Aktor PH calls for ‘halt’ of Senate Bill 2805, urges dialogue with creative industry
Aktor PH officers and their industry partners. Image from Instagram / @iam_mariamay
The League of Filipino Actors (Aktor PH) expressed concern over Senate Bill No. 2805, which it said “could silence voices” and “jeopardize creative livelihoods.”
The bill, sponsored by actor-turned-senator Robin Padilla, seeks to expand the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board’s regulatory powers to online-generated content and on-demand streaming platforms.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Friday, June 6, Aktor PH urged Congress to halt the controversial bill and work directly with creatives to craft fair and effective reforms.
“AKTOR, the League of Filipino Actors, calls on Congress to halt Senate Bill 2805 and initiate meaningful, inclusive dialogue with the creative industry. Any legislation that impacts freedom of expression, artistic integrity, and livelihood must be shaped with those who live and work in this space,” read the statement.
Despite the bill being described to protect the welfare of women and minors, especially in digital and online content, Aktor PH explained that the proposed bill’s language may suggest “vague standards.”
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“We recognize and respect the existing safeguards that protect creators—especially women and minors—which already guide our creative processes,” the statement continued.
“We support protection against harm and exploitation—but not vague standards or sweeping controls that risk limiting voices and reducing opportunities for Filipino creatives,” it added.
The group also underscored the importance of self-regulation within the creative sector, stating that the industry is capable of holding itself accountable through existing standards while not policing the creative field.
“We urge our legislators to bring the industry to the table and begin again—so that any regulatory framework truly protects, not polices, the creative space,” the actors’ league wrote.
“We stand ready to help shape a better, fairer system—one that honors both the rights of the audience and the freedom and integrity of the Filipino artist,” concluded its statement.
The group’s appeal comes amid mounting concern from other creatives — independent filmmakers and related advocates — who have also called for a more participatory approach in crafting policies affecting their work.
The Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI) earlier expressed its strong opposition against the Senate bill, claiming it is being used as a “cash cow.” /ra
