MANILA – The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) on Wednesday proposed retaining only 30 percent of its income, instead of the 50 percent sought under a Senate bill, to support its operations while pursuing reforms to its four-decade-old charter.
During the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media hearing chaired by Senator Robinhood Padilla, MTRCB Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Diorella Maria “Lala” Sotto-Antonio said the board prefers a more conservative funding arrangement to cover operating expenses during the first quarter of each year.
“Naniniwala po kami sa (We believe in) prudence and the very good use of funds,” Sotto-Antonio said, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to meeting the Department of Budget and Management’s fund utilization standards.
Senate Bill 878, authored by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, proposes allowing the MTRCB to retain 50 percent of its revenues for maintenance and other operating expenses, excluding salaries and allowances.
The proposed retained income fund aims to improve the board’s operational efficiency by providing a dedicated funding source for its activities.
Sotto-Antonio also cited the MTRCB’s consistent unmodified audit opinions from the Commission on Audit, indicating that its financial statements fairly present its financial position and performance in accordance with government accounting standards.
Regulation, not prohibition
The committee also discussed Senate Bill 445, filed by Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III, which proposes strengthening the MTRCB’s regulatory authority, capabilities, and organizational structure amid the expansion of digital entertainment platforms.
The measure seeks to update the agency’s mandate to address changing viewing habits, including the growing popularity of online streaming services.
“Aming nire-reiterate na ang MTRCB ay naniniwala sa regulation, at hindi po prohibition (We reiterate that the MTRCB believes in regulation, not prohibition),” Sotto-Antonio said.
She maintained that the agency’s responsibility remains focused on age-appropriate content classification and responsible viewing rather than outright censorship.
“Cognizant of developments in the digital realm, we shall always remain responsive to the call of the times as public officials and civil servants who made a vow to serve with integrity, accountability, and responsibility,” she said.
Created through Presidential Decree 1986 in 1985, the MTRCB has operated under a charter that has not undergone a comprehensive overhaul despite major changes in film distribution, television programming, and digital media.
The proposed reforms are intended to equip the agency with updated regulatory tools while improving its financial and administrative capabilities.
Meanwhile, five counterpart measures strengthening the MTRCB’s mandate, capabilities, and organizational structure remain pending before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Information.
