Published in The Philippine Daily Inquirer
(June 17, 2000)
The Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines yesterday announced that it would form a “shadow” Movie. Television Review and Classification board in cyberspace within the month to help curb the pornography in the internet.
Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, CBCP assistant secretary general, said that the CBCP’s cyber-“MTRCB” aims to protect the family, the children, and the Filipinos themselves against all forms of pornography in cyberspace.
Quitorio cited that pornography has become a source of destruction in the Filipino family.
Bishops, priests, nuns, and lay people will compose the CBCP’s Internet board.
The CBCP’s internet service provider’s (ISP) launched its prepaid internet cards, calle the CBCPNet Card.
“AS the Internet Service Provider (ISP) with a mission, CBCPNet extends its porn-free access to anyone with prepaid internet cards,” Quitorio said.
The CBCPNet offers only clean and wholesome sites in the Wolrd Wide Web, screenign out pornography sites.
Quitorio said the CBCPNet is the Church’s response to curb the proliferation of pornography in the Internet.
“With pronography, the diginity of the human person is debased. Pronography degrades the women and especially young children,” he added.
There is a need for an integral and coordinated effort to combat this social malady, Quitorio said during the launch at the Casa Marineros Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila.
The rates of the CBCPNet prepaid cards are lower compared to other commercial ISPs.
“We just want to make this project self-sustaining. This is not for profit primarily but as a means to minimize pornography,” Quitorio said.
NORMAN BORDADORA