EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No3 303

Introduced by Representative Victor A. Yap

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Internet is everywhere, and in the digital age we currently have, children are most
vulnerable to the influence of internet. In 2018, the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) found out that more than 175,000 children go online for the first time every day ~
anew child every half second.

While internet offers tremendous knowledge, benefits and opportunities, we ¢gnnot conceal
the fact that being exposed to it at an early age may be detrimental to the welfare of the
children, if not properly supervised. Among the risks identified by the UNICEF are children’s
exposure to sexual abuse and exploitation, bullying and harassment, and inappropriate self-
generated contents.

However, it is unfortunate that even the UNICEF admitted that there is too little being done
to protect the children from perils of the digital world. Indeed, it is imperative that we
provide the children access to safe online content.

As embodied in the Constitution, it is the duty of the State to promote and protect the
physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of the youth. For this reason,
there is a need for a measure that calls for a safe digital world for children.

‘Acknowledging the role of the youth in nation-building, this bill essentially seeks to provide
children a comprehensive internet program that will safeguard their welfare against the
many dangers posed in the advent of increased technology. This proposed measure
understands that there is a growing need to protect children’s right in the digital age, and
that the time to act on it is now.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

VICTOR A. YAP



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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session a

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 3303

Introduced by Representative Victor A. Yap

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SAFETY INTERNET EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE CURRICULUM OF ALL
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Internet Safety Education Act"
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - For the purposes of this Act, the terms:
(A) "DepEd" means Department of Education

{B) “Internet Safety Education Program" means an age appropriate, research-based
program that encourages safe, ethical, and responsible use of the Internet, promotes an
informed, critical understanding of the internet, and educates children and
communities about how to prevent or respond to problems or dangers related to the

internet or new media;
(©) "New Media"

(1) means emerging digital, computerized, or network informed and

communication technologies that often have interactive capacities; and

(2) includes e-mail, instant messaging, text messaging web sites, blogs, interactive

gaming, social media, cellphones, and mobile devices; and
(D) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Department of Education.
Sec. 3. Implementing Agency and its duties. -

(A) The DepEd shall:

(1) Identify, develop, and implement Internet Safety education programs, including
educational technology, multimedia and interactive applications, online

resources, and lesson plans


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(2) Provide professional training to elementary and secondary teachers,

administrators, and other staff on Internet safety and new media literacy;
(3) Develop online risk prevention programs for children;
(4) Train and support peer-driven Internet Safety education initiatives;

(5) Coordinate and fund research initiatives that investigate online risks to children

and Internet safety education;

(6) Develop and implement public education campaigns to promote awareness of

online risks to children and Internet safety education;

(7) Educate parents about teaching their children how to use the Internet and new
media safely, responsibly, and ethically and help parents identify and protect

their children from risks relating to use of the Internet and new media; or

(B) The DepEd Secretary shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act,
promulgate rules and regulations, including those of disciplinary nature, to carry out
and enforce provisions of this Act. Further, the DepEd shall be the lead agency in the
carrying out the following: The Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to adopt

a system to implement and carry out the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 4. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as may be
necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter, the
amount necessary for the continuous operation of this program shall be included in the annual
appropriation of the DepEd.

Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or section of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions and sections not affected thereby shall remain in full force

and effect.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, or issuances, or
any part thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,

amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the

Official Gazette or two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,