Philippine director Brillante Mendoza poses for the photograph on November 17, 2016 in Paris. Award-winning Philippine director Mendoza has turned his cinematic skills to promoting someone many in the West would see as an unlikely hero -- President Rodrigo Duterte and his deadly drug war. Patrick Kovarik, AFP 

MANILA — Award-winning director Brillante Mendoza penned an open letter on Facebook describing the Senate Bill 2805, or the proposed Movie and Television Rating and Classification Board Act, as deeply troubling.

The bill seeks to "strengthen and expand the mandate" of the regulating body to include content on streaming platforms "to maintain the standards of decency and morality expected by Filipinos."

Mendoza said the bill sponsored by Sen. Robinhood Padilla is trying to control people's "individual viewing choices in the privacy of their  own homes."

Asking whether a government agency should have that power, Mendoza said: "Is the control they already exert over cinema and television not enough?"

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Mendoza stressed that if the government is aiming to safeguard the morality of young people "controlling access to content is not the answer." 

He said that with social media and the internet, the government should not try to control what people watch, which, he said, is a matter of personal responsibility. 

"Controlling access to content is not the answer. That responsibility lies with parents in raising their children."

Mendoza said that the government should instead focus on addressing corruption in government, which he said is rampant and sets a bad example for children.

'GRANDSTANDING'

The award-winning film maker said actors-turned lawmakers should stop grandstanding and instead help the entertainment industry a more ideal place to work.

"They have prospered within this industry, yet concrete legislation to protect its workers remains absent," said Mendoza.

"The industry has been languishing, yet no action has been taken to revive it, while ordinary film workers struggle to survive. Even directors and writers resort to odd jobs just to make ends meet."

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The Senate has approved the bill on third and final reading.

A counterpart bill at the House remains pending at the committee level.