SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
£.rnlltl? 
d}{h~r IIf till' ~rrr.tbr~ 
Second Regular Session 
) 
"14 
JUL -1 P2:17 
SENATE 
S. No. 2294 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT RATING BOARD 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article II, Section 13, provides: 
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. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage 
their involvement in public and civic affairs. 
Research shows that playing or viewing video games have effects on the player, 
especially on adolescents and children. Studies show that playing video games may affect some 
children's physical functioning, I or that the social content of video games may influence 
children's attitudes towards gender roles.2 Further, since there is similarity in the effect of 
viewing television programs and playing violent video games on the aggressive behavior of an 
individual, one should also take note of correlative research on the matter. 3 
According to studies, banning video games may not prove to be in the child's best 
interest. The best way may be to limit the playing time and monitor game selection according to 
developmental level and game content. 
This bill creates an Interactive Entertainment Rating Board to provide parents with useful 
information about the nature of video games so they can be more effective in managing the 
child's recreational privileges.4 
L~~-;~ 
MIRIAM DEF~NSOR SANTI/GO 
fIIJ' 
1 Funk, J.J., "Reevaluating the Impact of Video Games," Clinical Pediatrics (1993). 
2 Provenso, E.F., Jr, "The Video Generation," American School Board Journal (1992). 
3 Clark, C.S., "TV Violence," CO Researcher (1993). 
4 A version of this bill was filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'14 
JUt. -1 P2;J 8 
SENATE 
S. No. 2294 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress' 
assembled: 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
ESTABLISHING THE INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT RATING BOARD 
3 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be cited as "Interactive Entertainment Rating 
4 
Act." 
5 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to recognize the vital 
6 
role of the youth in nation-building, and to promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, 
7 
intellectual, and social well-being. 
8 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -
For purposes of this Act, the term: 
9 
(A) 
"Video games" and "video devices" mean any interactive computer game, 
10 
including all software, framework, and hardware necessary to operate a game available 
11 
commercially; and 
12 
(B) 
"Video game industry" means all manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and 
13 
distributors of video games and related products. 
14 
SECTION 4. Interactive Entertainment Rating Board.-
15 
(A) 
Establishment. - There is established the Interactive Entertainment Rating Board, 
16 
hereafter referred to in this Act as the "Board," which shall be under the Office of the President 
17 
of the Philippines. 
18 
(B) 
Members of the Board. - The Board shall be composed of five (5) members, as 
19 
follows: 
I 


I 
2 
3 
4 
(I) 
(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
Secretary of Education, who shall serve as chairperson of the Board; 
A commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 
A member who shall represent the education sector; 
A member who shall represent parents and guardians; and 
5 
(5) 
A member who shall represent the video game industry. 
6 
The members shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines. All members shall 
7 
be appointed within sixty (60) days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
8 
SECTION 5. Authority and Functions o/the Board.-
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
(A) 
Voluntary Standards. - The Board shall -
(I) 
(2) 
Coordinate with the video game industry in the development of a 
voluntary system of providing information concerning the content of video 
games to purchasers and users; and 
Within one (I) year after the date of enactment of this Act-
(a) 
(b) 
Evaluate whether any voluntary standards proposed by the video 
game industry are adequate to warn purchasers and users about the 
violence or sexually explicit content of video games; and 
Determine whether the voluntary industry response is sufficient to 
18 
adequately warn parents, guardians, educators, and users of the 
19 
violence or sexually explicit content of video games. 
20 
If before the end of the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
21 
Act, the Board makes a determination of adequate industry response under paragraph (A)(2)(a), 
22 
and a determination that sufficient voluntary standards are established, the Board shall submit a 
23 
report of such determination and the reasons therefor to the President and the Congress. 
24 
(B) 
Rules and Regulations. - The Board shall promulgate the rules and regulations 
25 
requiring manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and distributors of video games to provide 
26 
adequate information relating to violence or sexually explicit content of video games to 
27 
purchasers and users. 
2 


1 
SECTION 6. Registration. - No person, whether natural or juridical, may engage in the 
2 
importation, exportation, production, reproduction, exhibition, showing, sale, lease, or 
3 
distribution of video games unless such person is first registered with and permitted by the Board 
4 
to operate as such. The registration and permit issued by the Board is a condition precedent for 
5 
securing a business permit or license from the appropriate authorities. 
6 
SECTION 7. Assistance in the Enforcement Functions of the Board. - The Board may 
7 
solicit the direct assistance of other agencies and units of the government, and may deputize, for 
8 
a fixed and limited period, the heads or personnel of such agencies and units to perform 
9 
enforcement functions of the Board. 
The government agencies and units exercising the 
10 
enforcement functions for the Board shall, insofar as such functions are concerned, be subject to 
11 
the direction and control of the Board. 
12 
SECTION 8. Penalty. - Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Act or 
13 
rules and regulations to be promulgated pursuant thereto shall, upon conviction, suffer a 
14 
mandatory penalty of three (3) months and one (1) day to one (1) year imprisonment or a fine of 
15 
not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,OOO.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand 
16 
Pesos (PIOO,OOO.OO), or both. 
Should the offense be committed by a juridical person, the 
17 
corporate officer responsible therefor shall be penalized. 
18 
SECTION 9. Annual Reports. - The Board, in addition to the other reports required in 
19 
this Act shall, within three months after the end of every fiscal year, submit its annual report to 
20 
the President. 
The annual repOlt shall include, among others, a statement of the Board's 
21 
accomplishments together with its plans and recommendations to improve and develop its 
22 
operations and the supervision and regulation of the video game industry. 
23 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
24 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
25 
valid and subsisting. 
3 


1 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
2 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
3 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
4 
SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
5 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/jab 
4