MANILA, Philippines — The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) on Thursday condemned what it called the “irresponsible” claim by the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI) that the agency is being used as a “cash cow.”

In a statement dated June 5, 2025, MTRCB Executive Director Roberto C. Diciembre said the DGPI’s claim is “unfair and baseless,” stressing that the board is a government agency mandated to protect the public—especially children—from harmful content.

“To describe our mandate as profit-driven is both misleading and disrespectful to the 31 board members,” the MTRCB said. The agency emphasized the role of its board members, who are tasked with reviewing and classifying local and international materials based on contemporary Filipino cultural values.

The agency also said the remark disrespects professionals at the MTRCB who have long been involved in the work of content classification.

While Senate Bill No. 2805 has passed third reading in the Senate, MTRCB pointed out that its counterpart bill in the House of Representatives has yet to be passed. With the 19th Congress ending next week, MTRCB said it is unlikely to be acted on during the current session and thus remains far from becoming law.

The MTRCB urged stakeholders, including the DGPI, to approach the issue with “reason and respect,” noting that DGPI is not a government agency.

SB 2805 seeks to expand MTRCB’s authority to include online streaming platforms and curated content providers. However, MTRCB clarified that the Board will not impose prior restraint or require mandatory review of such content. Instead, the bill aims to equip the State to deal with harmful online content—especially those involving child abuse and exploitation—through mechanisms such as “safety by design” principles and structured feedback systems.

The MTRCB stressed that it operates under Presidential Decree 1986 without engaging in censorship or violating constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms.

“We perform our duties… with full respect to the constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of expression,” the agency said.