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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
GRANTING ADDITIONAL POWERS TO THE MOVIE AND TELEVISION REVIEW 
CLASSIFICATION BOARD AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
       The Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) which was created 
under Presidential Decree No. 1986 was tasked and empowered to, among others: approve, 
disapprove or prohibit the importation, exportation, production, copying, distribution, sale, 
lease, exhibition and/or television broadcast of motion pictures, television programs and 
publicity materials which are objectionable for being immoral, indecent, contrary to law 
and/or good customs, injurious to the prestige of the Republic of the Philippine or its people, 
or with a dangerous tendency to encourage the commission of violence or of a wrong or crime; 
grant, deny or cancel permits for the importation, exportation, production, copying, 
distribution, sale, lease, exhibition, and/or television broadcast of motion pictures, television 
programs and publicity materials; close movie houses and other similar establishments 
engaged in the public exhibition of motion pictures and television programs which violate the 
provisions of the Decree and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board pursuant 
thereto; and cause the prosecution of violators of the Decree. 
       Notwithstanding the clear and unequivocal provisions of the Decree, the MTRCB, 
claiming that its power on the matter is limited to CLASSIFICATION and has no power of 
CENSORSHIP,  has not shown a determined, positive and sustained effort, campaign or 
action to exercise and uphold its powers and mandate, especially as above-mentioned, so that 
it is of public knowledge that prior to the Covid-19 pandemic the production, distribution, 
exhibition or showing in movie houses and similar establishments, including television 
broadcasts, of motion pictures, and television shows and programs, which are immoral, 
indecent, contrary to law and/or good customs, encourage the commission of, or cater to, 
violence, or glorify criminals or immoral or obscene acts, has continued unabated to the 
detriment of the people, especially our youth and the family. Let us put a special attention 
and concern to the promotion, preservation and upliftment of our moral values for the sake 
of our country and our people.  
       It is of public knowledge that the commission of many crimes against chastity, persons 
and property, are influenced by such kind and quality of motion pictures being produced, 
distributed and exhibited, and television shows and programs being shown. Added to this is 
January 17, 2023
4:37 pm
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our problem on illegal drugs which is even magnified with the production, showing or 
exhibition of motion pictures centered on the production, transportation, sale, distribution 
and use thereof.  
       Likewise, with the present nature and scope of its powers the MTRCB could not 
effectively give meaning to the Constitutional declarations that “the State recognizes the vital 
role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, 
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being” (Sec. 13, Art. II, Constitution); “All educational 
institutions shall teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual 
values, develop moral character and personal discipline (Secs. 3(1) and (2), Art. XIV, 
constitution). Let us be reminded of the warning in the Scripture that if the foundations are 
destroyed, even the righteous cannot do anything (Psalm 11:3). Before it is too late, therefore, 
P.D. No. 1986 should be amended.
       On the foregoing premises the power of censorship in movie houses and similar 
establishments, including television broadcasts and public utility vehicles of motion pictures, 
and television shows and programs, which are immoral, indecent, contrary to law and/or 
good customs, encourage the commission of, or cater to, violence, immoral or obscene acts, or 
glorify criminals should be expressly granted to the MTRCB. 
       This Bill, therefore, seeks to expressly grant the MTRCB the Power of Censorship on the 
production, distribution, exhibition or showing in movie houses and similar establishments, 
including television broadcasts, of motion pictures, and television shows and programs, 
which are immoral, indecent, contrary to law and/or good customs, encourage the 
commission of, or cater to, violence, or glorify criminals or immoral or obscene acts, and 
providing stiffer penalties for violations thereof, especially on television broadcast or showing 
of such kind and quality of motion pictures, and on television shows and programs of the 
same kind and quality. 
       In defense, protection, promotion and preservation of moral and spiritual values, 
decency, and human dignity, the immediate passage of this Bill is earnestly requested.  
 BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
GRANTING ADDITIONAL POWERS TO THE MOVIE AND TELEVISION REVIEW 
CLASSIFICATION BOARD AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE. 
       Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to value the dignity of 
every human person, promote and protect the moral, spiritual and social well-being of its 
citizens especially the youth, and develop moral character and personal discipline. Toward 
this end, the State shall see to it that only motion pictures or movies and television shows or 
programs which are not immoral, indecent, contrary to law or good customs, do not 
encourage the commission of or cater to crime or violence or glorify criminals or immoral or 
obscene acts, are produced, imported, exported, distributed, sold, shown or exhibited, 
realizing the great influence and impact that movies or motion pictures and television shows 
and programs have on the minds and lives of the people, especially the youth, and even 
children in the case of television shows and programs. 
SEC. 2. Powers and Functions. – In addition to its powers and functions under 
Presidential Decree No. 1986, the Movie and Television Review Classification Board (BOARD) 
shall exercise the following powers: 
(a) Censorship. - The BOARD shall exercise the power of censorship of films or motion
pictures, television shows and programs, whether serialized or not, including
trailers and publicity/promotional materials, that are obscene, offensive, or
pornographic, as the term is commonly understood, or using profane, offensive,
or sexually-suggestive language, whether verbal or non-verbal expressions,  or
gestures, or cater to crime or violence or to immoral or obscene acts, or depict or
highlight the production, distribution, sale, transportation, or use of prohibited
drugs, or the protection thereof; Provided that, the BOARD shall exercise its
powers granted under PD 1986 and in this Act as regards serial television
programs not on sample episode but on a per-episode basis;
(b) Disapproval of motion pictures and television shows. – The BOARD shall
disapprove, delete objectionable portions from and/or prohibit the importation,
exportation, production, copying, distribution, sale, lease, exhibition and/or
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television broadcast or showing of movies or motion pictures, including television 
shows or programs which, in its judgment applying contemporary Filipino 
cultural values as standard, are objectionable for being immoral, indecent, contrary 
to law and/or good customs, injurious to the prestige of the Republic of the 
Philippines or its people, or with a dangerous tendency to encourage the 
commission of violence or of a wrong or crime, or cater to crime or violence or to 
immoral or obscene acts, such as, but not limited to  
 
