THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLI 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T  
s. No. 
0. I' ,t't!C'Q:;.: 
.. 
Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa Ill 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Motion pictures and television have come to constitute a major form of 
entertainment and leisure, especially for children and young people. At their 
impressionable age, the youth are highly vulnerable to the messages, both direct 
and subliminal that are conveyed to them through motion pictures and television. 
While the Philippine movie industry has produced a few motion pictures 
that are worthy of praise, Philippine movies have in general chosen to cater to 
the baser human instincts, featuring objectionable scenes that depict lewdness, 
violence, and immorality from which most parents would rather protect their 
chi Id ren . 
Presidential Decree No. 1986, 'which created the Movie and Television 
Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) provided among other things, that at 
least I 5  members of the Board may come from the move and television industry. 
Some of the recent censorship fiascos may be construed as a demonstration of 
the fact that as a group, the move and n/ industry does not have the capability 
for self-reg ulation. 
This bill seeks to restructure the MTRCB to make it more responsive to the 
need to classify films for the guidance of the viewing public. Among others, this 
bill provides for 
1) an increase in the membership of the MTRCB from 30 to 34 members, for 
a broader and more balanced multi-sectoral representation of the 
professions and the arts, the church and academe, youth, women, labor 
and cultural communities; 
2) Standards for classification in order to reflect the range of influences 
against which the public should be alerted; and 
3) Fines and penalties to be imposed for violations of this Act. 
The Constitution enshrines the basic freedoms of expression and of choice. 
These are however not absolute freedoms, and should be brought under 
regulation by the state, especially when the unrestricted exercise of these 
freedoms implies serious damage to social moral and ethical values. 
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In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
/ 
SERGIO OSMERA Ill 
Senator 


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THIRTEENTH CONGR 
OF THE PHlLlPP 
1 
First Regular Session 
S E N A T E  
s. No. 
~ 
Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa 111 
AN ACT 
RESTRUCTURING 
THE 
,MOVE 
AND 
TELEVISION 
.REVIEW .AND. 
CLASSIFICATION BOARD, AMENDING 
FOR THIS 
PURPOSE THAT 
PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NUMBER ONE 
PURPOSES 
THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX (1986) AND FOR OTHER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I, Section 2 of Presidential Decree Number One Thousand 
Nine Hundred Eighty-six is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“Section 2. Composition; Qualifications; TERM OF OFFICE; 
Benefits. - (I) 
The Board shall be composed of a Chairman [,I [a Vice- 
Chairman] and [Thirty (3O)J THIRTY FOUR (34) MEMBERS [,] who shall 
be appointed by the President of the Philippines FROM AMONG 
QUALIFIED NOMINEES OF ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS 
REPRESENTING OR ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROFESSIONS AND 
THE ARTS AND VARIOUS SECTORS SUCH AS THE CHURCH, THE 
ACADEME, 
YOUTH, 
WOMEN, 
LABOR 
AND 
CULTURAL 
COMMUNITIES: PROVIDED, THAT THE CHAIRMAN SHALL NOT BE 
DRAWN FROM, OR NOMINATED BY, THE MOVIE OR TELEVISION 
INDUSTRY, WHICH SHALL BE REPRESENTED IN THE BOARD BY 
NOT MORE THAN ONE MEMBER EACH, PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT 
AT LEAST FIVE (5) MEMBERS MUST BE MEMBERS OF THE 
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PHILIPPINE 
BAR; *AND 
PROVIDED, 
FINALLY * 
THAT 
EACH‘ 
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NOMINATING P, RT\I C 
b 
L S  
IT AY LEAST THREE NOMINEES 
FOR EVERY APPOINTMENT TO BE MADE BY THE PRESIDENT. [The 
Chairman, the Vice-chairman, and the members of the Board, shall hold 
office for a term of one (1) year, unless sooner removed by the President 
for any cause: Provided, That They shall be eligible for reappointment 
after the expiration of their term. If the Chairman, or the Vice-chairman or 
any member of the Board fails to complete his term, any person appointed 
to fill the vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired portion of the term of 
the BOARD member whom he succeeds.] 
(2) No person shall be appointed to the BOARD [,I unless he is a [natural- 
born] citizen of the Philippines, [not less than] AT LEAST twenty-one (21) 
years of age, and of good moral character and standing in the community: 
Provided, That THE CHAIRMAN SHALL BE AT LEAST THIRTY-FIVE (35) 
YEARS 
OF AGE, 
IN ADDITION 
TO 
POSSESING ALL 
THE 
QUALIFICATIONS AND NONE OF THE DISQUALIFICATIONS OF 
. .  . 
MEMBERS [in the selection of the members of the BOARD due 
consideration shall be given to such qualifications as would produce a 
multi-sectoral combination of expertise in the various areas of motion 
picture and television: Provided, further, That at least fifteen (1 5) members 
of the BOARD may come from the movie and television industry to be 
nominated by legitimate associations representing the various sectors of 
said industry.] 
(3) THE CHAIRMAN AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL 
HOLD OFFICE FOR A TERM OF THREE (3) YEARS UNLESS SOONER 
REMOVED BY THE PRESIDENT FOR A CAUSE AND SHALL BE 
ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINMENT: PROVIDED, THAT NO MEMBER 
SHALL SERVE FOR MORE THAN TWO (2) CONSECUTIVE TERMS. OF 
THOSE FIRST APPOINTED, THE CHAIRMAN AND TWELVE (12) 
MEMBERS SHALL HOLD OFFICE FOR THREE (3) YEARS, ELEVEN 
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(11) MEMBERS FOR ONE (1) YEAR. APPOINTMENT TO ANY 
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VACANCY SHALL ONLY BE FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF THE 
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PREDECESSOR. 
