Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairperson Liza Diño-Seguerra said that the proposal of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to regulate online content on platforms such as Netflix would just delay the showing of content.

During an online press conference Thursday, September 10, for FDCP’s closing of Sine Sandaan, Liza was asked her opinion about the issue.

“Wala naman kasi sa mandate naming yung regulation, it’s an MTRCB call. But on the perspective of the FDCP, all of these platforms right now have their own mechanisms for regulation,” she said.

(We do not have a mandate when it comes to regulation, it’s an MTRCB call. But from the perspective of the FDCP, all of these platforms right now have their own mechanisms for regulation.)

“So may mga control silang ginagamit to make sure that may age classification yung panonood ng pelikula. Siguro on a very grounded perspective, ang nakikita ko lang talaga na hardship in case this will be put in place, madedelay talaga ang pagpalabas ng mga pelikula on the platforms.” 

(So they have controls to make sure that there is an age classification with the movies people watch. I guess on a very grounded perspective, the hardship I see in case this will be put in place is there would be a delay in showing of movies on the platforms.)

“So I think it’s best to revisit and tingnan natin kung ano ba yung value versus the effect also of these kinds of regulations.”

(So I think it’s best to revisit and look at what is the value versus the effect also of these kinds of regulations.)

During a Senate hearing last week, Jonathan Presquito, the MTRCB’s legal affairs chief, said that shows in streaming platforms should be reviewed and regulated by the agency.

But such proposal was met with resistance from both lawmakers and members of the entertainment industry. Senator Franklin Drilon called it “impractical” while House Speaker Alan Cayetano said the MTRCB has limited mandates.

The Directors Guild of the Philippines also opposed the move, saying it would discourage the acquisition of local content and might hurt the industry. – Rappler.com