The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) on Monday turned down the proposal of including the review of video and online games in its mandate.
During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, Senator Robinhood ‘Robin’ Padilla asked the MTRCB officials if they were in favor of Senate Bill No. 1063, which seeks to expand the agency’s powers and functions for the regulation of video and online games.
"Inaamin po namin, hindi po kakayanin ng MTRCB kung isasama pa po ang video games. Una sa lahat, ang sinasabing ratings ay akma lamang sa ibang bansa. Hindi ibig sabihin, angkop na rin po'yan sa Pilipinas dahil iba po'yang Filipino values dito sa atin," MTRCB chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio said.
Under SB No. 1063 or the "Video and Online Games and Outdoor Media Regulation Act", proponent author Senator Sherwin ‘Win’ Gatchalian seeks to amend the provisions of the Presidential Decree No. 1986 that created the MTRCB.
He argued that regulating visual games will ensure that no children will be exposed to video games with mature themes.
Gatchalian then proposed that the agency must put a "rating label" on the packaging of video games, whether in print or digital.
Sotto-Antonio noted that they are also unable to control video and online games due to the time-consuming nature of analyzing their content.
"Pangalawa po, in order for the board to rate just one game, they have to play the whole game at ilang oras po ang iguguguol nila para makapaglaro ng game. Wala pa po 'yung dapat nilang pagtuunan ng pansin," the MTRCB chairperson said.
Sotto-Antonio apologized to the lawmakers and said they cannot accept the proposal knowing that they cannot fulfill the responsibilities.
