Legal basis and classification amendments
- The Circular amends Section 2, Chapter IV of the 2004 Implementing Rules and Regulations of P.D. 1986 regarding classification ratings for television programs.
- The Board applies the classification scheme by amending the applicable implementing rules under the regulatory framework of P.D. 1986.
- Administrative violations are enforced through the sanctions framework found in Section 11 of P.D. 1986 and Chapter XIII of its 2004 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations.
Policy: ratings for audience suitability
- All television programs must be classified to determine audience suitability using the rating system imposed by the Board.
- Television classification uses contemporary Filipino cultural values as the standard for determining classification compliance and disapproval bases.
- The classification categories are designed to guide viewing by age and by the level of parental guidance required.
Definitions governing television classification
- Adult means any person eighteen (18) years of age or over.
- Child means any person less than eighteen (18) years of age.
- Board means the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, or any of its Committees acting for and in behalf of the Board.
- Cable Television Service means the delivery of audiovisual material to subscribers for a consideration (subscription fee, membership fee, or its equivalent), by wire or wireless method.
- Classification means the rating imposed by the Board on motion pictures, television or cable television programs, publicity materials, and advertisements to determine audience suitability.
- Motion Picture means a series of pictures projected on screen in rapid succession to create continuous motion, whether black and white or colored, silent or with sound, on any medium and with any projection mechanism, and in any material preserved or recorded for instant projection.
- Publicity Material means any audio or video material (or combination) of short duration usually from five (5) seconds to thirty (30) seconds shown on television to generate public interest in a television program, motion picture, people, place, or product.
- Television Broadcast means public exhibition by transmitting sound or images by television or similar equipment, including cable television, and other limited audience distribution.
- Television Program means any matter aired or broadcast on free television or cable television, including public affairs programs, live programs, advertisements, game shows, teleplays, and motion pictures.
Coverage and mandatory compliance
- The implementing rules cover all television programs, motion pictures, and publicity materials for or pertaining to television broadcast, including cable television service.
- Television programs must strictly comply with the classification ratings prescribed by the Circular.
- Television programs that fail to comply with the prescribed classification ratings are not approved for television broadcast.
Television classification categories and criteria
- All television programs are classified as:
- GENERAL PATRONAGE (“G”)
- PARENTAL GUIDANCE (“PG”)
- STRONG PARENTAL GUIDANCE (“SPG”)
- DISAPPROVED FOR AIRING ON TELEVISION (“X”)
- In classifying a television program, the Board shall consider treatment of the following factors: theme, violence, language, nudity, sex, horror, illegal drugs, and other elements.
- The Circular requires classification based on audience suitability and uses contemporary Filipino cultural values as the standard for determining whether material should be disapproved under the “X” category.
“G” rating: allowed content and advisories
- A GENERAL PATRONAGE (“G”) program is suitable for all ages and must contain nothing unsuitable for children in the Board’s judgment.
- A pictogram advisory accompanied by full-screen written and verbal advisory must be broadcast for at least ten (10) seconds immediately before the opening credits.
- The full-screen written advisory must use font 15 of arial-narrow.
- The pictogram advisory for “G” must show a capital letter “G” on a green box with an MTRCB logo at the top and the phrase “General Patronage For All Viewers” at the bottom.
- The “G” pictogram advisory must be clearly superimposed at the bottom right corner of the television screen throughout the entire showing of the program rated “G,” with size 45mm x 55mm.
- The pictogram advisory and written/verbal message are:
- “ANG SUSUNOD NA PROGRAMA AY RATED "G". ITO AY PWEDE SA LAHAT NG MANONOOD.”
“PG” rating: criteria and advisories
- A PARENTAL GUIDANCE (“PG”) program may contain some adult material that may be permissible for children to watch only under the guidance and supervision of a parent or adult.
- “PG” advises parents to exercise parental responsibility in their children’s viewing.
- A pictogram advisory with full-screen written and verbal advisory must be broadcast for at least ten (10) seconds immediately before opening credits.
- The “PG” pictogram advisory must show a capital letter “PG” on a blue box with an MTRCB logo on top and the phrase “Parental Guidance For Young Viewers” at the bottom.
