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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon. ROSANNA “RIA” V. VERGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Among the multitude of technological innovations the world has seen so
far, none has powerfully gripped the world as much as the internet has (Billions of
people access the internet everyday!). The internet has opened a whole new
dimension of accessing information, of connecting and interacting with other
people, and of expressing and entertaining oneself, unbound by the limitations of
space and time.

In as much as the internet offers novel advantages, it also inadvertently
brings with it the customary evils of fraud, pornography, bullying, gambling and
addiction. Most often, it is the youth that succumb to its seemingly innocuous yet
pernicious magnetism resulting in dire personal, social, and economic
consequences to the victims and their families.

Of the emerging problems, online gaming addiction has been identified as
the biggest source of concern among parents. Millions of young people around the
world spend several hours a day in front of computers enthralled by the games
they play to the serious detriment of their studies, health, family finances and
relationships. And worse, internet gaming has recently become a platform for
gambling. ‘The players in the internet gaming industry are now taking advantage
of the innocence of our youth to reap income from internet gaming to the tune of
billions of dollars by designing the games to be addictive. Through the use of
electronic cash, these games encourage minor children to spend money online,
much to the prejudice of their parents.

In order to avert an impending crisis and to assist and support parents’
efforts in rearing their children for civic efficiency and in the development of their
intellectual, spiritual, and moral character, this Bill seeks to integrate Internet and
Social Media Education in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools.


‘The Bill aims to instruct and educate school-age children to the proper and
prudent use of the internet so that they may properly benefit from it and avoid the
dangers and risks arising from uninformed and unregulated use, for studies have
shown that, on their own, “children and teenagers are not prepared to balance
emotion and logic to make healthy choices.”"

While the internet brings enormous benefits, it also brings problems that
may harm its users, especially the youth. The task of addressing and preventing
these problems is an exigency that needs the comprehensive and concerted efforts
of the State and of all concerned sectors. Systematic education of the youth while
they are young and receptive to adult inputs is a proper first step.

‘The early adoption of this measure is thus earnestly requested.
ee VPP

ROSANNA “RIA” Y. VERGARA
Representative, 3rd District of Nueva Ecija

" As presented by New York Council on Problem Gambling.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 5666

Introduced by Hon. ROSANNA “RIA” V. VERGARA

AN ACT TO INTEGRATE
INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDUCATION
AS PART OF THE CURRICULUM OF ALL
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS,
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

Section 1. Title. — This act shall be known as the “INTERNET AND SOCIAL
MEDIA EDUCATION ACT OF 2017”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. —

a. It is the policy of the State to promote and protect the physical, moral,
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of the youth in recognition of the vital

role they play in nation-building.

b. _Itis the policy of the State to support the primary right and duty of parents
in rearing the youth for civic efficiency and the development of their moral

character through education.

c. It is the policy of the State to give priority to education, science and
technology, atts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate

social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.

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d. _Itis also the policy of the State to support and strengthen communication

and information recognizing their vital role in nation-building.

¢. __Itis, therefore, the policy of the State to instruct and educate the youth in
the proper and prudent use of the internet in order to emotionally and
intellectually empower them to maximize the opportunities and benefits they may
derive from it, as well as to counter the various dangers and risks arising from its

uninformed and unregulated use.

Section 3. Mandatory Internet and Social Media Education Coverage. — All primary and
secondary schools, public and private, shall be required to integrate in theit school
curriculum Internet and Social Media Education — specifically on the proper use of
the internet and social media, the benefits of prudent use, and the harmful effects

of unregulated access and use.

Section 4. Course Design. — The Department of Education (DepEd), in
consultation with the Department of Information and Communications
‘Technology (DICT), shall integrate Internet and Social Media Education in the
primary and secondary schools’ curriculum framework (leatning area standard, key
stage standards, grade level standards) and develop appropriate grade-level-specific
content matrix (content, content standards, performance standards, learning

competency, and learning materials).

Online gaming and gambling addiction specific lessons shall be introduced and
discussed from Grade three (3) to Senior High School.

Section 5. Teacher Training. — DepEd, in consultation with DICT, shall train and
equip public school teachers with the necessary information, skills, and

competency in delivering effective Internet and Social Media Education. DepEd-


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formulated training modules and DepEd-sponsored training sessions shall be made

available to private school teachers free of charge.

Section 6. Capacity Building for Parents. - DepEd shall endeavor to empower
parents in the formation of their children by making available information,
resources, seminars or trainings as to the proper and prudent use of the internet
and social media, For this purpose, DepEd shall take full advantage of the Patent

‘Teacher Association (PTA) as venue for parents’ capacity building,

Section 7. Transitory Provisions. The course shall be integrated in the primary and
secondary school curriculum in the next academic year following the approval of
this Act, In the interim, DepEd shall commence the development of the course

modules and the training of teaching personnel responsible for its execution.

Section 8. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this
Act shall be sourced from the yearly funds appropriated for the Department of

Education.

Section 9. Seperabilty Clause. ~ If any provision of this act is held invalid, the other

provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees ot rules inconsistent with this Act
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 11. Effectinity. — ‘This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after completion
of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of

general circulation.

Approved.