The Filipinos do not need a group of people to decide for them what they can watch and what they cannot. My Stand: Abolish the MTRCB!
Here's a press release from the House of Representatives:
Party list solons want to abolish the MTRCB
15 July 2009 09:11:55 AM
Writer: Michelle Sapnu, MRS-PRIB
Party-list lawmakers have filed a measure abolishing the Movie and
Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and replacing it
with the Movie and Television Classification Board (MTCB).
Rep. Teodoro A. Casino (Party-list, Bayan Muna), principal author of
House Bill 6425, said the bill seeks to protect and promote freedom of
expression in motion pictures and television programs in the country.
"The bill will ensure that the right to freedom of expression would
not be abridged by replacing the existing Movie and Television Review
Classification Board (MTRCB)," Casino said.
"The present MTRCB, in the fulfillment of its duties, often violates
or curtails this constitutionally guaranteed freedom," Casino said.
Casino cited the case of some films and television programs, which
were censored and rated "X" by the MTRCB due to its critical political
or social content.
"There is a need to put in place clear, specific and reasonable
standards for classification of such motion pictures and television
programs," Casino added.
He said the creation of the MTCB would be confined only to the
classification of motion pictures and television programs.
"The MTCB would not be authorized to censor, modify or absolutely ban
any motion pictures and television programs in order to provide a
climate of expression free from restraint in the dissemination of
ideas," he said.
Casino said the proposed "Movie and Television Classification Board
Act of 2009," aims to sanction the eventual self-regulation of motion
pictures and television programs to lessen, if not prevent, any abuse
or discretion on the part of MTCB in the classification of any
material.
"We should support the efforts of the members of the industry to
regulate themselves as they work in the exercise of artistic, cultural
and academic freedoms," Casino urged.
"We should consider that we have mature and responsible members of the
industry and a mature, politicized and critical audience who should be
allowed the freedom of choice without prior censorship," Casino said.
Co-authors of the bill are Gabriela Women's Party list Reps. Liza L.
Maza and Luzviminda C. Ilagan, Kabataan Party list Rep. Raymond D.
Palatino, Bayan Muna Reps. Satur C. Ocampo and Neri Javier Colmenares
and Anakpawis Reps. Rafael V. Mariano and Joel B. Maglunsod.
2 comments:
that would be nice if this passed!
it should have been abolished when they censored Schindler's list.
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