Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4648

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Internet users are growing at and has 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 year’.

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 user which
are used to access social media accounts that over 40% of Filipinos own and are
active in. This social media penetration is higher than 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 for as many social media users as there is in the Philippines,
this has allowed an outlet for people to express it. However, these platforms can also
be the cause and source of propaganda and misleading and deceptive information.

This bill protects Filipino users from unscrupulous use of social media by mandating

Gonzales, Gelo. January 31, 2019. Rappler. Accessed July 15, 2019.
https://www.rappler. com/technology/news/222407-philippines-online-use-2019-hootsuite-we-are-social-report


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 a social media
education as part of the program.

This bills is filed as a counterpart to Senator Poe's version in the Senate.

The approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

LUIS RA’ ID /LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4648

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

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. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Social Media Awareness in
Schools and Universities Act of 2019".

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:


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.


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,