ALTHOUGH there have been restrictions for children when it comes to watching contents on television, the National Council for Children's Television (NCCT) is encouraging co-viewing and strong parental mediation to guide children on the shows they watch.
NCCT, a policy-making agency, aims to promote and protect the youth's physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of the Filipino child through the conduct of research while considering sectoral needs and conditions in the development of educational, cultural, and recreational policies and programs for children.
During Regional Launch of the Child-Friendly Content Standards under Republic Act 8370 on Tuesday, September 24, at Seda Hotel, NCCT chairperson Child Development Specialists Sector Luis P. Gatmaitan, in an interview, acknowledged the importance of parents' role in monitoring the media consumption of their children.
However, although there are already some restrictions given by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), whose role is only to classify the shows and provides parental guidance, most of the time, these are not followed by most Filipino families.
"'Yong co-viewing, ang ganda kasi ito 'yong parental mediation na madalas nangyayari. Nandoon yong anak, nandoon ang magulang sabay silang nanonood. Doon sa co-viewing parent mediation, hindi nag-uusap yong anak at bata, parehas lang sila nanood and then walang processing afterwards. Kung sakaling gamitin itong co-viewing parental mediation na ito, mas gawin nating co-viewing na may active na parental mediation kaysa 'yong restrictive lang: Oh anak wag mong panoodin yan kasi hindi yan pambata," he said.
Instead of merely giving restrictions, he encouraged parents to engage their children into a critical discussion and ask their point of view on a certain scene. In that way, the parents will learn the views and what their children are thinking.
"Kung sasagot 'yong anak, makikita mo din 'yong pano mag-isip yong anak eh. Makikita mo na ang anak mo ganito na pala ang wisdom niya pagdating sa pagtingin sa bagay-bagay sa paligid. Kailangan natin i-encourage 'yong ganong healthy participation sa mga anak natin," he said.
Meanwhile, starting January 1, 2020, pursuant to Section 9 of Republic Act 8370 or the Children's Television Act, NCCT "shall formulate and promote CFCS, which requires broadcast television networks to allocate a minimum of 15 percent of their daily total airtime to children's programs and/or child-friendly programs to be shown during child-viewing hours."
Gatmaitan said that to give time for broadcast networks to adjust in observing the Child-Friendly Content Standards (CFCS), they will implement in staggered the 15 percent of their daily airtime to children-oriented shows. They will first have a five percent airtime for 2020, 10 percent in 2021 until they will complete the 15 percent by 2022.
They also urged broadcast networks to adhere to the policy in helping Filipino learners have a balanced and holistic development.
