Law Creating MTRCB (P.D. 1986)
[ PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1986, October 05, 1985 ]
CREATING THE MOVIE AND TELEVISION REVIEW AND CLASSIFICATION BOARD.
WHEREAS, the movie and television industry is now on the brink of economic collapse, that unless remedial measures are undertaken, this grave emergency facing the industry will be a roadblock to the early economic recovery program of the government;
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to rationalize the movie and television industry vis-a-vis the body regulating and supervising its operations;
WHEREAS, a regulatory body must not only function in reviewing and censoring films or television programs brought before it but must also initiate the plans and cooperate with the industry to improve, upgrade and make viable the industry as one source of fueling the national economy;
WHEREAS, the disqualification of persons engaged in or connected with the movie and television industry from membership in the existing Board of Review for Motion Pictures and Television has deprived said Board of innovative and fresh ideas toward the improvement and development of the film and television industry;
WHEREAS, the participation of the leaders of the various sectors of the industry could be a prelude to self-regulation and policing by the members themselves once they have demonstrated their maturity, self-reliance and dependability;
WHEREAS, unless the grave emergency confronting the movie and television industry is remedied with dispatch, it will weaken the designed chain of the economic measures to achieve an early economic recovery of the country, not to mention the collapse of the industry and the loss of livelihood of about 75,000 families and 500,000 workers dependent on the industry;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree:
SECTION 1. Creation. There is hereby created a Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, hereinafter referred to as the Board, under the Office of the President of the Philippines. The BOARD shall have its principal office in Metropolitan Manila.
SEC. 2. Composition; qualifications; benefits.— The BOARD shall be composed of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman and thirty (30) members, who shall all be appointed by the President of the Philippines. The Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, and the members of the BOARD, shall hold office for a term of one (1) year, unless sooner removed by the President for any cause; Provided, That they shall be eligible for re-appointment after the expiration of their term. If the Chairman, or the Vice-Chairman or any member of the BOARD fails to complete his term, any person appointed to fill the vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired portion of the term of the BOARD member whom he succeeds.
No person shall be appointed to the BOARD, unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, not less than twenty-one (21) years of age, and of good moral character and standing in the community; Provided, That in the selection of the members of the BOARD due consideration shall be given to such qualifications as would produce a multi-sectoral combination of expertise in the various areas of motion picture and television; Provided, further, That at least five (5) members of the BOARD shall be members of the Philippine Bar. Provided, finally, That at least fifteen (15) members of the BOARD may come from the movie and television industry to be nominated by legitimate associations representing the various sectors of said industry.
The Chairman, the Vice-Chairman and the other members of the BOARD shall be entitled to transportation, representation and other allowances which shall in no case exceed FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,000.00) per month.
SEC. 3. Powers and Functions. — The BOARD shall have the following functions, powers and duties:
a) To promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary or proper for the implementation of this Act, and the accomplishment of its purposes and objectives, including guidelines and standards for production, advertising and titles. Such rules and regulations shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following their publication in newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines;
b) To screen, review and examine all motion pictures as herein defined, television programs, including publicity materials such as advertisements, trailers and stills, whether such motion pictures and publicity materials be for theatrical or non-theatrical distribution, for television broadcast or for general viewing, imported or produced in the Philippines, and in the latter case, whether they be for local viewing or for export;
c) To approve or disapprove, delete objectionable portions from and/or prohibit the importation, exportation, production, copying, distribution, sale, lease, exhibition and/or television broadcast of the motion pictures, television programs and publicity materials subject of the preceding paragraph, which, in the judgment of the board applying contemporary Filipino cultural values as standard, are 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:
i) Those which tend to incite subversion, insurrection, rebellion or sedition against the State, or otherwise threaten the economic and/or political stability of the State;
ii) Those which tend to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or the duly constituted authorities;
iii) Those which glorify criminals or condone crimes;
iv) Those which serve no other purpose but to satisfy the market for violence or pornography;
v) Those which tend to abet the traffic in and use of prohibited drugs;
vi) Those which are libelous or defamatory to the good name and reputation of any person, whether living or dead; and
vii) Those which may constitute contempt of court or of any quasi-judicial tribunal, or pertain to matters which are subjudice in nature.
