Law Summary
Balancing State Interest and Broadcast Industry Rights
- The government aims to protect youth welfare while respecting the broadcast industry's freedom of speech.
- Self-regulatory schemes by broadcast networks are acknowledged.
- The guidelines serve to strike a balance between child protection and free expression.
Legal Authority and Issuance of the Guidelines
- Enacted pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. 05-2011 and Section 3(a) of Presidential Decree No. 1986.
- Promulgated by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
- Guidelines are specifically for implementing the Strong Parental Guidance (SPG) classification rating for television programs.
Definition and Scope of the SPG Classification
- SPG requires stronger and more vigilant parental guidance.
- Programs under SPG may contain serious topics/themes not advisable for children without parental presence.
- SPG warns parents to exercise greater responsibility regarding their children’s viewing.
- Programs must still fit within the parameters of the existing Parental Guidance rating but lean towards its maximum gravity.
Criteria for Classification under SPG
- Consideration of the program's purpose, genre, and airing time.
- Evaluation of treatment and depiction of key content factors:
- Theme (Tema)
- Violence (Karahasan)
- Drugs (Droga)
- Language (Lenggwahe)
- Sex (Sekswal)
- Horror (Katatakutan)
- The Board balances youth welfare interests with freedom of expression in classification decisions.
Required Advisories and Pictograms for SPG Programs
- A pictogram advisory must be displayed showing "SPG" in capital letters, inside a red box with the phrase "Strong Parental Guidance Striktong Patnubay at Gabaya" beneath it.
- The pictogram is to appear at the bottom right corner of the screen throughout the program but may be moved as necessary.
- The pictogram text uses Arial Narrow font size 10, white with black outline.
- Size of the pictogram is 32.5mm by 19.05mm.
- A full-screen written advisory with voice over in Filipino must be broadcast for at least 20 seconds before the opening and midway through the program.
- The advisory must specify content descriptors relevant to the program.
Prescribed SPG Advisory Text
- "ANG PROGRAMANG ITO AY RATED SPG. STRIKTONG PATNUBAY AT GABAY NG MAGULANG ANG KAILANGAN, MAY MASELANG TEMA, EKSENANG KARAHASAN, DROGA, LENGGWAHE, SEKSWAL AT KATATAKUTANG MAAARING HINDI ANGKOP SA MGA BATANG MANONOOD."
Enforcement and Effectivity
- Violations are subject to penalties under Section 11 of P.D. 1986 and Chapter XIII of the 2004 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations.
- Invalidity of any provision does not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
- The Circular takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper with general circulation.
- It must be filed with the Office of the National Administrative Register at the University of the Philippines Law Center per the Administrative Code of 1987.
Governance and Approval
- Adopted on December 1, 2011.
- Recommended for approval by Board Member Atty. Gabriela R. Concepcion, Chairperson of the Committee on TV Classification Rating.
- Noted by MTRCB Chairperson Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares and Vice-Chairperson Emmanuel H. Borlaza.