MTRCB on Senate Bill: No censorship, just child protection

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has issued a statement following the Senate’s approval of Senate Bill No. 2805, which seeks to amend the agency’s charter.

In its statement, the MTRCB expressed respect for the legislative process and affirmed its readiness to carry out any changes once finalized by Congress and signed into law by the President.

“We respectfully defer to the wisdom of our lawmakers on the matter. Whatever is ultimately approved by Congress and the President, we will implement it,” the Board said.

The bill has only passed the Senate; the House of Representatives has yet to act on its counterpart measure. The MTRCB noted that this opens opportunities for continued dialogue and refinement of the proposed amendments.

Central to the bill is a move to improve regulatory cooperation between the MTRCB and online streaming platforms, including Online Curated Content Providers (OCCs) and Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) services. The measure introduces safeguards like “safety by design” principles and accountability mechanisms to address harmful online content.

Addressing concerns over censorship, the MTRCB clarified that it does not intend to require prior review of content from these platforms:

“While the amendments include OCCs and SVODs in the coverage of MTRCB, the Board does not seek to rate or review these materials. There is no prior constraint of a mandatory review before content is shown.”

Instead, the MTRCB said the changes aim to empower the government to respond to harmful content involving child abuse, exploitation, or voyeurism — issues that require a clear regulatory framework.

“It is our collective hope that any amendment should be firmly anchored on the principle that the protection of children is a top priority,” said MTRCB Chairperson and CEO Diorella Maria “Lala” Sotto-Antonio.

As the bill awaits further action in the House, the MTRCB reaffirmed its commitment to uphold content freedom while ensuring the safety of the Filipino public — particularly vulnerable groups.