The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB; ) 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 previously the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures (BCMP), a censorship agency established by virtue of Republic Act No. 3060 signed by President Carlos P. Garcia in June 1961 and directly subordinate to the Office of the President of the Philippines. The BCMP had its headquarters at the Don Roman Santos Building in Plaza Goiti (now Plaza Lacson), Santa Cruz, Manila. 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 (NISA). To reflect the rising influence of television in the Philippines, the agency was renamed into the Board of Review for Motion Pictures and Television (BRMPT) by virtue of Executive Order No. 745 issued by Marcos in November 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 October 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, the Appeals Committee was revived 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.

List of chairpersons Image Name Office Term Appointed by Jose L. Guevara Board of Censors for Motion Pictures 1962–1965 Diosdado Macapagal Feliciano J. Ledesma 1965–1966 Guillermo de Vega 1969–1975 Ferdinand Marcos Ma. Rocio Atienza de Vega 1975–1976 Carmelo Z. Barbero 1976–1980(acting) Maria Kalaw Katigbak Board of Review for Motion Pictures and Television 1981–1985 Juan A. Sison Movie and Television Review and Classification Board 1985–1986(acting) Armida Siguion-Reyna 1986 (acting) Corazon Aquino Manuel Morato 1986–1992 Henrietta Silos Mendez 1992–1995 Fidel V. Ramos Jesus C. Sison 1995–1998 Armida Siguion-Reyna 1998–2001 Joseph Estrada Nicanor Tiongson 2001 (acting) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Alejandro Roces 2001–2002 Marilen Ysmael-Dinglasan 2002 (acting) Dennis Manicad 2002–2003 Marissa Laguardia 2003–2010 Grace Poe 2010–2012 Benigno Aquino III Emmanuel Borlaza 2012 (acting) Toto Villareal 2012–2017 Maria Rachel Arenas 2017–2021 Rodrigo Duterte Jeremiah Jaro 2021–2022 Juan "Johnny" Revilla 2022 Bongbong Marcos Diorella "Lala" Sotto-Antonio 2022–present

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 (FCEP) through the FDCP rating system pursuant to the agreed-upon guidelines by the FDCP and the MTRCB.

Summary Description Viewers of all ages are admitted. Viewers under 13 years old should be accompanied by a parent or supervising adult. Only viewers who are 13 years old and above can be admitted. Only viewers who are 16 years old and above can be admitted. Only viewers who are 18 years old and above can be admitted. "X-rated" films are not suitable for public exhibition. Pursuant to the rules and regulations,RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE MOVIE & TELEVISION REVIEW & CLASSIFICATION BOARD MTRCB cinema ratings are legally binding restrictions. No children under the age of 13 may be admitted to a PG-rated film unless when accompanied by an adult. All moviehouses are required to check the ages of all patrons who wish to view age-restricted content. It is against the law for moviehouses to admit underage patrons into age-restricted content. 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

The MTRCB has implemented a television content rating system since April 27, 1992. Historically, there were only two television ratings used. These ratings consisted of a plain text digital on-screen graphic appearing on the corner of the screen during a program's run time.

+ System used from October 6, 2011, to present Pictogram Rating General Patronage Parental Guidance (Patnubay at Gabay) Strong Parental Guidance (Striktong Patnubay at Gabay)

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 and pictogram are shown during the show's timeslot both in English and Filipino. For the narration version, they are narrated at the start and midway of the program proper usually in Filipino but predominantly English-language stations have the ratings notice spoken in English (within abroad, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, GMA News TV International, Kapatid Channel International, AksyonTV International, The Filipino Channel, Cinema One and ANC; only in English). Ratings notices were previously broadcast in a 4:3 aspect ratio, but has since been broadcast in a 16:9 widescreen format.

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

The Optical Media Board formerly governed censorship for home video releases; this has since been managed by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

Before 2015, unlike the theatrical ratings, only three are applied to video releases and printed on labels: General Audience (G) for films previously rated G in cinemas, Parental Guidance (PG) for most PG and some R-13 or R-16 titles (with cuts for the R-ratings), and Restricted For Adults (R) for some R-13, many R-16, and most R-18 titles [without cuts for R-16 and R-18, including films released unrated or with adults-only rating equivalents (e.g. R, 18, M18, NC-17, Category III, and R21) outside the Philippines].

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".

Criticism