Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada recently gave a speech on a serious issue affecting many Filipinos today— the rise of vulgar and pornographic content on streaming platforms. One platform in particular, Viva Max, which has more than 12 million subscribers, was called out for offering content that often crosses the line of decency. The real concern, however, is how easily this type of content is accessible to everyone, including minors.
Estrada understands the importance of creative freedom, but he emphasized that there must be limits, especially when such content starts to harm the moral values that hold our society together. He reminded us that the Philippines is a nation that takes pride in its strong family values and respect for human dignity. However, he believes that these values are now being threatened because some platforms seem to care more about making money than about the impact they are having on society.
One of Estrada’s biggest concerns is how easily young people can access this kind of content. Even though laws, like Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, are supposed to protect us from obscene and immoral material, platforms like Viva Max are able to bypass regulations and continue distributing these films. Estrada noted that many of these films would be more appropriate on adult websites, but instead, they are available on mainstream services for everyone to see.
What makes the situation even worse is how this affects the youth. According to Estrada, not only do these films degrade women, but they also exploit them. He mentioned that some actresses in these films are paid as little as ₱15,000 per day to appear in inappropriate scenes, which he finds incredibly alarming. This kind of exploitation normalizes content that disrespects human dignity and promotes harmful societal values.
Estrada also pointed out that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) does. not have the authority to regulate online streaming platforms, which creates a loophole. This means that explicit content can easily reach minors who can simply fake their age to gain access.
Indeed, we need stricter regulations on these platforms to protect the public, especially young people, from the harmful effects of this content. The normalization of pornographic material is a direct threat to the values that make Filipino society strong, and immediate action is necessary to address this growing issue.