(i.) Those that depict or highlight the production, distribution, sale, 
transportation, or use, of prohibited drugs, or the protection thereof; and 
 
(ii) Those where profane, offensive, or sexually-suggestive language, whether 
verbal or non-verbal expressions, or gestures are used. 
 
(c) Closure of television shows or programs, movies or motion pictures.– The BOARD 
shall, after due notice and hearing, stop and close television shows or programs, 
and the showing or exhibition in theaters, moviehouses and similar establishments 
of movies or motion pictures, when it is proven that the showing or exhibition of 
such television shows or programs, movies or motion pictures, is without the  
previous approval and permit of the BOARD; and  
     
(d) Closure of television stations, moviehouses and other similar establishment. – The 
BOARD shall, after due notice and hearing, close or cause the closure of television 
stations, theaters, moviehouses and similar establishments found showing or 
exhibiting television shows or programs, movies or motion pictures, without the 
previous approval and permit of the BOARD. 
 
  
SEC. 3. Unlawful and Punishable Acts and Impossible Penalty. -  In addition to the acts 
declared illegal or unlawful and punishable under PD 1986, the following are likewise 
declared unlawful and punishable: Producing, copying, distributing, sale, lease, importation, 
exportation, showing or exhibition, or causing or cooperating in, the production, copying, 
distribution, sale, lease, importation, exportation, showing or exhibition, in moviehouses, 
theaters or similar establishments or television broadcast or showing of movies or motion 
pictures or television shows or programs without being first screened, reviewed, examined, 
classified, approved and issued permit,  by the BOARD shall be punishable by imprisonment 
of not less than four (4) years nor more than seven (7) years and a fine of not less than Three 
Million Pesos (Php3,000,000.00) nor more than Five Million Pesos (Php5,000,000.00) at the 
discretion of the Court; Showing or exhibiting, or causing or cooperating in, the showing or 
exhibition,  in moviehouses, theaters or similar establishments, common carriers and 
television broadcast or showing of deleted or cut-off portions of movies or motion pictures or 
television shows or programs, or those disapproved for public viewing, showing or exhibition 
by the BOARD, shall be punishable by imprisonment of not less than three (3) years nor more 
than five (5) years and a fine of not less than Two Million Pesos (Php2,000,000.00) nor more 
than Three Million Pesos (Php3,000,000.00) at the discretion of the Court; 
 
