The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) through its Legal Affairs Division chief, Jonathan Presquito, on Thursday exhorted senators to allow the agency to "regulate" content on international streaming sites like Netflix.
Presquito explained, "Stream services like Netflix are video on demand platforms. We have to regulate those platforms. We have to ensure that those materials being shown on those platforms are compliant with MTRCB laws.”
The MTRCB's mandate as based on Presidential Decree No. 1986 signed by the late former President Ferdinand Marcos is to “regulate and classify movies, television programs, related publicity materials and/or promotional materials thereof.”
According to Presquito, this should be changed to include Netflix. "MTRCB has jurisdiction of that content regardless kung saan mo siya pinalabas... Just because sa internet siya pinalabas, hindi na siya covered ng MTRCB law," he said.
Presquito further noted other countries have been regulating Netflix content. "Sa South Korea, lahat ng content ng Netflix dumadaan sa prior review," Presquito mentioned.
He made clear, however, "We don't want that kind of review. We want an environment of growth. Let's allow streaming services to flourish, but how do we find the balance?”
Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel responded to Presquito’s urging saying the Senate would have to review the matter. "Kailangan pag-isipan natin yan... It's either we update our laws to catch up with technology or we enforce our archaic laws and hold back technological progress," he said.
According to reports, Netflix logged some 16 million new subscribers in the first quarter of 2020 following government imposed lockdowns meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
This led to a 27 percent increase in revenue, allowing Netflix to earn some $5.7 billion.