Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR., 
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Internet users reached 4 billion in 2019. In the Philippines, there are over 76 million social 
media users, a stark increase from 67 million in the previous year. Aptly dubbed by news sites 
as the “social media capital of the world,” the Philippines tops social media use year after year 
in Hootsuite’s Digital 2019 report, clocking in at 4 hours each day for this year1.  
These numbers are expected to climb over the years as more and more Filipinos gain access 
to the internet. Currently, 87% of Filipino adults are mobile phone users which are used to 
accessing social media accounts that over 40% of Filipinos own and are active in. This social 
media penetration is higher than in countries like South Korea, where only 30% are active 
social media users. 
With social media as platforms, Filipinos have found an easier and efficient way to get their 
messages across and exercise their right to freedom of speech. This has democratized 
speech and has allowed an outlet for people to express their views. However, these platforms 
can also be the cause and source of propaganda and misleading and deceptive information. 
This bill aims to protect Filipino users from unscrupulous use of social media by mandating 
the promotion of responsible use of social media. Corporations are required to include this as 
part of their respective Corporate Social Responsibility activities and should likewise be 
observed and practiced by their officials and employees. It further proposes for the National 
Service Training Program to include social media education as part of the program. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE  
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
1 https://www.rappler.com/technology/news/222407-philippines-online-use-2019-hootsuite-we-are-social-report 
August 23, 2022
2:00 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR., 
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT  
INCORPORATING THE VALUE OF RESPONSIBLE, FAIR AND TRUTHFUL 
USAGE AND ENJOYMENT OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN SCHOOLS AND 
UNIVERSITIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 “Social Media Awareness 
in Schools and Universities Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State has constitutionally-declared policies 
to serve and protect the people, to give priority to education to foster patriotism and 
nationalism and to recognize the vital role of communication and information in nation-
building. Towards this end, it is the objective of this Act to cope up with the mercurial 
rise of the influence and prevalence of use of Social Media by inculcating onto the 
youth and/or students the virtues of discernment and critical-thinking in their 
unavoidable daily immersion in Social Media. 
SECTION 3. Inclusion of Social Media in the Curricula for Primary and 
Secondary Education. – Social Media awareness shall be part of the curriculum for 
both primary and secondary education, in public and private schools, with the following 
objectives: 
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a. 
Inculcate how various types of Social Media aid in the effective and 
efficient dissemination of information; 
b. 
Inculcate how Social Media helps in shaping public discourse and 
opinion; 
c. 
Inculcate how Social Media helps in fostering a more participative 
democracy; 
d. 
Inculcate the importance of upholding truth and the veracity of facts, 
figures and events in Social Media;  
e. 
Inculcate responsible and fair use of Social Media; and 
f. 
Inculcate the virtues of discernment and critical-thinking in the use 
and/or enjoyment of Social Media. 
 
The Department of Education (DepEd), in consultation with the Department of 
Information and Communications Technology (DICT), shall immediately formulate the 
necessary steps and measures to achieve the objectives of this Section. 
 
SECTION 4. Social Media Awareness as part of the National Service Training 
Program (NSTP). – Social Media awareness must be made part of the National 
Service Training Program (NSTP), particularly in the service components pertaining 
to the Literacy Training Service (LTS) and the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS).  
 
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills 
Development Authority (TESDA), in consultation with the DICT, shall immediately 
formulate the necessary steps and measures to achieve the objectives of this Section. 
 
SECTION 5. Contribution of the Private Sector in Social Media Awareness. – 
Private corporations must formulate and implement effective measures and/or policies 
in relation to the responsible, fair and truthful utilization and/or enjoyment of various 
types of Social Media. Private corporations must likewise promote the foregoing as 
part of their respective Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). 
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in consultation with the DICT, shall 
immediately formulate the necessary steps and measures to achieve the objectives of 
this Section. 


 
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SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DepEd, CHED, SEC, in 
consultation with the DICT, shall have the joint responsibility for the adoption of the 
implementing rules of this Act within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act. 
 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. – If any section or provision of this Act shall be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not affected 
thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 8. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of national circulation. 
 
Approved,