Actor, screenwriter groups oppose bill strengthening MTRCB

 — Groups representing Filipino actors and screenwriters expressed opposition to a Senate bill expanding the powers of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Senate Bill No. 2805 was filed by Sens. Grace Poe, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Tolentino, Robin Padilla, Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla, and Joel Villanueva.

Padilla, Lapid, and Revilla are all actor-politicians, while Poe is the daughter of acting legend and National Artist Fernando Poe Jr.

A key portion of the Senate bill grants the MTRCB more power to regulate even online streaming platforms.

The measure has been slammed by opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros for its broad usage of terms that may be subject to abuse and by the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines Inc. (DGPI), who cited concerns about censorship overreach in a statement signed by it Board of Directors.

AKTOR, the League of Filipino Actors, followed the DGPI’s footsteps by releasing a statement of its own, calling on Congress — where the bill will be voted on — to halt the measure and instead “initiate meaningful, inclusive dialogue with the creative industry.”

“Any legislation that impacts the freedom of expression, artistic integrity, and livelihood must be shaped with those who live and work in that space,” AKTOR said.

The group acknowledged the existence of current safeguards, which already guide creatives, adding it believes in a self-regulating industry where accountability is present and any reforms made are done in partnership with the creative community.

“We support protection against harm and exploitation — but not vague standards or sweeping controls that risk limiting voices and reducing opportunities for the Filipino creatives,” the group continued.

AKTOR reiterated its plea for legislators to reconsider the measure with the industry in mind “so that any regulatory framework truly protects, not polices, the creative space.”

“We stand ready to help shape a better, fairer system — one that honors both the rights of the audience and the freedom and integrity of the Filipino artist,” AKTOR’s statement ended.

AKTOR is led by chairman Dingdong Dantes, vice chairman Agot Isidro, and president Iza Calzado.

Support not silence

The Filipino Screenwriters Guild slammed Senate Bill No. 2805 as a measure not designed to protect viewers but rather giving the MTRCB more power to “censor, strangle creativity, and control which stories get told,” which greatly affects writers.

“When writers are gagged, society is too,” the group said. “Culture dies a little every time a story is cut or banned.”

The group cited a quote by National Artist Lino Brocka about how the arts should not be separated from society’s issues, expounding on it by saying art should not live in vacuum, “Sanitizing [art] is just censorship in disguise.”

It also laid out for legislators the reality of screenwriters’ struggles being underpaid and unprotected, always being cast aside once their stories are turned in, and gave concrete suggestions to help the industry:

• The creation of an industry-led committee involving writers, producers, and the government to set a Minimum Script Fee Table;
• Halting forced and unpaid copyright transfers;
• Mandatory residuals and royalties;
• Treat screenwriters as essential culture workers, with a voice in policies that affect them

The guild cited another National Artist Ricky Lee, “‘Pag nawala ang boses ng manunulat, walang saysay ang kuwento.”

It reiterated the measure “threatens to turn screens into sanitized echo chambers.”

“We need systems that empower writers, not silence them. Because when writers love their voice, stories disappear. And when stories disappear, culture dies,” the Filipino Screenwriters Guild’s statement ended.