Group to review MTRCB abolition formed

MANILA, Philippines - Two House panels have formed a technical working group that will review proposals to abolish the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). A statement posted on the House of Representatives Web site on Friday said Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante. Jr will chair the group, which was created by the committees on Public information and Government Reorganization. The group will reconcile provisions in House Bills 2294 and 3584, which propose to do away with the MTRCB and amend Presidential Decree 1986, which created the body. Abante, author of HB 2294, said his bill aims to replace the 30-member MTRCB board with a 30-member committee that will review and classify motion picture, television and cable television materials. Policy-making, meanwhile, will be done by another 10-member Commission, he said. "The MTRCB has not shown a determined, positive and sustained effort to exercise and uphold its powers, and it is of public knowledge that programs which are considered immoral, indecent, contrary to law and/or good customs continued unabated to the detriment of the people," Abante said. Citing surveys, Abante said many crimes against chastity, persons and property have been committed due to the influence of certain media continuously being shown and sold in the country. For his part, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, author of HB 3594, (2nd Dist., Cagayan de Oro), suggested that the joint panels invite representatives from the producers, directors, actors or actresses, owners of television stations and cable companies when hearings resume next year. According to the statement, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters ng Pilipinas (KBP) is amenable to HB 2294's provision exempting news and public affairs programs from the review and classification of the Commission. The MTRCB, however, wants to maintain the present set-up wherein only straight news, and not public affairs programs such as talk shows, are exempted, as provided under House Bill No. 3584. The Optical Media Board, meanwhile, has expressed that certain changes need to be made to PD 1986, adding that there ought to be provisions directing certain government agencies to appoint some individuals to assist the newly created agency in the transition process. - GMANews.TV