MTRCB pinalalagyan ng dagdag na ngipin ni Padilla

MTRCB pinalalagyan ng dagdag na ngipin ni Padilla

March 3, 2023 @ 3:49 PM 4 weeks ago


MANILA, Philippines – Isinusulong ni Senador Robin Padilla na magkaroon pa ng mas maraming ngipin ang Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) sa pag-apruba at pagbabawal sa mga pelikula, television programs at publicity materials na nagpapahayag ng “national, racial or religious hatred.”

Si Padilla, na umuupo bilang chairman ng Senate public information and mass media committee, ay naghain kamakailan ng Senate Bill No. 1940, na naglalayong palakasin at palawakin pa ang mandato, kapabilidad at organization structure ng MTRCB sa pamamagitan ng pag-amyenda sa Presidential Decree No. 1986.

Ang PD No. 1986 ay pinirmahan ni dating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Sr. na nag-eestablisa sa MTRCB bilang ahensya na magbibigay regulasyon sa pagpapalabas sa publiko ng mga motion pictures, television programs at publicity materials.

“Almost 40 years since its creation, MTRCB proves to be bereft of the opportunity to address the changing demands of our time because of its limiting jurisdiction, organizational structure and operational competence. It also lacks enabling powers to cover potent types of visual media that have proliferated in many forms, including online streaming platforms, on-demand streaming services and even video games,” paliwanag ni Padilla sa panukala.

Kung maisasabatas, ang panukala ay magbibigay sa MTRCB ng ngipin na mag-apruba at magbawal sa distribusyon ng pelikula, programa sa telebisyon at publicity materials “that express national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, violence or stereotyping or prejudice against the Filipino people, indigenous people or any ethnic group within or outside the country.”

Kabilang sa mga dahilan na pwedeng gamitin ng MTRCB para hindi maaprubahan ang isang palabas ay ang makikita nilang mapanganib para sa
“protection of national security, public order or public health.”

Palalawakin din ang sakop ng ahensya sa mga palabas na imported o binuo sa Pilipinas, online streaming, on-demand streaming services at iba pang kahalintulad na teknolohiya.

Ang mga pelikula, programa sa telebisyon, patalastas at publicity materials na binuo ng pamahalaan ng Pilipinas ay hindi kasama sa hurisdiksyon ng MTRCB, ayon pa sa panukala ni Padilla.

Papayagan naman ang MTRCB “to exercise quasi-judicial function to hear and decide cases for violation of this Act and impose administrative sanctions” tulad ng:

– Imposition of fines and penalties
– Preventive custody of equipment and materials used in the exhibition and/or copying of movies, suspension
– Non-renewal or cancellation of the licenses or permits to operate and/or exhibit
– Suspension of television programs
– Seizure and confiscation of the objectionable material being exhibited or shown sans approval of the board or in violation of the Act
– Closure of movie theaters, television stations, cable television networks, establishments or entities engaged in the public exhibition of movies, television programs and publicity materials
– Blocking or banning of online platforms and on-demand streaming platforms that violate the provisions of the Act

“For this purpose, the board shall have the power to cite in contempt persons or entities willfully disregarding its process, to issue summons, and subpoena or subpoena duces tecum to compel the attendance of witnesses and production of documents and other effects,” pagpapatuloy pa ng panukala.

Ang hakbang na ito ni Padilla ay kasunod ng naging isyu ng Hollywood fictional film na “Plane” na di-umano ay nagpakita ng hindi magandang imahe ng Pilipinas. RNT/JGC