On Thursday, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) earned flak from netizens after urging the Senate to give them the right to regulate the content of streaming services.
The MTRCB wants to control the content on Video On Demand sites like Netflix, iFlix, iWant TFC, etc.
Netizens and personalities like Nikki Valdez and Antonette Jadaone expressed their disapproval with the agency’s attempt to regulate the streaming services content.
Bored ba kayo MTRCB??? https://t.co/YVJ6WwskNv
— NVG 🌸💚 (@nikkivaldez_) September 3, 2020
OH WOW https://t.co/a4oY0CB38R
— Toñet (@tonetjadaone) September 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/vance_larena/status/1301450426596732929
https://twitter.com/vance_larena/status/1301449313785004032
https://twitter.com/vance_larena/status/1301446858531680256
Abolish MTRCB instead. https://t.co/QGqLeblDKn
— Manuel L. Quezon III (@mlq3) September 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/jasonhaw_/status/1301490271432048640?s=20
Netflix is a paid subscription. We pay it monthly just to watch shows that we don't normally see on local broadcasting companies kasi nga you're already regulating it. And also, every show on Netflix already has warnings. Paki balik na lang ABS para meron kayong trabaho ulit. https://t.co/wcJk8AR4pw
— shie 🐹 (@mooomooodeul) September 3, 2020
We pay for the service. We, the subscribers, have full control of what we want the people in our households to see. Having the MTRCB regulate it for us is curbing our rights as consumers. https://t.co/OONsmNI2cP
— Agent P 📸 ∙ 1️⃣7️⃣ is Right Here 🇯🇵🇵🇭🇹🇭 (@agent_pau) September 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/continueY_N/status/1301434520848101377?s=20
Screening fees of MTRCB are rated per Program at 26000+php each review.
Screenings are done every 6 mos.
With a number of Programs off the air, well… kompyut na. https://t.co/MdrnHxvnsY— Nico Regino (@nicoregino) September 3, 2020
The main purpose of the MTRCB is to sift through and regulate the content of broadcast media which is available to the general public. This is a form of political censorship which has no place in a democratic country such as the Philippines. #AbolishMTRCB. https://t.co/BQdOhgXPhe
— EDXISTENTIALIST Truth is absolute, no matter what. (@edlingui) September 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/arjz_joe/status/1301421530824339456?s=20
MTRCB Legal Affairs Division chief Jonathan Presquito explained to the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship on Thursday that they should review all shows regardless of the platform to ensure the legality of it under the MTRCB law.
“Stream services like Netflix are video on-demand platforms. We have to regulate those platforms. We have to ensure that those materials being shown on those platforms are compliant with MTRCB laws,” he said.
Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel said that the Senate will have to review this appeal of MTRCB.
“Kailangan pag-isipan natin yan (We have to think it through)… It’s either we update our laws to catch up with technology or we enforce our archaic laws and hold back technological progress,” he said.
