“The site blocking bill is also about shielding Filipino consumers from the hidden dangers of online piracy.”
As actor and former chairman of the Optical Media Board Edu Manzano recalled, the golden era of producing over 250 films annually has dwindled to fewer than 30. This has led to widespread job losses, with some 9,000 industry professionals—from directors to lighting crews—falling into dire straits. Other countries have embraced site blocking as a vital tool in combating piracy. Daniel Lye, Content Protection Counsel of the Motion Picture Association stated in his presentation that It has been proven effective in more than 50 nations, where site blocking laws are implemented.
Passing the Site Blocking Bill would streamline this process, allowing rights holders to obtain blocking orders swiftly and at scale. This is critical, especially when it comes to newly released content that is most vulnerable to piracy. Films, live sports events, and other real-time broadcasts lose their value rapidly if pirated copies flood the internet shortly after release. An institutionalized site-blocking mechanism would empower authorities to act quickly and decisively.