Malacañang tells MTRCB: Listen to Congress before Duterte ‘micromanages’

September 8 ------ The Palace on Monday, September 7, urged the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to “consider” the views of lawmakers on the board's announcement that it wanted to begin regulating content on on-demand streaming platforms.

In a media briefing on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that while they “respect” the MTRCB’s decision, they also urge the board to listen to lawmakers. “Sa panahon ng budget mukhang mahirap balewalain ang Kongreso, lalong lalo na kung ang nagsalita na Speaker of the House. Ang aking suggestion po… bago hindi pa nag mimicro-manage ang ating presidente, iconsider po ang mga suggestions ng mambabatas, dahil sila naman nagpopondo ng ating mga ahensya at katungkulan din nila masigurado na nagagastos sa tama po ang pondo ng taumbayan,” added Roque.

MTRCB legal affairs chief Jonathan Presquito said during a Senate committee hearing on proposed measures to regulate online transactions that the agency must regulate content on streaming platforms as part of its mandate. Senator Franklin Drilon called the move "very impractical."

The proposal has been met with resistance both from the movie industry and lawmakers. The MTRCB, an agency directly under the Office of the President, is mandated to “regulate and classify motion pictures, television programs, and publicity materials.” It was created through Presidential Decree No 1986 by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Source: rappler.com/entertainment