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(4) The Chairman [, the Vice-chairman) and the [other] members of the 
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Board shall be entitled to transportation, representation and other 
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allowances [which shall be in no case exceed Five thousand pesos 
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(P5,OOO.OO) per month] AS MAY BE DETERMINED AND FIXED BY THE 
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BOARD . ” 
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SEC. 2. Section 3 of the same Decree is hereby amended to read as 
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follows: 
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“SEC. 3. Powers and Functions. - The Board shall have the 
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following [functions,] powers and [duties] FUNCTIONS: 
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[a)] (I) 
To promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary 
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or proper for the implementation of this Act, and the accomplishment of its 
purposes and objectives, including guidelines and standards for production, 
PROMOTIONS [advertising] and titled. Such rules and regulations shall 
’. . 
, 
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take effect after fifteen (15) days following their publication in AT LEAST 
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TWO (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines; 
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[b)] (2) To screen, review, [and] examine AND CLASSIFY all 
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motion pictures AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS, WHETHER LIVE OR 
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TAPED, INCLUDING THOSE FOR CABLE TELEVISION, [as herein 
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defined, televisions programs, including] publicity materials PERTAINING 
THERETO such as advertisements, trailers and still[s] PHOTOGRAPHS[,] 
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[whether such motion pictures and publicity materials be for theatrical or 
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non-theatrical distribution, for television broadcast or for general viewing, 
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imported or produced in the Philippines, and in the latter case, whether 
they be for local viewing or for export;] 
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[e)] (3) To classify motion pictures AND television programs and 
similar shows into categories such as: [“G” of “For General Patronage” (all 
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ages admitted), “PG” or “Parental Guidance Suggested”, “R” or “Restricted” 
(for adults only), “X” or “Not for Public Viewing” , or such other categories 
as the BOARD may determine for the public interest;] 
(a) 
“G” or “GENERAL PATRONAGE” (ALL AGES ADMITTED) 
FOR FILMS THAT DO NOT CONTAIN MATERIALS, WHETHER IN 
THEME, LANGUAGEl NUDITY AND SEX, OR VIOLENCE WHICH 
WOULD BE DEEMED OFFENSIVE TO PARENTS WHOSE MINOR 
CHILDREDN ARE TO VIEW THE FILM; 
(b) 
“PG 7” OR “PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED: SOME 
MATERIALS MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN BELOW 7” FOR 
FILMS WHICH MAY CONTAIN SOME SUGGESTIONS OF VIOLENCE 
OR SENSUALITY, MILD AND INFREQUENT EXPLETIVES OR OTHER 
MATERIAL WHICH PARENTS CONSIDER UNSUITABLE FOR VIEWING 
BY CHILDREN UNDER 7 YEARS OF AGE; 
(c) 
“PGI 3” OR “PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTIONED: SOME 
MATERIALS MAY BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN UNER 13” 
FOR FILMS THAT LEAP BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE “PG 7” 
RATING OR CLASSIFICATION BUT DOES NOT QUITE FIT WITHIN. 
THE “RESTRICTED” RATING OR CLASSIFICATION, MATERIALS 
SUCH AS INEXPLICIT DRUG USE, NUDITY THAT IS GERMANE TO 
THE STORY LINE BUT IS NOT SEXUALLY ORIENTED, VIOLENCE 
THAT IS NOT ROUGH OR PERSISTENT, USE OF INTERMITTENT 
CUSS WORDS BUT NOT IN A SEXUAL CONTENT WILL REQUIRE THE 
“PG 13” RATING OR CLASSIFICATION; 
(d) 
“R” OR “RESTRICTED” - “FOR ADULTS ONLY” FOR 
FILMS WITH DEFINITE ADULT MATERIAL, SUCH AS PROFANE 
LANGUAGEl CUMULATIVE VIOLENCE, NUDITY WITH SENSUAL BUT 
NOT EXPLICIT SEX SCENES, DRUG ABUSE OR SUCH OTHER 
SIMILAR MATERIALS; 
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(e) 
“X” OR “NOT FOR PUBLIC VIEWING, SALE, LEASE OR 
DISTRIBUTION” FOR FILMS THAT ARE CONTRARY TO LAW, 
PORNOGRAPHIC, IMMORAL OR WHICH POSE A CLEAR AND 
PRESENT DANGER TO PUBLIC ORDER, PUBLIC SAFETY OR OTHER 
LEGITIMATE INTEREST, SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO 
.
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(i) 
THOSE 
WHICH 
ADVOCATE 
SUBVERSION, 
INSURRECTION, REBELLION OR SEDITION AGAINST THE 
STATE; 
(ii) 
THOSE WHICH GLORIFY CRIMINALS OR CONDONE 
AND/OR ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSION OF CRIMES; 
(iii) 
AND USE OF PROHIBITED DRUGS; 
(iv) 
THOSE WHICH SERVE NO OTHER PURPOSE EXCEPT 
TO 
SATISFY 
THE 
MARKET 
FOR 
VIOLENCE 
OR 
PRONOGRAPHY OR LOSSEN THE MORAL VALUES OF 
I NDlVl DUALS. 
MOTION PICTURES AND 
PROGRAMS FOR TELEVISION 
BROADCAST, WHETHER LIVE OR TAPED, SHALL BE RESTRICTED 
TO “GI’ OR “GENERAL PATRONAGE” AND “PG” OR “PARENTAL 
GU I DANCE.“ 
Sec. 3. 
Repealing Glause. 
-- 
All existing laws, decrees, executive, 
orders, and rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
THOSE WHICH ENCOURAGE OR ABET THE TRAFFIC IN 
Sec. 4. Separability Clause. -- In any part, section or provision of this Act 
shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which 
are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
Sec. 5. Effectivity. -- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Amroved. 
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