SENATOR Robinhood Padilla on Thursday said that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board and other state agencies should be given enough power to protect the youth from immoral and illegal content especially during this era of media streaming and online gaming.

Padilla led the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media where bills to enhance the MTRCB’s powers and regulate online games and outdoor media were discussed.

“Ang atin pong layunin sa araw na ito ay siguraduhin na epektibo ang ating patnubay sa mga manonood lalo na sa ating mga kabataang nasa murang edad at bubot pa ang kamalayan, mula sa mga palabas at audio-visual media sa ano mang moda, porma at plataporma,” Padilla said.

The senator also stressed the need for agencies like the MTRCB to have better tools against movie piracy.

However, the senator stressed that the measures should not curtail the creativity of directors.

“Kami pong lahat na taga pelikula na nandidito sa Senado naniniwala po na kailangan madagdagan ang mandato ninyo para labanan po natin itong mga online na ito,” he said.

“Nakakalungkot man, napag-iwanan na po ang MTRCB sa pagsasala ng mga naglipanang audio-visual media at content sa makabagong plataporma at moda ng panonood,” the senator explained.

Also, Padilla made it clear that they are not after censorship.

“Uulitin po natin, hindi po censorship ang nais natin. Hindi tayo kalaban ng malaya at malikhaing sining; bagkus, tayo ay kakampi ng matalinong panunuod laban sa hindi katanggap-tanggap na media tulad ng immoral, mahalay, mga paniniwalang laban sa batas at moralidad ng lipunan at syempre pa, ang tampok na ikinababahala ng inyong lingcod — paninira sa reputasyon at dignidad ng ating Inang Bayang Pilipinas,” he said.