Cheyenne Suarez

MTRCB hits back at directors' group over 'cash cow' remark

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) slammed Thursday the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI) over its remarks that the board is being used as a &quot;cash cow&quot; or moneymaker, in light of proposals to allow the board to regulate streaming services.In a statement, the MTRCB called out the DGPI over what it called &quot;an unfair and baseless claim.&quot;&quot;The MTRCB is a government agency with a clear mandate to protect the public, most especially children, from harmful content. To describe our mandate as profit-driven is both misleading and disrespectful to the 31 board members, many of whom the DGPI knows and may have worked with in the past,&quot; the board said in a statement.&quot;We categorically reject this unfounded accusation,&quot; it said.<div>NEW BILL MEANT TO PROTECT</div>Meanwhile, actor-turned politician Senator Robin Padilla defended the bill, saying it is merely meant to protect minors, rather than to curtail artistic freedom.“Ako po’y galing din sa industriya ng pelikula, at alam ko ang pinaghuhugutan ng kanilang pangamba. Mahalaga po ang kalayaan sa paglikha, sa pagpapahayag, at sa pagbabahagi ng mga kuwento ng ating bayan,” he said in a statement.“Ngunit sa likod ng panukalang batas na ito, may mas malalim po tayong layunin: pananagutan sa harap ng makabagong panahon. Hindi ito tungkol sa pagbabawal — ito ay tungkol sa pag-aalaga,” Padilla added.According to Padilla, the Senate Bill No. 2805 would merely expand MTRCB’s regulatory responsibilities to cover content from digital platforms, and would not give it the right to allow or prohibit certain kinds of content.“Ang SB 2805 ay hindi nagpapataw ng pagbabawal. Hindi ito magdidikta kung ano ang dapat likhain o hindi. Ang layunin ng panukala ay palakasin lamang ang kakayahan ng MTRCB na maglabas ng guidance at classification kahit sa digital platforms. Kagaya ng ginagawa na sa telebisyon at sinehan,” he said.“Hindi natin sinasakal ang malikhaing damdamin. Ngunit sa harap ng malawak at bukas na digital space, hindi rin po natin maaaring pabayaan ang pananagutan sa bawat nilalaman. Lalo’t sa ganitong kalakaran, hindi na lamang ito personal na panonood—ito’y may impluwensiya sa pananaw ng kabataan, sa moralidad, at sa kabuuang kultura,” Padilla added.Padilla likewise emphasized that the proposal is meant to protect children and families.“Sa huli, para ito sa pamilyang Pilipino. Hindi po ito laban sa sining. Hindi ito laban sa mga direktor. Sa katunayan, ito po ay panukala na isinulong dahil gusto natin protektahan ang pamilya, ang kabataan, at ang ating kultura. Huwag po nating ihiwalay ang sining sa lipunang kinabibilangan nito,” he said. “Kapag may disiplina at gabay, lalong nagiging makapangyarihan ang sining,” Padilla added.The MTRCB&#x27;s statement comes after the DGPI expressed opposition against Senate Bill No. 2805, which seeks to expand the mandate of the board to cover online streaming platforms within its regulatory powers.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/6/4/directors-guild-opposes-senate-bill-expanding-mtrcb-mandate-0124">READ: Directors&#x27; Guild opposes Senate bill expanding MTRCB mandate </a></div>The MTRCB urged stakeholders to approach the issue surrounding the SB No. 2805 with &quot;reason and respect.&quot;It also clarified that while amendments under the Senate proposal sought to include online streaming platforms, &quot;the Board does not seek to rate or review these materials.&quot;&quot;There is no prior restraint or a mandatory review before content is shown. 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,&quot; it said. — With a report from MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN News

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board slammed the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. over its remarks that the board is being used as a "cash cow" or moneymaker, in light of proposals to allow the board to regulate streaming services.

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board slammed the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. over its remarks that the board is being used as a "cash cow" or moneymaker, in light of proposals to allow the board to regulate streaming services.