The findings of a 2008 study conducted by the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) supported by the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), revealed that “Excessive exposure to television is a leading cause of physical weakness, stress, poor appetite, aggression or violent behavior among children.”
“Excessive violence, sex, and foul language on television are threats to our children’s well-being,” said Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus.
To address the growing problem of “TV Overdose”, the DepEd, NCCT, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), and Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) will launch “Bantay TV Campaign” during the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on July 29.
The MOA between the education department, NCCT, MTRCB and SMART will mark the start of closer monitoring of television programs especially those that are shown between 6:00 to 10:00 a.m., the time period when majority of Filipino children watch TV shows.
Parents and concerned citizens can report “non-child friendly TV shows” via text by typing:
BANTAYTV (space) NAME/AGE/ADDRESS/MESSAGE to 700-6228(NCCT) or BANTAYTV (space)TV PROGRAM (space) DATE OF AIRING then send to 700-6228.
Complaints may also be filed by calling the NCCT hotline numbers 637-2306 from Mondays to Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or by sending an e-mail to bantaytv@ncctph.org. (DepEd)
