Senator Robin Padilla stood firm on Senate Bill No. 2805, also known as the MTRCB Act, following strong opposition from the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI) and the League of Filipino Actors (Aktor PH).
The proposed measure, which the Senate approved on third and final reading on June 2, seeks to expand the mandate of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to include regulation of content on online streaming platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and others.
In a statement, Padilla clarified that the bill is not intended to suppress artistic freedom but to ensure accountability in a fast-evolving digital landscape.
“Ngunit, sa likod ng panukalang batas na ito, may mas malalim po tayong layunin – pananagutan sa harap ng makabagong panahon,” he said.
“May pananagutan ang estado na tiyaking ligtas, makabuluhan, at may direksyong moral ang content na lumalaganap, lalo sa online platforms na papasok sa saklaw ng batas.”
Padilla added that the bill seeks to empower the MTRCB to request content classifications from streaming platforms and order reclassification if necessary, especially to curb obscenity, immorality, and senseless violence in digital content.
“This is not a fight against art. This is not a fight against filmmakers,” he stressed. “This bill aims to protect families, the youth, and our culture. Let us not separate the arts from society. When there is proper discipline and guidance, art will be more powerful.”
Both the DGPI and Aktor PH expressed strong opposition to the bill. In its official statement, the DGPI called Senate Bill 2805 unnecessary and potentially harmful to creative freedom:
“There is no need to create a redundant new law such as SB 2805 that would further destroy content creators’ rights to free expression and viewers’ rights to free access to expression,” DGPI said.
Meanwhile, Aktor PH warned that vague standards and sweeping controls under the proposed law could harm both freedom of expression and livelihood within the creative sector.
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“We support protection against harm and exploitation—but not vague standards or sweeping controls that risk limiting voices and reducing opportunities for Filipino creatives,” the group said.
“We urge our legislators to bring the industry to the table and begin again—so that any regulatory framework truly protects, not polices, the creative space.”
Aktor PH called on Congress to initiate more inclusive dialogue with stakeholders from the creative community and emphasized the importance of self-regulation guided by established standards.
MTRCB Chairperson Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio welcomed the bill, saying it would establish clearer mechanisms for cooperation between the regulatory body and streaming platforms.
She echoed Padilla’s sentiment that digital content should not be exempt from regulation, especially given its reach and influence on Filipino viewers.
