MTRCB info campaign covered only three of 61 target areas in 2016 —COA

An information campaign by Movie and Television Review and Classification Board only covered three of the 61 areas that were identified as recipients of the program, the Commission on Audit has said in the agency's performance audit for 2016.

This only represented 4.92 percent of all the areas covered in the draft plan.

In its 2016 performance audit report for the agency released on Tuesday, the COA said a draft plan was made in May 2016 for the areas that should be covered by the Matalinong Panonood (MP) Program.

The draft plan included areas such as Pangasinan, Bukidnon, Abra, Cotabato, Marinduque, Ilocos Norte, Saranggani, Guimaras, Sulu, Basilan, Siquijor, Camiguin and Sorsogon.

Meanwhile, the program itself was intended to empower parents and responsible adults, determine the kinds of media and entertainment the children should consume, and enable viewers to understand and appreciate the ratings and classification system for film and television.

This was through seminars, fora, infomercials and other campaigns.

The MTRCB allocated a budget of P5.68 million and expended P3.27 million for the program.

"However, out of the 61 areas, only three areas, Pangasinan, Bukidnon and Ilocos Norte representing 4.92 percent were covered in accordance to the plan," the COA said.

This was primarily because of "inadvertent contingencies," the COA said, causing "least needed" areas or places to be covered.

"The MP Program was not held in areas included in the draft plan due to some reasons such as time conflict with resource person, no communication with the contact persons and unpleasant weather," the COA report said.

Because of this, the objective of the MP program was not effectively communicated to all concerned, the COA said.

The COA has recommended the MTRCB to revisit its planning strategy so that the areas covered are those who mostly need the program. —NB, GMA News