A “NO-SMOKING” or ban on smoking on tv programs and films notably entries to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is being seriously contemplated to be implemented.

Movie and Television  Review and Classification Board  (MTRCB) chairperson Grace Poe Llamanzares said the Department of Health (DOH) has consulted the agency regarding the guidelines in the possible implementation of a no-smoking directive on tv shows and films.

The MTRCB chief said her agency has yet to thresh out its merits next week.

Earlier, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority   chair Francis Tolentino appealed to showbiz industry stakeholders to shun depicting scenes of actors and actresses smoking in their entries in this year’s MMFF.

But majority of showbiz stakeholders frowned on Tolentino’s appeal.

They warned that Tolentino may be treading on dangerous and questionable legal grounds since filmmaking is covered by the constitutional right of free expression.

“Hindi pupuwede. Actors have to bring life to any role and if their character is smoking, it does not mean that they are setting a bad example to the youth,” according to Mother Lily Monteverde of Regal Films, who is a persistent supporter of the MMFF.

Tolentino said that smoking may be allowed in a film if the scene depicts that it is being done in a smoker’s area which is in compliance with dictates of the law.

He said he prefers films that are family oriented, historical  and cultural  movies and of value to society.

Meanwhile, the MMDA and the Metro Manila Film Festival executive committee have extended the submission of scripts for this year’s MMFF entries from May 30 to June 9 due to persistent request by local producers.   Efren Montano