The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) launched its “Usapang Responsableng Panonood (RP) at Parental Controls” seminar at the Luxent Hotel, Timog Avenue, Quezon City last Dec. 6.
The event is under the RP (responsible viewership) program which is the brainchild of MTRCB Chairperson Diorella Maria “Lala” Sotto-Antonio and a result of the Board’s continued advocacy toward Filipino viewer empowerment through media and digital literacy.
"We will go on a nationwide tour to promote our program," said Sotto-Antonio during the kick-off ceremony of the MTRCB seminar.
Reacting to the ongoing meetings with networks and streaming platforms, Sotto-Antonio said: "It's been challenging but I am enjoying it. I'm thankful that I'm here and able to do something that I know I'd be of help to the parents, communities, especially to our country. Dahil dito nakikilala rin nila ang MTRCB sa iba't ibang bansa."
Sotto-Antonio said that online streaming remains the top concern of parents when it comes to responsible viewership.
“We really don’t have the jurisdiction over them and we all want control somehow. So I’ll go straight to the point. The MTRCB fosters partnerships so that we could have good working relationships with streaming Video on-Demand providers. That is why we have come up with a partnership with Netflix and it’s been very successful. And we have been in talks with other streaming video providers as well. We’re getting there. So far so good,” she added.
Asked about the timetable in promoting the program, Sotto-Antonio said: "As long as I'm in MTRCB, we will promote it."
MTRCB Vice Chairman Nathaniel De Mesa opened the event, giving thanks to the agency’s partners from the government, private sector, film and TV industry, media practitioners, and most especially, parent-teacher associations who attended to show their support to the Board’s advocacy.
MTRCB Board Member Maria Carmen Musngi discussed the guidelines and considerations behind the MTRCB Television (TV) ratings, while BM Federico Moreno shared with the participants the parameters and process behind the MTRCB Film ratings, BM Moreno also unveiled the MTRCB’s newest infomercial for Philippine cinemas/theaters which will hit the big screen starting December 2022.
In her presentation on Responsableng Panonood, Sotto-Antonio highlighted the role of parents in rearing the children, impressing that MTRCB exists to provide necessary guidance through fair warnings through MTRCB ratings and classification, however, ultimately, the parents are the ones who have the responsibility to guide the children.
One of the event’s highlights is the discussion of Ruben Hattari, Netflix’s Southeast Asian Director of Public Policy, which centered on Netflix’s in-app and web-based parental control features which aim to help parents manage their children’s viewing patterns and preferences.
The Board aims to collaborate with all other streaming Video-on-Demand (VOD) providers both local and foreign who are operating in the Philippines to highlight each VODs unique parental control features aimed to protect its subscribers, Hattari also said.