The House committees on public information and government reorganization have formed a technical working group to harmonize proposals to abolish the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and amend Presidential Decree (PD) 1986, which created the board.

The joint committees chose 6th District Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., chairman of the public information panel, to head the technical working group tasked to synchronize the provisions of House Bills 2294 and 3584.

According to Abante, author of HB 2294, the bill aims to replace the current 30-member MTRCB board with a 30-member committee, but it retains its policy-making function under a 10-member commission. The committee will review and classify motion picture, television and cable television materials.

"The MTRCB has not shown a determined, positive and sustained effort to exercise and uphold its powers and it is of public knowledge that programs which are considered immoral, indecent, contrary to law and/or good customs continued unabated to the detriment of the people," Abante said.

"Surveys have shown that the commission of many crimes against chastity, persons and property are influenced by such kinds and quality of movies being produced, sold, distributed and exhibited, including television shows and programs being shown," Abante added.

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) expressed support for HB 2294's provision exempting news and public affairs programs from the review and classification of the commission.

The MTRCB, for its part, proposed to maintain the present set up wherein only straight news are exempted from review as provided under House Bill No. 3584. It said public affairs programs such as talk shows should not be exempted.