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Movie and Television Review and Classification Board

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (Filipino: Lupon sa Rebyu at Klasipikasyon ng Pelikula at Telebisyon;[1] abbreviated as MTRCB) is a Philippine government agency under the Office of the President of the Philippines that is responsible for the classification and review of television programs, motion pictures and home videos.

Agency overview

October 5, 1985 (1985-10-05)

  • Board of Censors for Motion Pictures (1969–1985)

Film and television classification

18 MTRCB Building, Timog Avenue, Quezon City, 1103, Metro Manila, Philippines

Filipino: "Para sa Matalino at Responsableng Panonood"
(English: "For Intelligent and Responsible Viewing")

More than 33

Office of the President of the Philippines

mtrcb.gov.ph

Unlike other organizations worldwide (such as the BBFC), the Board does not rate video games. Thus, both the ESRB system used in the United States, and IARC system are the de facto rating systems used in the Philippines, although there have been attempts at formulating an independent local rating system.[2] Certain video game vendors ask for a valid ID or any other verification to be able to buy M- and AO-rated games. The Board also does not rate literature.[3]


The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board also serves as a de facto censorship body.[4]

History[edit]

The MTRCB was initially created as the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures by virtue of Republic Act 3060 signed by President Carlos P. Garcia in 1961 and directly subordinate to the Office of the President.[5] Over the years, its name and powers were changed and expanded by succeeding administrations. In 1980, as part of Executive Order No. 585 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos during the Martial Law , the Board was reconstituted to include senior officials of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Information and the National Intelligence and Security Authority (NISA).[6] To reflect the rising influence of television in the Philippines, the agency was renamed into the Board of Review for Motion Pictures and Television by virtue of Executive Order No. 745 issued by Marcos in 1981.[7] In 1983, its scope was expanded to include live entertainment, and as such the Board was renamed by Marcos into the Board of Review for Motion Pictures, Television and Live Entertainment by virtue of Executive Order No. 868. Controversially, it was also given the power to bar any film deemed "subversive" in content and "undermining faith in the government"[8]


Ultimately, the economic and political crisis of the 1980s led the Marcos regime to abolish the board and replace it with the current Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 1985 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1986.[9] After the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986, the Board was reconstituted to remove defense and security officials and reduce its composition to civilian personnel, though the ban on subversive material remains. In the 1990s, an Appeals Committee was created to allow appeal and reversals of the MTRCB's decisions.[10]

The Board[edit]

The chairman, the vice-chairman and the other 30 Board members compose the Board. Each one holds office for a term of one year, but may be reappointed after the expiration of their term. Diorella Maria Sotto-Antonio has been the board chairman since July 7, 2022.[11]

[edit]

Advertisement materials are generally outside the scope of the MTRCB. Exemptions are "publicity materials" that are those "used to generate public interest in a motion picture or television program such as television commercials, movie, and television trailers, print advertisements, still photos, photo frames, leaflets, posters and billboards and other related media".[21]

Internet[edit]

Although the board itself does not govern nor does it censor TV shows and movies online, video streaming services such as Viu, Discovery+, Disney+, iflix, Netflix, HBO Go, and Amazon Prime Video make use of their own content rating systems to ensure whether content is family-friendly or not.


On September 3, 2020, it was reported that MTRCB wanted to seek the "regulation" of video content that is provided by streaming platforms such as Netflix. According to Atty. Jonathan Presquito, the MTRCB legal affairs division chief, there is a necessity proceed with the regulation, especially because several video content are unrated.[22] However, the move was strongly criticized by several groups and people, noting that the MTRCB has become a tool of censorship.[23] Senator Franklin Drilon said that the move was "very impractical".[24]

In 1988, the film was banned over its alleged anti-religion theme. At the time, the then-head of the MTRCB, Manoling Morato, was known to be an ultraconservative,[10] having imposed bans on other films deemed as having illicit and graphic content.

The Last Temptation of Christ

In 1994 the MTRCB decided to censor footage from the film depicting sex and nudity, with Chairperson Henrietta Mendez arguing that allowing the film's sex scenes to remain could result in "bigger problems in the future with similar scenes in other films."[31] This led to director Steven Spielberg withdrawing the film from distribution in the Philippines unless it was guaranteed an uncut release.[31] The decision was heavily criticized, with actress and future MTRCB chairperson Armida Siguion Reyna castigating the agency for allowing the release of two films about a real-life murder (The Elsa Castillo Story ... Ang Katotohanan and The Elsa Santos Castillo Story: The Chop Chop Lady) while censoring a "powerful movie, which is inspiring, uplifting and humane,"[31] while Senators Raul Roco, Orlando Mercado, and four others sponsored a resolution seeking an inquiry into the agency's regulatory functions, stating that its actions "not only insult the intelligence of the local movie-going public but in effect send a wrong message to the world on Filipino tastes, sensibilities and appreciation for the cinematic arts..."[32] On March 4, 1994, Executive Secretary Teofisto Guingona reversed the agency's decision upon his recommendations to and approval by President Fidel V. Ramos, restoring the film's censored scenes and lowering the film's rating from R-18 to R-15 (despite the fact that the latter rating did not exist and was later renamed as R-16).[33] Schindler's List was finally released in its entirety on March 9, 1994.[34]

Schindler's List

In 1995, MTRCB Chair Henrietta Mendez tried to censor a six-second scene featuring in the film The Bridges of Madison County. The resulting public uproar led to Mendez' removal by President Ramos.[10]

pubic hair

On January 4, 2000, a broadcast of the children's television series on GMA Network was accidentally replaced by a still photo of actress Rosanna Roces for several seconds. The photo shows one of her breasts exposed, prompting MTRCB to issue a warning that the station would face stronger sanctions should this, or a similar incident, be repeated. GMA officials stated that the incident was caused by an errant employee who pressed a button on a panel while helping repair a computer.[35]

Teletubbies

On July 2, 2018, the replay broadcast of the on TV5 was given an SPG rating after the commercial break to warn the audience that the following scene contained the infamous basketball brawl between Gilas Pilipinas and the Australian Boomers.[36]

FIBA Asia qualifying match

In 2019, the MTRCB banned the film due to the appearance of the nine-dash line in a scene that contradicted Philippine claims in the South China Sea.[37]

Abominable

In November 2021, the MTRCB ordered streaming platform to remove certain episodes of Pine Gap showing the nine-dash line, deeming it "unfit for public exhibition". It was after the foreign affairs department issued a complaint calling the line "illegal" and a "violation of Philippine sovereignty".[38]

Netflix

On April 27, 2022, the MTRCB banned the release of the action-adventure film due to the appearance of a treasure map featuring "illegal" images of the nine-dash line showing the South China Sea as being part of China's territory, following a request by the Department of Foreign Affairs, stating that the scenes featuring the nine-dash line were "contrary to national interest".[39]

Uncharted

Censorship in the Philippines

List of films banned in the Philippines

Optical Media Board

Television content rating systems

Motion picture rating system

Ad Standards Council of the Philippines

National Telecommunications Commission

Official website of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board

Official website of the Optical Media Board

Official website of the Association of the Philippine Broadcasters