Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no8470

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F, VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT RATING BOARD

The Constitution, Article IIl, Section 7, provides that “the right of the people to information
‘on matters of public concern shall be recognized.”

This constitutional provision grants to parents the right to be informed about the nature of
video games, which has become a preferred leisure activity of adolescents and children.

The concem of parents is justifiable, because researches show that playing or viewing
video games have effects on the player. The studies show that playing video games
may affect some children’s physical functioning. (Funk, J.J. “Reevaluating the Impact of
Video Games.” Clinical Pediatrics. 1993), or that the social content of video games may
influence children’s attitudes towards gender roles (Provenso, E.F., Jt. “The Video
Generation.” American School Board Journal. 1992). And since it is likely that 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 notice of correlative
researches on the matter (Clark, C.S. "TV Violence.” CO Researcher. 1993).

However, according to Funk, 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 aims 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 by creating
an Interactive Entertainment Rating Board.

LUIS RA\ ID “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no, 8470

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT RATING BOARD

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be cited as “Interactive Entertainment Rating
Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is a policy of the State to protect and promote the
right of the people on matters of public concern.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term:

(A) “Video games" and “video devices” mean any interactive computer game, including
all software, framework and hardware necessary to operate a game available
commercially; and

(B) “Video game industry’ means all manufacturers of video games and related
products.

SECTION 4. The Interactive Entertainment Rating Board. —
(A) Establishment. — There is established the Interactive Entertainment Rating Board,
hereafter in this Act referred to as the “Board”, which shall be an independent
establishment in the executive branch. It shall have its principal office in Metro Manila
and shall be under the Office of the President of the Philippines.

The Board shall provide parents with information about the nature of video games which
are used in homes or public areas, including arcades of family entertainment centers in
accordance with such rules and regulations to be adopted by the Board.

(B) Members of the Board. — The Board shall be composed of ten (10) members. No
more than three (3) members shall be affiliated with any one (1) political party.


The members shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, and with the advice
and consent of the Senate.

Allmembers shall be appointed within 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Each member shall serve until the termination of the Board. A vacancy on the Board shall
be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

The President shall designate one (1) member as the Chairman of the Board. He or
she shall serve for a term of two (2) years, unless sooner removed by the President for
any cause: Provided, That he or she shall be eligible for reappointment after the
expiration of his or her term.

If the chairman or any of the members fails to complete his or her term, any person
appointed to fill the vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired portion of the term of the
Board member whom he/she succeeds.

(C) Qualifications. — No person shall be appointed to the Board, unless he is a
natural-born citizen of the Philippines, not less than twenty-five (25) years of age, and of
good moral character and standing in the community; Provided, That 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 the video
game industry; Provided, further, That at least (2) members must be members of the
Philippine Bar.

(D) Allowances. - The Chairman, and members of the Board, shall be entitled to
transportation, representation, and other allowances which shall in no case exceed
Fifteen Thousand Pesos (P15,000.00) per month.

The Board shall determine its organizational structure and its staffing pattern. It shall
have the power to suspend or dismiss for cause any employee and/or approve or
disapprove the appointment, transfer or detail of employees. It shall appoint the
Secretary of the Board who shall be the official custodian of the records of the meetings
of the Board and who shall perform such other duties and functions as directed by the
Board.

The Board may procure by contract, to the extent funds are available, the temporary or
intermittent services of experts or consultants. The Board shall give public notice of any
such contract before entering into such contract.

SECTION 5. Authority and Functions of the Board. —

(A) Voluntary Standards. ~The Commission shall —

(1) During the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, and
to the greatest extent practicable, coordinate with the video game industry in the
development of a voluntary system of providing information concerning the contents
of video games to purchasers and users; and

(2) One (1) year after the date of enactment of this Act —

(a) 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

(b) Determine whether the voluntary industry response is sufficient to adequately wam
parents and users of the violence or sex content of video games.

If before the end of the 1-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act,


the Board makes a determination of adequate industry response under paragraph
(A\(2)(a) and a determination that sufficient voluntary standards are established, the
Commission shall submit a report of such determinations and the reasons therefore to
the President and the Congress; and terminate in accordance with Section 11

(B) Regulatory Authority. - Effective on and after the date occurring one (1) year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Board may promulgate regulations requiring
manufacturers and sellers of video games to provide adequate information relating to
violence or sexually explicit content of such video games to purchasers and users.

SECTION 6. Applicability of Civil Service Law. - The Board and its officers and
employees shall be subject to the Civil Service Law, rules and regulations; Provided,
That technical personnel shall be selected on the basis of merit and fitness to be
determined in accordance with such policies and guidelines as may be approved by the
Board.

SECTION 7. Auditor. - The Chairman of the Commission on Audit shall be the ex officio
Auditor of the Board. For this purpose, he may appoint a representative who shall be
the auditor of the Board, together with the necessary personnel to assist said
representative in the performance of his duties. The number and salaries of the auditor
and said personnel shall be determined by the Chairman of the Commission on Audit,
subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit. Said salaries and all
other expenses of maintaining the auditor's office shall be paid by the Board.

The Auditor shall, as soon as practicable, but not later than three (3) months after the
accounts have been submitted to audit, send an annual report to the Board. The Auditor
shall also submit such periodic or special reports as the Board may deem necessary or
proper.

SECTION 8. Registration. - No person, whether natural or juridical, may engage in the
importation, exportation, production, reproduction, exhibition, showing, sale, lease or
disposition of video games unless such person is first registered with and permitted by
the Board to operate as such. The registration with and permit issued by the Board is a
condition precedent for securing a business permit or license from the appropriate
authorities.

SECTION 9. Assistance in the Enforcement Functions of the Board. - The Board may
solicit the direct assistance of other agencies and units of the government, and may
deputize, for a fixed and limited period, the heads or personnel of such agencies and
units to perform enforcement function of the Board. The government agencies and
units exercising the enforcement functions for the Board shall, insofar as such functions
are concerned, be subject to the direction and control of the Board.

SECTION 10. Penalty. - Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Act or
rules and regulations to be promulgated pursuant thereto, either as principal, accomplice
or accessory, shall, upon conviction, suffer a mandatory penalty of three (3) months and


one (1) day to one (1) year imprisonment plus a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand
Pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00).
Should the offense be committed by a juridical person, the chairman, the president,
secretary, treasurer, or the partner responsible therefore, shall be the person penalized.

SECTION 11. Termination. - The Board shall terminate ninety (90) days after the Board
submits a written determination to the President that voluntary standards are established
that are adequate to warn purchasers of the violent or sexually explicit content of video
games. The Board shall not be in existence for more than five (5) years.

SECTION 12. Appropriations. — The sum of Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000.00) out of
any available funds from the National Treasury is hereby appropriated and authorized to
be released for the organization of the Board and its initial operations. Henceforth,
funds sufficient to fully carry out the functions and objectives of the Board shall be
appropriated every fiscal year in the General Appropriations Act.

All fees, revenues, and receipts of the Board from any and all sources shall be used to
augment the funds to support the expenditures needed by the Board in the pursuit of its
purposes and objectives and the exercise of its powers and functions, and for such other
purposes as may hereafter be directed by the President of the Philippines.

SECTION 13. Annual Reports. - The Board, in addition to the other reports required in
this Act shall, within three months after the end of every fiscal year, submit its annual
report to the President. The annual report shall include, among others, a statement of
the Board's accomplishments together with its plans and recommendations to improve
and develop its operations and the supervision and regulation of the video game
industry.

SECTION 14. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 15. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or
inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,