- The “PG” pictogram advisory must be clearly superimposed at the bottom right corner of the television screen throughout the entire showing of the program rated “PG,” with size 45mm x 55mm.
- The full-screen written advisory must use font 15 of arial-narrow.
- The “PG” program must meet these criteria in the Board’s judgment:
- Theme: More serious issues may be tackled, but treatment must be suitable to children below thirteen (13) years old.
- Language: Only very mild swear words are allowed; no strong expletive in a sexual context and no sexually-based expletives; no prolonged and/or successive use of expletives.
- Nudity: Occasional natural nudity with no sexual activity is permissible.
- Sex: No graphic depiction of sexual activity; sexual activity may be implied but with no details shown.
- Violence: No glamorization of weapons and crimes; no detail of fighting or dangerous techniques; no detail or prolonged showing of violence or suffering; must have a redeeming social value at the end.
- Horror: Scary sequence must be mild and brief.
- Drugs: Only implied depiction of prohibited drugs/substances and/or their use is allowed if it does not condone, encourage, or glamorize drug/substance use and is necessary to the theme and characterization.
- The pictogram advisory and written/verbal message are:
- “ANG SUSUNOD NA PROGRAMA AY RATED "PG". ITO AY NANGANGAILANGAN NANG PATNUBAYAT GABAYNG MAGULANG PARA SA MGA BATANG MANONOOD.”
“SPG” rating: criteria and advisories
- A STRONG PARENTAL GUIDANCE (“SPG”) program provides stronger and more vigilant parental guidance.
- “SPG” programs may contain more adult topics and themes that may not be advisable for children except under vigilant guidance and the presence of a parent or adult.
- “SPG” warns parents to exercise greater parental responsibility in children’s viewing.
- A pictogram advisory with full-screen written and verbal advisory must be broadcast for at least ten (10) seconds immediately before opening credits.
- The “SPG” pictogram advisory must show a capital letter “SPG” on a red box with an MTRCB logo at the top and the phrase “Strong Parental Guidance For Young Viewers” at the bottom.
- The “SPG” pictogram advisory must be clearly superimposed at the bottom right corner of the television screen throughout the entire showing of the program rated “SPG,” with size 45mm x 55mm.
- The pictogram advisory and full-screen written and verbal advisory must be shown again midway during the full showing of the “SPG” television material in the same manner as at opening credits.
- The Board must announce the actual implementation of “SPG” and its guidelines after the completion of a public awareness campaign.
- The pictogram advisory and written/verbal message are:
- “ANG SUSUNOD NA PROGRAMA AY RATED "SPG". ITO AYNANGANGAILANGANNANG "STRIKTONG"PATNUBAYATGABAY NG MAGULANG DAHIL SA MGA SENSITIBONG TEMA AT EKSENA NA HINDI ANGKOP SA MGA BATA.”
“X” rating: disapproval grounds
- A television program that does not conform to “G”, “PG”, or “SPG” classification is disapproved for television broadcast.
- The material must be disapproved if, in the Board’s judgment using contemporary Filipino cultural values as the standard, it is objectionable because it is:
- immoral or indecent
- contrary to law and/or good customs
- injurious to the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines or its people
- of a dangerous tendency to encourage the commission of violence or of a wrong or crime
- Examples of disapproval grounds include material that:
- depicts in a patently lewd, offensive, or demeaning manner excretory functions and sexual conduct such as sexual intercourse, masturbation, and exhibition of the genitals
- constitutes an attack against any race, creed or religion
- condones or encourages the use of illegal drugs and substances
- tends to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or duly constituted authorities
- glorifies criminals or condones crimes
- is libelous or defamatory to the good name and reputation of any person, whether living or dead
- may constitute contempt of court of a quasi-judicial tribunal, or pertains to matters which are sub-judice in nature
Administrative sanctions and enforcement
- Any violation of the Memorandum Circular is handled under Section 11 of P.D. 1986 and Chapter XIII of its 2004 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations.
Separability
- If any provision of the Circular is declared invalid or illegal, the remaining provisions remain in full force.