Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board is a Philippine government agency under the Office of the President of the Philippines that is responsible for the classification and review of television programs, motion pictures and home videos.
Unlike other organizations worldwide, the Board does not rate video games. Thus, both the ESRB system used in the United States, and IARC system are the de facto rating systems used in the Philippines, although there have been attempts at formulating an independent local rating system. Certain video game vendors ask for a valid ID or other verification of those seeking to buy M- and AO-rated games. The Board also does not rate literature.
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board also serves as a de facto censorship body.
History
The MTRCB was initially created as the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures by virtue of Republic Act 3060 signed by President Carlos P. Garcia in 1961 and directly subordinate to the Office of the President of the Philippines. Over the years, its name and powers were changed and expanded by succeeding administrations. In 1980, as part of Executive Order No. 585 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos during the Martial Law, the Board was reconstituted to include senior officials of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Information and the National Intelligence and Security Authority. To reflect the rising influence of television in the Philippines, the agency was renamed into the Board of Review for Motion Pictures and Television by virtue of Executive Order No. 745 issued by Marcos in 1981. In 1983, its scope was expanded to include live entertainment, and as such the Board was renamed by Marcos into the Board of Review for Motion Pictures, Television and Live Entertainment by virtue of Executive Order No. 868. Controversially, it was also given the power to bar any film deemed "subversive" in content and "undermining faith in the government"Ultimately, the economic and political crisis of the 1980s led the Marcos regime to abolish the board and replace it with the current Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 1985 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1986. After the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986, the Board was reconstituted to remove defense and security officials and limit its composition to civilian personnel, though the ban on subversive material remains. In the 1990s, an Appeals Committee was created to allow appeal and reversals of the MTRCB's decisions.
The chairman, the vice-chairman and the other 30 Board members compose the Board. Each one holds office for a term of one year, but may be reappointed after the expiration of their term. Diorella Maria Sotto-Antonio has been the board chairperson since July 7, 2022.
Classification ratings
Movies
While the MTRCB primarily rates most films released in commercial cinemas, independent and art-house films released in the Philippines are not rated by the MTRCB themselves. Instead, they are rated through the Film Development Council of the Philippines and the Film Cultural Exchange Program through the FDCP rating system pursuant to the agreed-upon guidelines by the FDCP and the MTRCB.Summary
Except for G, all MTRCB cinema ratings are mandatory. No children under the age of 13 may be admitted to a PG-rated film unless when accompanied by an adult. All cinemas are required to check the ages of all patrons who wish to view age-restricted content in a cinema. It is against the law for moviehouses to admit underage patrons into age-restricted content in a cinema. The public exhibition of an "X-rated" film in the Philippines is a serious criminal offense and may lead to more severe disciplinary actions.A film shall be disapproved for public viewing if, in the judgment of the Board:
- The average person, applying contemporary community standards and values, would find that the dominant theme of the work, taken as a whole appeals solely to the prurient interest and satisfies only the craving for gratuitous sex and/or violence.
- The film depicts in a patently lewd, offensive, or demeaning manner, excretory functions and sexual conduct such as sexual intercourse, masturbation and exhibition of the genitals.
- The film clearly constitutes an attack against any race, creed, or religion.
- The film condones or encourages abuse and exploitation against women and/or children.
- The film promotes or endorses the use of illegal drugs and substances.
- The film tends to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or duly constituted authorities.
- The film glorifies criminals or condones crimes.
- The film may constitute contempt of court or of a quasi-judicial tribunal, or may pertain to matters which are subjudicial in nature.
Television
| Pictogram | Rating |
| General Patronage | |
| Parental Guidance | |
| Strong Parental Guidance |
On October 6, 2011, in order to encourage parents to supervise and be responsible with their children in watching television, the rating system was reformatted, with one additional rating added.
The ratings notice are always played before the start or midway of the show. The rating voice-overs are usually in Filipino, but predominantly English-language stations have the ratings notice spoken in English. Ratings notices were previously broadcast in a 4:3 aspect ratio, but has since been broadcast in a 16:9 widescreen format.
The green 'G', blue 'PG' and red 'SPG' graphic/DOG below are usually seen on the lower right or upper left corner of the screen during the entire show. All programs shown by the television channels are reviewed and classified by the said board. The board may suspend, reject or cancel programs, but cannot revoke broadcast licenses.
Since 2024, ratings pictogram can also be seen at the start and lower-right of the program teasers during commercial breaks, albeit with a different typeface.
Any television program that does not conform to the "G", "PG", and "SPG" classification shall be unfit for television broadcast if, in the judgment of the Board applying contemporary Filipino cultural values as standard, it is objectionable for being immoral, indecent, contrary to law and/or good customs, injurious to the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines or its people, or with a dangerous tendency to encourage the commission of violence, or of a wrong, or crime, such as but not limited to:
- The average person, applying contemporary community standards and values, would find that the dominant theme of the work, taken as a whole appeals solely to the prurient interest and satisfies only the craving for gratuitous sex and/or violence.
- The work depicts in a patently lewd, offensive, or demeaning manner, excretory functions, and sexual conduct such as sexual intercourse, masturbation and exhibition of the genitals.
- The work clearly constitutes an attack against any race, creed or religion.
- The work condones or encourages abuse and exploitation against women and/or children.
- The work promotes or endorses the use of illegal drugs and substances.
- The work tends to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or duly constituted authorities.
- The work glorifies criminals or condones crimes.
- The work is libelous or defamatory to the good name and reputation of any person, whether living or dead.
- The work may constitute contempt of court of a quasi-judicial tribunal, or may pertain to matters, which are subjudicial in nature.
Home videos
Before 2015, unlike the theatrical ratings, only three are applied to video releases and printed on labels: General Audience for films previously rated G in cinemas, Parental Guidance for most PG and some R-13 or R-16 titles, and Restricted For Adults for some R-13, many R-16, and most R-18 titles .
Since 2015, the theatrical ratings were applied as home video ratings, replacing the previous system.
In addition to issuing parental ratings for home video content, routine inspections are also conducted at public transport terminals where passenger buses equipped with onboard entertainment systems can be found, to ensure that the films in question are approved by both agencies for public exhibition and are free of inappropriate content.
Advertisement
Advertisement materials are generally outside the scope of the board. Exemptions are "publicity materials" that are those "used to generate public interest in a motion picture or television program such as teasers or promos of television programs, movie trailers, print advertisements, still photos, photo frames, leaflets, posters and billboards and other related media".Internet
Although the board itself does not govern nor does it censor TV shows and movies online, video streaming services such as Viu, Disney+, WeTV, iflix, Netflix, iQIYI, Apple TV+, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video make use of their own content rating systems to ensure whether content is family-friendly or not.On September 3, 2020, it was reported that MTRCB wanted to seek the "regulation" of video content that is provided by streaming platforms such as Netflix. According to Atty. Jonathan Presquito, the MTRCB legal affairs division chief, there is a necessity proceed with the regulation, especially because several video content are unrated. However, the move was strongly criticized by several groups and people, noting that the MTRCB has become a tool of censorship. Senator Franklin Drilon said that the move was "very impractical".