MTRCB awarded with FOI certificate of compliance

Lala Sotto | Photo: Official Facebook page of MTRCB

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) received a Freedom of Information Certificate of Compliance for 2022 which, according to chair Lala Sotto-Antonio, signifies that the regulatory body is “treading the correct path” to serve the public.

“In recognition of the commitment of the MTRCB to transparency and accountability, the Presidential Communications Office-Freedom of Information Program Management Office (PCO FOI-PMO) awarded on Thursday the Agency with a Certificate of Completion for FOI Implementation for FY 2022,” a statement released by MTRCB on Friday, Oct. 6, read.

The FOI Certificate of Compliance was awarded to the regulatory board for being “fully-compliant” with the enhanced requirements of Executive Order No. 02, s. 2016.

“We are grateful for the citation from no less than Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil of the esteemed Presidential Communications Office,” Sotto said. “This could only mean a validation that we are treading the correct path of our journey to serve the Filipino people to the best of our abilities.”

Sotto also thanked the agency’s board members whom she acknowledged for their unremitting support in keeping MTRCB “strong and firm,” as well as making the television and film industry “healthy and pertinent in these trying, fast-changing times.”

Image: MTRCB

This certification came amid the criticisms aimed at the regulatory board for its sanction against ABS-CBN noontime show “It’s Showtime,” following its hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez’s alleged “indecent acts.”

The MTRCB issued last Sept. 4 its decision to suspend the noontime show for 12 airing days. The “It’s Showtime” production subsequently filed a motion for reconsideration, which the regulatory board denied.

ABS-CBN then announced that it will not appeal to the Office of the President the decision of the MTRCB, and will instead serve the 12-day suspension starting Oct. 14.

Despite this, the Kapamilya network maintained that “It’s Showtime” did not break any pertinent laws.  /ra