Marilyn Cahatol

Citizens use their phones in Quezon City amid the modified enhanced community quarantine on August 16, 2020. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17491770188661749177016175.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Citizens use their phones in Quezon City amid the modified enhanced community quarantine on August 16, 2020. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Citizens use their phones in Quezon City amid the modified enhanced community quarantine on August 16, 2020. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File. </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Filipino actors’ group Aktor PH opposed the controversial Senate Bill 2805, strengthening and expanding the mandate of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), as it “impacts freedom of expression, artistic integrity and livelihood.” </p><p>Aktor PH, chaired by Dingdong Dantes, comprises several popular actors in the Philippines. </p><p>“AKTOR, the league of Filipino actors, calls on Congress to halt Senate Bill 2805 and initiate meaningful, inclusive 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 said in a statement dated June 6.</p><p>“We believe in a self-regulating industry,  where accountability is upheld from within, and reforms are made in genuine partnership with the community,” it added.</p><p>SB 2805, or the “Movie and Television Review and Classification Board Act,” extends MTRCB’s regulatory power to online streaming platforms.</p><p>Despite several groups’ opposition, the bill has recently been approved on final reading by the Senate on June 2.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/6/2/senate-oks-bill-allowing-mtrcb-to-regulate-online-streaming-platforms-2037">Senate OKs bill allowing MTRCB to regulate online streaming platforms</a></div><p>The bill’s counterpart in the House of Representatives remains pending at the committee level.</p><p>&quot;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,&quot; said Aktor.</p><p>The MTRCB earlier slammed 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.</p><p>In a statement, the MTRCB called out the DGPI over what it called &quot;an unfair and baseless claim.&quot;</p><p>Actor-turned-politician Senator Robin Padilla has defended the bill, saying it is meant to protect minors and not curtail artistic freedom.</p><p>“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 said.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Filipino Screenwriters Guild said the bill will &quot;give MTRCB more power to censor,&quot; which will impede storytellers from doing their job.,</p><p>&quot;When writers are gagged, society is too.  Culture dies a little every time a story is cut or banned,&quot; it said. </p><p>&quot;Sanitizing it is just censorship in disguise,&quot; it added. </p><p>The group, instead, urged lawmakers to focus on institutionalizing policies that will protect writers&#x27; rights to proper compensation and treatment as essential cultural workers. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/6/4/directors-guild-opposes-senate-bill-expanding-mtrcb-mandate-0124">Directors&#x27; Guild opposes Senate bill expanding MTRCB mandate</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/6/5/mtrcb-hits-back-at-directors-group-over-cash-cow-remark-1346">MTRCB hits back at directors&#x27; group over &#x27;cash cow&#x27; remark</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7bQQoKVPO84?si=f-8pxjpoWUYPCfUi" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Filipino actors’ group Aktor PH opposed the controversial Senate Bill 2805, which strengthens and expands the mandate of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), as it “impacts freedom of expression, artistic integrity and livelihood.”</p>

Filipino actors’ group Aktor PH opposed the controversial Senate Bill 2805, which strengthens and expands the mandate of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), as it “impacts freedom of expression, artistic integrity and livelihood.”

Actors' group rejects bill expanding MTRCB's mandate

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Actors' group rejects bill expanding MTRCB's mandate

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 06, 2025 10:46 AM PHT

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Updated June 06, 2025 02:54 PM PHT

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MTRCB

Senate Bill 2805

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