Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada —Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — “Are we normalizing porn on streaming platforms now? Ang mga ganitong klaseng pelikula ba ang magsasalba sa industriya (will these kind of films save the industry?”
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada couldn’t help but raise these questions on Monday when he expressed his concern and “strongest condemnation” over the proliferation of and easy access to vulgar, explicit, and pornographic content on streaming platforms, particularly on Vivamax.
In a privilege speech delivered during the Senate’s Monday plenary session, the movie-actor-turned-politician said Vivamax, a subscription-based streaming service, has gained attention not for its meaningful and family-oriented content, but for “inundating the digital space with films and shows filled with graphic, sexual, and exploitative material.”
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“The Philippines is a nation deeply rooted in moral values, family traditions, and respect for human dignity. However, these principles are being challenged by platforms that prioritize profit over social responsibility,” said Estrada.
The Senate’s second top leader said he recognizes the importance of “artistic freedom” and “creative expression,” but he also emphasized the need for it to have boundaries.
“This situation is even more concerning because many of these materials are easily accessible and may target younger audiences, who are more susceptible to influence,” he said.
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, according to Estrada, has called the attention of Vivamax following complaints it received regarding the latters’ explicit contents. He said the meeting ended up with an agreement that Vivamax will “self-regulate.”
“However, it seems that Vivamax is not complying with this agreement because a monitoring conducted by the MTRCB revealed that the company’s streaming platform movies are only suitable for porn sites,” said Estrada.
He then noted that he sees “no redeeming values” that viewers could pick up upon watching the films that Vivamax shows.
Backing his complaint, Estrada proceeded to cite Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code which prohibits the distribution, exhibition, or sale of content deemed immoral, obscene, or indecent, covering literature, films, music, artworks, performances, plays, scenes, acts, and shows.
“The law clearly states that the release of any obscene and lewd material that may cause damage to public morals is prohibited,” he said.
“Anyone who violates this will be subject to a penalty of up to six years in prison, a fine of P20,000 to P200,000, and cancellation of the permit or license,” he added.
Apart from airing his concern regarding explicit contents of Vivamax, he likewise bared that he had received reports of abuse among artists who play their respective roles in the streaming application’s contents.
“In exchange for exposing their bodies in front of the camera, they get only P15,000. P15,000 per day and within two days they can produce a full-length movie for the streaming platform. So it’s not surprising that they can easily produce something like this in a short period of time,” said Estrada.
He then noted that the “normalization of such content” erodes the fundamental principles of respect, decency, and empathy, which are essential for individual well-being and social cohesion.