Approving or issuing permit, or causing or cooperating in, the approval or issuance of permit, 
for the production, public exhibition or showing in movieshouses, theaters or similar 
establishments, including television broadcast or showing, of any movie or motion picture, 
television show or program, including publicity materials such as advertisements, trailers and 
stills which are objectionable for being immoral, indecent, contrary to law and/or good 
customs, injurious to the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines or its people, or with a 


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dangerous tendency to encourage the commission of violence or of a wrong or crime, or cater 
to crime or violence or those which condone crimes, or glorify criminals or immoral or obscene 
acts as provided for under Section 2 of this Act shall be punishable by imprisonment of not 
less than four (4) years nor more than six (6) years and a fine of not less than Three Million 
Pesos (Php3,000,000.00) nor more than Four Million Pesos (Php4,000,000.00) at the discretion 
of the Court; and 
 
Violation of or non-compliance with or non-implementation of any of the provisions of 
Section 2 or Section 3(c) of this Act shall be punishable by imprisonment of not less than one 
(1) year nor more than two (2) years and a fine of not less than Three Hundred Thousand 
Pesos (Php300,000.00) nor more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php500,000.00) at the 
discretion of the Court. 
 
The pendency of criminal prosecution under this Section is without prejudice to the exercise 
by the BOARD of its powers granted under Section 2(c) and 2(d) of this Act and the immediate 
exercise thereof. 
 
SEC. 4. Persons criminally liable. -  
In the case of moviehouses, theaters and similar establishments showing or exhibiting movies 
or motion pictures, disapproved for public showing or without permit issued by the BOARD, 
the owner, operator or lessee of such moviehouse, theater or similar establishments, as the 
case may be, shall be held liable. 
 
In the case of common carriers exhibiting or showing movies or motion pictures disapproved 
or not issued permit by the BOARD, the owner or operator and driver of the common carrier 
shall be held liable. 
 
Where the unlawful act is committed by a corporation, the President, Chief Operating Officer 
or Chief Executive Officer and the General Manager of such corporation shall be held liable. 
 
Where the unlawful act is committed by a partnership, the general partner shall be held liable. 
 
In the case of television stations showing or broadcasting movies or motion pictures or 
television shows or programs disapproved by the BOARD or without Permit issued by the 
BOARD, the President and the Production Head or Production Manager of the television 
station and the Director of such unlawful television show or program shall be held liable. 
 
SEC. 5.  Liability of Government Employees and Public Officials. – If the prohibited or 
unlawful act is committed by a government employee or public official, he shall, in addition 
to the penalties provided for in this Act, be dismissed from his employment and shall be 
disqualified from re-employment in any government office. In addition, all his retirement 
benefits shall be forfeited in favor of the government. 
         
          SEC. 6. Prosecution, Judgment and Forfeiture. – Prosecution or conviction under this Act is 
without prejudice to prosecution and punishment under the Revised Penal Code or other 
existing laws; Provided, that any person convicted for violation of any provision of this Act 
shall not be eligible for probation. 
 
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - The provisions of this Act are hereby deemed separable. 
If any provision thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or 


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unconstitutionality shall not affect the other provisions which shall remain in full force and 
effect.  
 
          SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. – Any provision of decrees, administrative orders, laws, rules 
and regulations, including all Memorandum Circulars, Implementing Rules and Regulations 
or Implementing Guidelines issued by the BOARD, inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in the Official Gazette and/or in a newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines. 
 
 
Approved,