• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and the local government unit (LGU) of Victorias City in Negros Occidental on Sunday (Nov. 17) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote “Responsableng Panonood” (Responsible Viewing), which is also aimed at empowering families to become discerning and informed media consumers.
Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, who signed the MOU with MTRCB Chairperson Diorella Maria Sotto-Antonio, said that Victoriasanons believe what MTRCB stands for, which is protecting the youth and children from things they are not supposed to be exposed with, especially in the social media, aside from contents of movies and television programs.
Sotto-Antonio said that this was the first time they signed an MOU with an LGU outside of Metro Manila, after their partnership with Quezon City and Paranaque City, as she intends to replicate it in other areas of the country.
“Parents who are responsible for the viewing habits of their children, cannot do it alone. We need the support of the government, especially the LGUs,” Sotto-Antonio said.
The signing of the MOU was witnessed by Vice Mayor Abelardo Bantug III and members of the City Council as well as the representatives of the Department of Education and parents, held at the Marjhun’s Restaurant Function Hall in Victorias City.
As they have no jurisdiction over the social media, except for movies and television programs, Sotto-Antonio said “that is why we are conducting ‘Responsableng Panonood’ to teach the parents, teachers and supervising adults on the security measures and safeguards that we could utilize for social media services, online curated contents, user-generated services and online streaming apps.”
As stipulated in the MOU, the MTRCB, to effectively achieve its mandate, will collaborate with government units and agencies as well as private institutions and organizations, to implement the mechanisms for audience sensitivity and empowerment consistent with its norms under Presidential Decree 1986.
The MOU aims to establish a framework of cooperation and dialogue to strengthen coordination of efforts to fulfill the state’s policy of promoting the movie and television industries as viable sources of fueling the national economy and to uplift the Filipino cinema community.
It will also develop and conduct cooperative activities and support any and all efforts, initiatives and activities relating to “Responsableng Panonood” campaign, gearing towards the “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign of the current administration, which calls for a deep and fundamental transformation in all sectors of society and government. | GB
