Imee Marcos, Grace Poe seek amendment of law to clarify MTRCB role on online content regulation

At least two senators sought to amend the law governing the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board to update its mandate in a digitizing world where online streaming platforms are gaining a lot of viewers.

During a Senate panel deliberation on the proposed P105.9-million budget of the MTRCB, Senator Imee Marcos asked the agency if it is ready to "self-destruct" pursuant to its charter made 35 years ago, which has an end goal of facilitating self-regulation among players in the film and TV industry.

"Do we see the MTRCB and censorship in the Philippines disappear anytime soon?" Marcos asked.

"We feel that the maturity is not yet there... Palagay ko sa susunod na dekada hindi pa," MTRCB chairperson Maria Rachel Arenas responded.

Senator Grace Poe, a former MTCRB chief, agreed that viewers in the Philippines still need a lot of education. She, nonetheless, stressed the need to move towards self-regulation.

"We really need to move towards self-regulation na hindi na kailangan ng review but maybe one of the things we can do is amend the MTRCB so that we can clarify the online content kasi it's really a gray area eh," she said.

"Baka panahon nang tingnan kung ano gagawin sa online kasi nagkakalituhan," Marcos said in agreement to Poe.

Last month, an official of the MTRCB said the agency wants to regulate content on Netflix and other online streaming platforms—a proposed move that did not sit well with the viewing public.

Arenas later on clarified that the agency only meant "post-monitoring." — RSJ, GMA News