or of any quasi-judicial tribunal or pertain to matters which are sub-judice in nature;
"'(11) seriously endanger public safety; or (12) express national, racial, cultural, or religious hatred that incites discrimination, hostility, or violence against the Filipino people, indigenous peoples, religious groups, or any ethnic group within or outside the country:
"'Provided, That deletions or cuts must not be made on the master negative of the films, and that such master negative shall be deposited with the Film Archives of the Philippines and released for export purposes to the film owner only upon showing of the proper export permit:
"'Provided, further, That the film owner shall execute a sworn undertaking that such master negative shall be exclusively used for export purposes and not for local viewing.'"
Idiniin ni Direk JL Burgos na ang probisyong ito ay naglalayong diktahan ang audio-visual content at mapanganib para sa malayang pamamahayag.
"These clauses are dangerously vague and subjective, and opens the door to arbitrary censorship. Any content that challenges the status quo, critiques government policy, or depicts social issues deemed ‘immoral’ by conservative standards could be banned outright.
“What is more appalling is that the bill will also cover online streaming platforms and such avenues. If passed the bill will give authorities to control and dictate the narratives.
"As fake news prosper during this era of digital content, the bill is not only dangerous to creatives but also dangerous for its people — to decide what is just and right.
"Sana huwag natin hayaan pagtakpan ang katotohanan. Manindigan dahil hindi lamang ang mga nakaupo ang makikinabang dito — lahat ng politikong mandarambong, corrupt, dinastiya, manyakis, at iba pang kriminal ng bayan ang makikinabang dito.
“I ask humbly and politely, artists and writers to oppose MTRCB Act. Let us join forces to stop the Bill into Law.
“Magkaisa! Makibaka!”
GORGY RULA:
Facebook shoutout ng birthday celebrator na si Direk Roman Perez Jr. kaugnay sa MTRCB Act: "Ang Streaming Cinema ba ang Diversion para Sara Impeachment?"
Si Direk Roman ay isa sa mga prolific directors ng VMX (dating Vivamax). Malamang na masapul ng MTRCB ang nasabing streaming platform.
FB post pa ni Direk Roman: "NO TO CENSORSHIP. NO TO MTRCB. Abolish MTRCB."
FB post naman ni Direk Jay Altarejos: "In CENSORED DREAMS (2009/2019), Direk Will, played by Richard Quan, faces the censors.
"Noon pa man, balakid na sa kalayaan sa pamamahayag ang MTRCB. Ngayon, gusto pa nilang dagdagan ang saklaw ng kanilang kapangyarihan.
"Pahirap ito sa mga manggagawa ng pelikulang Pilipino. Binabansot ang kaisipan ng manonood. Sapat na. Panahon na para buwagin ang MTRCB!
"Censored Dreams on iWantTFC this June!"
Ang original title ng Censored Dreams ay Laruang Lalake. Maliban kay Richard Quan, tampok dito sina Marco Morales, Mon Confiado, at Arjay Carreon.
Kakatwang industry stakeholders na nasa Senado ang nag-champion ng MTRCB Act na sumisikil sa malayang paglikha ng sining at panonood nito.
Ang post ni Direk Quark Henares sa X (dating Twitter): "I think everyone expected the upside of electing action stars to the senate was that they would protect their own industry.
"Instead, because they don’t understand any other industry, they just decide to pick on their own. In other words, there is no upside."