After months of uncertainty, the critically acclaimed Filipino documentary Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea has officially received clearance from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for public exhibition in the Philippines.

The documentary, which sheds light on the lives of Filipino fishermen navigating the turbulent and contested waters of the West Philippine Sea, was among 287 films approved by the MTRCB for screening during the first half of 2025.

Initially submitted for classification in March 2025 by Insight 360 Consultancy Services Inc., the film underwent a second review in June under the simplified title Food Delivery, with producer Voyage Film Studios Inc. again receiving a PG rating from the board.

“The material contains themes and scenes which are better appreciated by young audiences if viewed with adult guidance and supervision,” stated MTRCB review committee members Ricardo Salomon Jr., Richard Reynoso, and Racquel Maria Cruz in their official assessment.

Directed by award-winning documentarist Baby Ruth Villarama, Food Delivery has already earned international acclaim, most notably winning the Tides of Change Award at the Doc Edge Festival in Auckland, New Zealand. The film has been celebrated for its raw and poignant portrayal of the everyday struggles and quiet courage of Filipino fisherfolk amid rising maritime tensions with China.

MTRCB Chairperson and CEO Lala Sotto-Antonio underscored the importance of supporting meaningful and responsible storytelling. “Through our age-appropriate rating and classification, we aim to protect viewers, especially children, while encouraging responsible content creation,” she said.

The clearance of Food Delivery marks a small but significant win for freedom of expression in Philippine cinema, particularly after the film’s controversial withdrawal from a local festival earlier this year due to undisclosed “external factors.”

Aside from documentaries, the MTRCB’s list of approved films for 2025 includes a wide array of local and international productions across genres—drama, comedy, animation, and independent cinema—all reviewed with the board’s commitment to balanced, responsible, and age-appropriate viewing in mind.

With its MTRCB approval in hand, Food Delivery is now poised to finally reach local audiences, inviting them to witness a story that is not just timely, but deeply Filipino.