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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH 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 PURPOSES 
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 pay special attention and concern to the 
promotion, preservation, and upliftment of our moral values for the sake of our 
country and our people.  
August 5, 2025
12:07 pm
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          It is of public knowledge that the commission of many crimes against chastity, 
persons, and property is 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 our problem with 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 
TWENTIETH 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 PURPOSES 
          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;
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(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 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, movie houses, and other similar 
establishments. – 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 


 
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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 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 a 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 
approved or not issued a 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. 


 
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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 a 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 is declared invalid or unconstitutional, such 
invalidity or 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,