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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1143 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 12 of states: 
SEC. 12, The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building 
and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual and social well-
being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism and encourage 
their involvement in public and civic affairs. 
As technology progresses further, more and more recreational activities are being created. 
Video games in particular, offer a wide range of selection for all kinds of consumer. However, 
not all video games are meant for children. Many video games present ideas and images that are 
violent, indecent and corrupt, which may not be properly appreciated by our young consumers. 
By strengthening our campaign to properly limit the sale and distribution of video games 
for mature audience to the people who are old enough to appreciate them, we would be able to 
safeguard the moral foundation of our society and avoid unnecessary miseducation of our youth. 
This bill seeks to establish an age rating system for video games and enjoin the 
distributors and sellers to operate their video game businesses in accordance with such system. 1 
~'- ~~ . 
.,.~ l~ 
MIRIAM DEF NSOR Si\NTIfJO 
,oJI' ; 
! 
I This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session, 
1 


r~trl1lh> 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
(UliI;r Ul~ til" ,",fffl'hlf'4 ,,' 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
JUL 29 P 2 :33 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1143 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
1 
2 
TO REGULATE THE DISTRIBUTION AND SALE OF VIDEO GAMES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
3 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Video Game Rating 
4 
Enforcement Act." 
5 
SECTION 2. Definition. - For the purpose of this Act, the term: 
6 
A. "Age-Based Content Rating Label" means, with respect to a video game, a label 
7 
that describes the age appropriateness of the content of such video game that is 
8 
determined by the Department of Trade and Industry. 
9 
B. "Department" means the Department of Trade and Industry. 
10 
SECTION 3. Prohibited Acts. - It shall be unlawful for any person to ship or otherwise 
11 
distribute in commerce, or to sell or rent, a video game that does not contain an age-based 
12 
content rating label, in a clear and conspicuous location on the outside packaging of the video 
13 
game. 
14 
It shall likewise be unlawful for any person to sell or rent, or attempt to sell or rent any 
15 
video game that has an age-based content rating of "Adults Only" (as determined by the 
16 
Department) to any person under the age of 18. 
17 
SECTION 4. Rules for Posting Ratings Information. - Not later than 180 days after the 
18 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Department shall promulgate rules that require all retail 
1 


1 
establishments engaged in the sale of video games to display, in a clear and conspicuous 
2 
location, information about the content rating system. Such rules shall prescribe the information 
3 
required to be displayed concerning the basic age-based content ratings. 
4 
SECTION 5. Penalties. - Any person who shall violate Section 3 of this Act shall upon 
5 
conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than One thousand pesos (lll,OOO.OO) but not more 
6 
than fifty thousand pesos (1l50,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not less than two (2) months but not 
7 
more than one (1) year, or both upon the discretion of the court. 
8 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
9 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
10 
valid and subsisting. 
11 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
12 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or is inconsistent 
13 
with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
14 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
15 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2