Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2671

Introduced by: HON. FAUSTINO MICHAEL CARLOS T. DY IIL
Sth District, Isabela

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the Department of Social Welfare and Development report on the sexual
exploitation of children in the year 2009 and 2010, prostitution and cyber pornography
ranked the highest (48.5 % and 33.8 %, respectively in 2009 and 52.0 % and 31.5 %,
respectively, in 2010). As recently conveyed on the news by the Agence France-Presse
(AFP) early January of this year, a cybersex den operating in a village in Cordova, Cebu was
discovered to be peddling live footages of children engaged in sexual activities on-line
According to AFP reports, children were given as much as $100 per session. Police and local

authorities also reported that parents knew what the children were doing in front of the
webcam.

Dr. Romulo A, Virola, Secretary General of the National Statistics Coordination
Board said in one of his papers that “Children and women are two of the poorest basic sectors
of Philippine society with poverty incidence of 34.8% and 25.1%, respectively, in 2006,
behind fishermen and farmers. Children by their innocence about the ways of the world, are
surely vulnerable; and while many Pinays are successful and productive professionals, there
are many women who are also exposed to various kinds of risk. It is therefore incumbent on
the duty-bearers of our children and women to assess the quality of social protection they
receive.”

The Philippine government, being a signatory and a state party to the United Nation’s
Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination Against Women, has come up with several laws for the protection of both
children and women. Among these are Republic Act 7610 as amended (Anti-Child Abuse
Law), R.A. 7877 (Anti-Sexual Harassment Act), R.A. 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons
Act), R.A. 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act), R.A. 9775 (Anti-
Child pornography Act), R.A. 9995 (Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act), and R.A.10175
(Cybercrime Prevention Act)

To ensure that our women and children are protected from the sexual and other forms
of abuses on the internet, it would be a big help if the responsible use of this technology is
taken up in our schools

Thus, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2671

Introduced by: HON. FAUSTINO MICHAEL CARLOS T. DY IIT
Sth District, Isabela

AN ACT
MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE IN THE
CURRICULUM OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS THE RESPONSIBLE,
USE OF THE INTERNET, VIDEO/PHOTO EQUIPMENT, SMART PHONES AND
THE LIKES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title — This Act shall be known as the “Responsible Use of the
Internet Act”.

Section 2. The Department of Education, in coordination with the Departments of
Social Welfare and Development and the Science and Technology, shall conceptualize and
develop age appropriate module/s for the inclusion of the responsible use of the internet,
video/photo equipment, smart phones, and the likes in the curriculum of primary and
secondary schools.

Section 3. Coverage of the modules - The modules shall cover but will not be limited
to the following topics:
(a) respecting and protecting privacy ~ sending/accessing personal
information on the internet;

(b) understanding computer security systems — schools, churches, government
and non-government agencies;

(c) on-line gender sensitivity;

(d) the proper use of “social networking” ~ facebook, twitter, MySpace,
blogging, instagram;

(e) Cybercrime Prevention Act and other related instruments.
Section 4. Revision/Updating of the modules ~ The modules may be revised or

updated every two (2) years to keep abreast with the developments in technology and
legislation.


Section 5. Appropriations - The amount necessary to implement the provisions of
this Act and shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act

Section 6 . Separability Clause. - If any part of this Act is declared unconstitutional or
invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of
this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly.

Section 8. Hffectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation

Approved,