Buses plying Undas routes to show commuter-friendly videos

Published October 30, 2014 5:26am

Starting Thursday, parents taking buses to their home provinces for Undas (All Saints' and All Saints' Days) need not cover their children's eyes or ears for fear the video on board would show sex, violence or pirated content.

This is after the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board and other agencies partnered with a non-government organization and bus companies to show only wholesome and approved movies.

More than 1,000 buses plying Undas routes will feature this standard template program grid, GMA News' JP Soriano reported Wednesday night on GMA News TV's "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho."

In past years, parents have worried that the videos shown aboard buses on long trips would contain pirated content, or be unsuitable for children.

But the new standard template program grid now has the support of at least 12 buses.

The videos are in USB or CD format and are prepared with help from the National Center for Commuters' Safety and Protection, MTRCB, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and Optical Media Board.

Each video package starts with a prayer, and will have reminders and information segments from government, along with inspirational messages from motivational speakers.

The videos themselves are approved by the MTRCB, and will be changed every two weeks.

Videos with sexual or child-unfriendly content will not be allowed.

The MTRCB reminded bus firms videos to be shown aboard buses should be rated at most "Parental Guidance," and should not be pirated.

Violators may face imprisonment of three months to one year, or a fine of P2,000 to P5,000. They may also face the cancellation of their franchises. — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News

Tags: buses, piratedvideos