P-Noy reappoints Grace Poe as MTRCB chief

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang confirmed recently that Pres. Noynoy Aquino has reappointed Grace Poe-Llamanzares as chairperson of the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told government-run radio station dzRB that Llamanzares has been reappointed, as per the information she got from the office of executive secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

“Napirmahan na po ni Pangulong Aquino. Mayroon lang po yatang iba pang inaayos for one particular board seat but napirmahan na po iyung papers so we should be okay. The MTRCB should be okay,” she said.

When asked whether Llamanzares’ name was included in the list, she replied in the affirmative.

Officials of the government agency responsible for rating TV and film in the country are usually appointed for one year, and shall afterwards be reappointed on a yearly basis, depending on the preference of the appointing authority, which is the President.

It is under the executive powers of the Office of the President. The MTRCB is composed of a chairman, vice chairman and 30 more members of the board that evaluates films that are to be shown in movies, as well as television.

Llamanzares was appointed in August 2010. She told reporters that she wants to help the movie and television industries become more progressive as well as make them contributors to the economy.

The MTRCB chief said she aims to lead an “open-minded board” that will take into consideration the welfare of the TV and movie industries. She said her views are neither liberal nor conservative, but only makatao.

“I will neither be conservative or liberal, makabayan lang ako. I will try to strike a balance between the rights of the filmmakers and the viewing public. I hope my dad (Fernando Poe Jr.) will be proud of me,” she said.