“If streaming platforms cannot guarantee that minors will not have access to adult movies in their applications and websites, the MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board) should step in and shield our children from this kind of dangerous, distasteful, and dreadful digital content.”
This strong warning was issued on Friday by Deputy Speaker Benny Abante Jr. after reading reviews of the adult movie “Taya,” which is scheduled to be released online today. The movie, produced by Viva Films, can be viewed on ktx.ph, iWantTFC, TFC IPTV and Vivamax.
“What values are promoted by this film? How can the MTRCB ensure that our children can only view age-appropriate content when a movie like this is streamed online, where anyone with an internet connection can view it?”
According to Abante, reviews and writeups of the movie “highlight the fact that there will be numerous sex scenes and full frontal nudity––content that is inappropriate for minors.”
“It is clear it that given the MTRCB’s vision, mission, and mandate, it is their responsibility to intervene so that our children are not exposed to movies like these.”
The legislator from Manila pointed out that in its website, the MTRCB says its vision is to “encourage value-based media and entertainment culture,” its mission is to promote “age-appropriate media as an indispensable tool for moral recovery and nation building recovery and nation building,” while its mandate is to “regulate and classify motion pictures, television programs, and publicity materials.”
“What values are promoted by this film? How can the MTRCB ensure that our children can only view age-appropriate content when a movie like this is streamed online, where anyone with an internet connection can view it?” asked Abante.
“The key word,” stressed Abante, “is regulate; the MTRCB has the power and the mandate to regulate what is shown in our televisions and in our movie houses––and the same mandate also applies to what can be viewed in our smartphones, tablets, or computers.”
“The MTRCB must take action because we have millions of Filipino children stuck in their homes; maraming may access sa internet, maraming marunong mag access ng ganitong klaseng media. It should also be more proactive and encourage our film makers to produce more family-friendly content and more educational films so that what is streamed into our homes promotes positive Filipino values.”
