FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC)  
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)  
Third Regular Session 
)  
SEN~~ 
S.B.No. 468 
!lEGE 1\( r: D t", . , ~..... 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor-S~tiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 13 states that:' 
The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and 
shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and 
social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and 
nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs. 
It is acknowledged that the Internet, mobile phone and other new digital technology are 
invaluable tools, critical to the ability of a nation to compete in a global economy; however, the 
easy, immediately accessible digital connections between individuals have also created safety 
problems for vulnerable sectors. 
Internet users have grown exponentially in the past years; a large part of these users are 
minors. Statistics on American internet users showed that about 93 percent of youth ages 12 
through 17 years are online and nearly 45 percent of children ages 3 to 11 years will use the 
Internet on a monthly basis in 2009. Eighty-nine percent of youth 13 through 19 years of age 
have a profile on social-networking sites. Meanwhile, US studies on the use of mobile phones 
show that eighty percent of teens 13 through 17 years of ~ge use cell phones, most of which have 
built-in cameras. 
The Philippines has high internet penetration. In a joint study conducted by Nielsen 
Company Philippines and Yahoo! in 2008, it was found that Filipinos between 10 to 19 years are 
the top users of the Internet. 
As of March 2009, there are 20.65 million internet users in our 
country. 
As for the mobile phone, the Filipino youth have long been familiar with the device, 
with most of them owning a cel phone with built-in cameras .. 
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A study conducted by the U.S. Congress on the internet and the youth, found that: 
•  The problem of online harassment or cyberbullying of youth by other youths is 
widespread, and results in a range of children's experiences from minor irritation to 
severe emotional harm. The Bureau of Justice Statistics has found that online 
harassment tends to begin in third and fourth grade, peaks in seventh a:ild eighth 
grade, and continues in reduced amounts throughout high school, college, and 
professional schools. 
•  Young people face greater risks in the form of electronic aggression and sexual 
solicitation from other young people known to them than from strangers. 
•  Gang members increasingly are using the Internet as a recruitment tool to entice 
would-be members and as an intimidation tool to threaten rival gangs. Gang members 
use the Internet in particular to promote their message. 
•  
The pervasive digital image and video capture devices play a role in cases of 
harassment of youth by other youth and youth production of problematic content. 
•  
Most elementary and secondary school educators have received little or no 
professional development training on Internet safety. As a result, many students 
receive little or no education on safe, responsible, and ethical use ofInternet and other 
new media. 
•  The widespread use of the Internet, cell phones, interactive gammg, and other 
electronic communication devices by children both inside and outside of school 
suggest that acceptable use policies and filtering alone cannot resolve Internet safety 
concerns, and that a greater focus on education would be beneficial. 
•  
According to an empirical study of 1,379 fourth grade students in Virginia, the first 
State to mandate Internet safety education in its schools, the students improved their 
responses to 8 of 10 questions after completing an Internet safety education program, 
especially in 2 major areas, uncomfortable content and cyberbullying. 
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l'his bfIJ proposes a comprehensive prognun which shall include mandatory Internet 
safety education for all students, in order to resolve and prevent the problems and dangers 
relating to misuse of the Internet and other new media. 
I··~·.... J1 
JL~ 
~DEFFSANTIA16  
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·H! r i:
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC)  
OF THE PHILIPPD\IES 
)  
Third Regular Session 
. )  
SEP 29 P~ :49 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 346:t 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor S,!ptiago 
., . 
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AN ACT REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A SAFETY 
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INTERNET EDUCATION PROGRAM AND INCLUDE THIS IN THE CURRICULUM OF 
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ALL ELEMENTA;p1SY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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Congress assembled: 
. 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Safety Internet Education 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Definitions. 
For purposes ofthis Act, the term: 
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A. "Secretary" - means the Secretary ofthe Department of Education. 
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B. "DepED" - means the Department of Education 
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C. "Internet Safety Education Progranl"- means an age-appropriate, research-based 
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program that encourages safe, ethical, and responsible use of the Internet, promotes an informed, 
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critical understanding of the Internet, and educates children and communities about how to 
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prevent or respond to problems or dangers related to the i.nternet or new media. 
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D. "New Media"­
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(1) means emerging digital, computerized, or networked information and 
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communication technologies that often have interactive capabilities; and 
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(2) includes e-mail, instant messaging, text messaging, web sites, blogs, interactive 
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gaming, social media, cell phones, and mobile devices. 
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SECTION 3. Incorporation ofan Internet Safety Education Program in the curriculum of 
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Public and Private Secondary Schools. -
A course on Internet Safety Education shall be 
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incorporated in the curriculum of both public and private elementary and secondary schools. 
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SECTION 4. Implementing Agency and its duties. -
A. The DepEd shall: 
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(1) identify, develop, and implement Internet safety education programs, including 
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educational technology, multimedia and interact,ive applications, online resources, and 
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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; 
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(3) develop online-risk prevention programs for children; 
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(4) train and support peer-driven Internet safety education initiatives; 
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(5) coordinate and fund research initiatives that investigate online risks to children and 
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Internet safety education; 
(6) develop and implement public education campaigns to promote awareness of online 
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risks to children and Internet safety education; 
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(7) educate parents about teaching their children how to use the Internet and new media 
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safely, responsibly, and ethically and help parents identify and protect their children from 
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risks relating to use ofthe Internet and new media; or 
B. The DepEd Secretary shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, 
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promulgate rules and regulations, including those of disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce 
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the provisions of this Act. Further, the DepEd shall be the lead agency in the carrying out the 
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following: Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to adopt a system to implement and carry 
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out the provisions ofthis Act. 
SECTION 5. Appropriation. 
To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as 
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may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of this program shall be included 
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in the annual appropriation of the DepED. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof: is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the proviston not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. 
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or is inconsistent 
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with the provision ofthis Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circlJ.lation. 
Approved, 
lacs 
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