Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18" Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3505

Introduced by: HON. LORNA C. SILVERIO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SAFETY INTERNET EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE
CURRICULUM OF ALL ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The World Wide Web or simply the Internet has made the dissemination of
information at a faster rate nobody ever imagined. People can access the
“Information Highway” anytime of the day, 24/7 as long as there is an internet WiFi
connection. The internet can enrich lives, provide information, entertainment, social
networking, and connections to people all over the world. But inspite of all the
benefits we reap while using the internet, there are also a lot of negative issues it
brings. Problems arise when people using the internet view it as a tool to commit
unscrupulous acts like cybersex, pornography, gambling, cyberbullying amongst
others. Students nowadays closely associate their lives with what the Internet brings
to them. It has also the tendency to affect their mood and it is brought about by
overusing the said information facility.

This Bill commits to establish a comprehensive program that will require a
mandatory Internet safety education program for all students to prevent the problems
arising from the misuse of the internet and other new media by guiding them to
properly use the Internet.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

CO a

LORNA C. SILVERIO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City
18% Congress

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8505

Introduced by: HON. LORNA C. SILVERIO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SAFETY INTERNET EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE
‘CURRICULUM OF ALL ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

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

SEC 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the "Internet Safety Education Act”

SEC 2. Declaration of State Policy. It is the policy of the State to give importance to the
children’s welfare and look after their safety by all means.

SEC 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the terms:
A.) “DepEd means the Department of Education

B,) “Internet Safety Education Program” means an age-appropriate, research based
program that encourages safe, ethical, and responsible use of the Internet, promotes
an informed, critical understanding of the Internet, and educates children and
communities about how to prevent or respond to problems or dangers related to the
internet or new media;

C.) “New Media”

1.) Means emerging digital, computerized, or network informed and communication
technologies that often have interactive capacities; and

2.) Includes e-mail, instant messaging, text messaging, web sites, blogs, interactive
gaming, social media, cellphones, and mobile devices;

D.) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Education;


SEC 4. Implementing Agency and its duties.-
(A) The Department of Education shall:

1. Identify, develop, and implement Intemet Safety education programs, including
educational technology, multimedia and interactive applications, online
resources, and lesson plans;

2. Provide professional training to elementary and secondary teachers,

administrators, and other staff on Internet safety and new media literacy;

Develop online risk prevention programs for children;

Train and support peer-driven Internet Safety education initiatives;

Coordinate and fund research initiatives that investigate online risks to children

and Internet safety education;

6. Develop and implement public education campaigns to promote awareness of
online risks to children and Internet safety education;

7. Educate parents about teaching their children how to use the Intemet and new
media safely, responsibly, and ethically and help parents identify and protect their
children from risks relating to use of the Internet and new media; or

(B.) The DepEd Secretary shall, within sixty days (60) from the effectivity of this Act,
promulgate rules and regulations, including those of disciplinary nature, to carry out
and enforce provisions of this Act. Further, the DepEd shall be the lead agency in
carrying out the following: the Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to adopt a
system to implement and carry out the provisions of this Act.

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‘SEC 5. Appropriations. To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount may be necessary
is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter, the amount
necessary for the continuous operation of this program shall be included in the annual
appropriation of the DepEd.

SEC 6. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or
invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, ordinances, rules and
regulation, and other issuances or part thereof which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly

SEC 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,