Senator Robin Padilla stood firm on Thursday, June 5, in defending 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 bill, which passed on third and final reading in the Senate earlier this week, seeks to expand the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board’s (MTRCB) authority to include online and streaming platforms.
In a public statement, the DGPI criticized the bill for potentially threatening creative freedom, saying: “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.”
The guild also warned that the bill “deletes the current law’s intentions for self-regulation of the film/TV industries and converts the MTRCB into a parens patriae… concentrating instead on its self-anointed role as guardian of public morals.”
DGPI acknowledged the need to protect minors and help guide parents through content classification but opposed the bill’s retention of the X-rating, calling it a means to “ban provocative or unorthodox content to adults who have the right to decide what they should or should not see.”
Meanwhile, Aktor PH, chaired by actor Dingdong Dantes, also released a statement calling for a dialogue with the creative industry: “Any legislation that impacts freedom of expression, artistic integrity, and livelihood must be shaped with those who live and work in this space.”
The group stressed that it supports “safeguards against harm and exploitation” but not “vague standards or sweeping controls” that could suppress creativity and opportunity.
“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,” it added.
In response, Senator Padilla defended the bill and clarified that it was not intended to stifle artistic freedom, but to ensure accountability in the digital age.
“Ngunit sa likod ng panukalang batas na ito, may mas malalim po tayong layunin: pananagutan sa harap ng makabagong panahon,” said Padilla.
He emphasized that the legislation is not about banning content but about “pag-aalaga.”
“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,” he explained.
While acknowledging that the MTRCB Act may not be perfect, Padilla asserted that its principle remains intact: “Hindi po ito laban sa sining o laban sa mga direktor. Ito po ay para sa proteksyon ng pamilya, ng kabataan, at ng kulturang Pilipino.”
The MTRCB, for its part, said it “defers to the wisdom of our lawmakers” and clarified that it does not intend to pre-emptively review content from online platforms.
“There is no prior constraint or a mandatory review before content is shown,” said the MTRCB. “Rather, the measure seeks to ensure that the State is not left helpless in addressing valid concerns and issues such as harmful online contents, particularly materials involving child abuse, exploitation, or voyeurism.”
The House of Representatives has yet to deliberate its version of the bill, which may extend into the next Congress.
