MTRCB reports 'significant drop' in film reviews in 2021

The Movie and Television Review Classification Board (MTRCB) on Thursday reported a "significant drop" in the number of films it has reviewed so far — only 35 in the first eight months of 2021.

According to MTRCB registration officer Atty. Ann Marie Nemenzo, the average number of films being reviewed by the board per year is about 200 to 300.

“You will see the statistics on the film review [as of August 2021] and you will notice that there is a significant drop in the number of films that we reviewed for this year. Since January, it’s only a total of 35 films,” Nemenzo told the Senate in a budget briefing.

Movie theaters have yet to open in many areas in the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which also put on hold many movie-making activities not just in the country but globally. 

Aside from reviewed films, Nemenzo also said there is also a significant decrease in film trailers with 39 in total since the start of 2021.

Meanwhile, there are 64,625 television programs and 248 non-video publicity materials that were so far reviewed by the MTRCB.

Nemenzo also reported that they were able to reach 100% of their target number of reviewed materials with 115,320 videos that were reviewed and classified by the board as of July 2021.

The MTRCB, a quasi-judicial agency, has so far resolved 79.17% or 57 out of 72 cases filed before them within 90 days as of July this year.

Despite the low number of reviewed films this year, Senator Grace Poe, who presided over the budget hearing, lauded the MTRCB for reaching their target revenues for 2020 and 2021.

In 2020, the board has collected P98.796 million or 100% of their target collection.

For 2021, the MTRCB was able to collect P63.796 million as of August. This is 95% of their target collection.

“I commend all of you for reaching your P63 million revenue already, despite actually not having those many films that now being reviewed,” said Poe, a former MTRCB chairperson.

Poe also lauded the MTRCB for shifting to digital transactions for the its revenue collection system.

For 2022, the MTRCB is asking for a budget of P107 million and an additional P11.9 million capital outlay covering equipment to strengthen its information technology structure.

The panel quickly moved for the approval of the MTRCB’s budget at the committee level.

Poe also endorsed the budgets of the following agency for plenary deliberation:

• Optical Media Board: P76.989 million
• Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority: P298.389 million
• Cagayan Economic Zone Authority: P228.844 million

—KBK, GMA News