NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. 2934
25 ,«22 ?2'-23
\V,:.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SAFETY INTERNET EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE 
CURRICULUM OF ALL ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The internet proved to be very useful and helpful in our everyday lives. It 
connected us to different parts of the globe which enhanced our connection with the 
global community, expanded our knowledge on various fields, and allowed us to 
explore more about vast range of subjects and interests. Our tasks at home, in 
school, at work and in various sectors of the community were made easier.
However, along with these advantages are perils and threat of the internet to 
its users. Invasion of privacy, identity theft, cyberbullying, cybercrime, online sexual 
abuse and exploitation, fake news, internet addiction and the resulting lack of 
interpersonal connection and diversion from reality are some of them.
In 2017, the UNICEF urged the global community to make the digital world 
safer for children. It published a study, "The State of the World's Children 2017: 
Children in a digital world". It mentioned that one (1) in every three (3) internet 
users worldwide is a child and examined "how the internet increases children's


vulnerability to risks and harms, including misuse of their private information, access 
to harmful content, and cyberbullying." It particularly mentioned the Philippines 
where "the risks to children are high with the country being the number one global 
source of child pornography and a hub for the live-stream sexual abuse trade. 
Around 8 out of every 10 Filipino children are at risk of online sexual abuse or 
bullying."1 In the same year, the Office of Cybercrime of the Department of Justice 
"received 45,645 tip-offs about sexual images of Filipino children from the US-based 
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)."2 To address this, 
UNICEF partnered with various private companies and organization and has since 
achieved significant positive developments.
The passage of Republic Act No. 11930 or the "Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and 
Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation 
Materials (CSAEM) Act" in 2022 provided a strict and responsive legal framework to 
address online sexual abuse and exploitation among children.
The proposed "Internet Safety Protection Act seeks to complement Republic 
Act No. 11930 by providing a preventive mechanism so they will not fall victims of 
the dangers of the internet. The bill intends to equip the children with sufficient 
knowledge about and appropriate attitude towards internet. This will empower them 
in safely navigating the virtual world early on and minimize, if not eliminate, its 
threats and dangers. The proposed measure is in line with one of the 
recommendations of the aforementioned UNICEF study is to "teach digital literacy to 
keep children informed, engaged and safe online". This is one worthwhile 
springboard for the government to be actively involved in ensuring the safety of 
children in exploring the internet.
1 UNICEF: Make the digital world safer for children - while increasing online access to benefit the most
disadvantaged
2 Save the Children Philippines urges protection of children against trending online challenges - Our Stories ■
Save the Children Philippines


In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is highly 
recommended.
NGOPY EJERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 2934
25 ,1!\H 22 P2-.23
=6
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shaii be known as the "Internet Safety
2 
Education Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the terms:
4 
(a) Internet Safety Education Program refers an age-appropriate, research-
5 
based program that encourages safe, ethicai, and responsibie use of the
6 
internet, promotes an informed, criticai understanding of the internet, and
7 
educates chiidren and communities about how to prevent or respond to
8 
probiems or dangers reiated to the internet or new media;
9 
(b) New Media refers to emerging digitai, computerized, or network informed
10 
and communication technoiogies that often have interactive capacities. It
11 
inciudes eiectronic maii, instant messaging, text messaging, websites,
12 
biogs, interactive gaming, sociai media, celiphones, and mobiie devices.
13 
Sec. 3. Implementing Agency and Its Duties. - The Department of Education
14 
(DepEd) shaii be the agency responsibie for the implementation of the provisions of
15 
this Act. It shall:


1 
(a) Identify, develop, and implement an Internet Safety Education Program,
2 
including educational technology, multimedia and interactive applications,
3 
online resources, and lesson plans;
4 
(b) provide professional training to elementary and secondary teachers,
5 
administrators, and other staff on internet safety and new media literacy;
6 
(c) develop online risk prevention programs for children;
7 
(d) train and support peer-driven internet safety education initiatives;
8 
(e) coordinate and fund research initiatives that investigate online risks to
9 
children and internet safety education;
10 
(f) develop and implement public education campaigns to promote awareness
11 
of online risks to children and internet safety education;
12 
(g) educate parents about teaching their children to use the internet and new
13 
media safely, responsibly, and ethically and help parents identify and
14 
protect their children from risks relating to use of the internet and new
15 
media; and
16 
(h) coordinate with the Department of Information and Communication
17 
Technology and other relevant government agencies for resources,
18 
technical guidance and recommendations on the delivery of its functions
19 
pursuant to this Act.
20 
Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of DepEd shall,
21 
within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and
22 
regulations, including those of disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the
23 
provisions of this Act.
24 
Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
25 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
26 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
27 
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
28 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation
29 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
30 
modified, or amended accordingly.
31 
Sec. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
32 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.


Approved,