Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2738

Introduced by Representative Julius Cesar “Jay” V. Vergara

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Unlike radio and television, the Internet is an interactive medium that requires
users to actively seek a particular site or application and directly engage with its
content. This personal interactivity is precisely what draws people to this medium of
information, interaction, expression, and entertainment.

Of the many features of the internet, online gaming emerged to be one of the
most popular applications among the youth. With millions of young people around
the world spending several hours a day playing online games, the ever-expanding
role and impact of online gaming industry in our society cannot be denied.

Reportedly, with the enormous expansion of the industry, developers churn
out games by the thousands, each vying for the attention of online gamers who are
mostly minors. As designed, each new one is bigger, louder, more violent, and more
addictive than its precursor, with story lines that appeal to the violent and prurient
interests of the youth and take advantage of their gullibility and susceptibility to
external influence in their formative years.

Although internet games are not without beneficial effects, numerous studies
have demonstrated the nefarious effects of excessive exposure to violent online games.
Brain research (Bushman & Sestir, 2006) shows that players exposed to violent media
manifest reduction in healthy, emphatic responses to real-life violence and that these
reduced brain response led to increased aggressive behaviour in later tasks. In
addition, online video games have become an alarming platform for unregulated
gambling where minors are encouraged to spend money they do not have.

It is for this reason that this bill seeks to create and mandate a Board attached
to the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) to: 1)
review and classify online video games according to age-suitability and

* Borthotow, 8, Bushman, 8, & Sestir, M. (2006, July. Chronic violent vdeo game exposure ond desensitization to violence: Behavioral and
‘event-related brain potential dota. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 42(8), 532-539,


appropriateness and their content description in order to empower parents to
properly monitor the gaming activities of their children and to guide the stakeholders
(gamers, parents, producers, distributors, internet cafe and computer shop operators,
government, and other entities involved in online gaming industry) as to who may
access, buy, use or play a particular online video game; and 2) provide penalties for
non-compliance with or violation of such review and classification.

The early deliberation and adoption of this measure is thus earnestly requested.

SoD

JULIUS CESAR “JAY” V. VERGARA
Third District of Nueva Ecija


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 273 8

Introduced by Representative Julius Cesar “Jay” V. Vergara

AN ACT
MANDATING THE CLASSIFICATION OF INTERNET GAMES
CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE INTERNET GAMES REVIEW AND.
CLASSIFICATION BOARD AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “INTERNET GAMES REVIEW
AND CLASSIFICATION ACT.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the State to:

a. Promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and
social well-being of the youth in recognition of the vital role they play in nation-
building;

b. Support the primary right and duty of parents in rearing the youth for
civic efficiency and the development of their moral character through education;

. Give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and
sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote
total human liberation and development;

d. Support and strengthen communication and information recognizing
their vital role in nation-building; and

e. Consequently, to ensure that all stakeholders, especially the youth,
greatly benefit from the advances in technology and at the same time are protected
from the various dangers and risks arising from its unregulated use, especially in the
area of video gaming, by classifying and regulating online video games.


Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following are
hereby defined as follows:

1. Video Game- A game played by electronically manipulating images produced
by acomputer program ona television screen or other electronic display screen.

2. Internet Game - Refers to an online video game that is either partially or
primarily played through the Internet or a computer network?

3. Internet Café- A place or establishment which provides computer hardware
with internet access to the public, usually for a fee

4. DICT ~ Refers to the Department of Information and Communication
Technology created by virtue of Republic Act No. 10844.

5. IGRCB - Refers to the Internet Game Review and Classification Board created
under Section 4 of this Act.

Section 4. Creation and Functions of IGRCB. - There is hereby created an Internet
Game Review and Classification Board (IGRCB) attached to the DICT. The primary
mandate of IGRCB is to review and classify internet games and to ensure that such
classification shall be followed as to access and use by and availability to the public.
For this purpose, the IGRCB shall have the following powers and functions:

a) To review, examine, and classify internet games into age-appropriate
categories and according to certain content categories, with reference to local
and international standards, as the IGRCB may determine for the public
interest;

b) To restrict access of the public to internet games through review and
classification;

©) To cause the closure of internet cafes or computer shops and other similar
establishments engaged in activities which violate the provisions of this Act
and the rules and regulations promulgated by the IGRCB;

d) To coordinate and call the assistance or deputize and designate
representatives from any branch, department, instrumentality or agency of
government and from the online gaming industry and the various associations
in the information and communication technology sector in order to ensure
compliance with the provisions of this Act relative to the access, availability,
copying, distribution, sale, or lease of internet games;

2 Andrew Rollings; Ernest Adams (2006). Fundamentals of Game Design. Prentice Hall.
* These functions are patterned after the functions of Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
(MTRCB) as provided for in P.D.1986.


The IGRCB may also call on any law enforcement agency or the local
government unit concerned for assistance in the implementation and
enforcement of its decisions, orders or awards pursuant to the provisions of
this Act;

e) To file cases against violators of the provision/s of this Act, and other laws
or regulations pertinent to online video game classification and regulation;

f) To prescribe the necessary and appropriate rules of procedure for the
exercise of its powers and functions as well as the performance of its duties and
responsibilities to accord and ensure due process of law; and

g) To exercise such powers and functions as may be necessary or incidental
to the attainment of the purposes and objectives of this Act, and to perform
such other related duties and responsibilities as may be directed by the DICT
Secretary.

Any decision, judgment or order of the IGRCB pursuant to the provisions of
this Act shall be final and executory. An aggrieved party may question such
decision, judgment or order of the IGRCB pursuant to the applicable provisions
of the Rules of Court.

The IGRCB shall be composed of a chairperson and two (2) members who shall
be an information technology expert or a persosn who has been engaged in the
business or practice of information technology for at least five (5) years, a child
psychologist and a member of the Philippine Bar in good standing. The
chairperson and members of the IGRCB shall be appointed by the President for
a term of six (6) years.

The IGRCB shall likewise have its own Secretariat which shall be headed by an
Executive Director to be appointed by the Board on a co-terminus basis.

Section 5. Duties of an Internet Service Provider (ISP). All ISPs shall inform
and submit to the IGRCB all internet games not yet reviewed and classified by the
IGRCB. No internet game shall be made available to the public without such prior
review and classification.

Section 6. Duties of Internet Cafe Operators. - No internet cafe operators shall
make available for access or play any internet games which have not yet been
reviewed and classified by the IGRCB pursuant to the provisions of this Act or its
Implementing Rules and Regulations; and, no internet games which have been
reviewed and classified by the IGRCB for a certain age group shall be made available
for access or play to persons not belonging to the said age group.


Section 7. Mandatory Registration with IGRCB. - All internet cafés in the
country shall be required to register with the IGRCB. Said registration shall be a
requirement for the issuance and renewal of business permits of internet cafes by the
local government units.

Section 8. Authority to Monitor Internet Café. - The IGRCB, concurrently with
local government units, is likewise vested with the authority to monitor internet cafes,
shops or other similar establishments for purposes of compliance with its review and
classification powers pursuant to this Act.

Section 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The IGRCB, in coordination
with the DICT, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Education
(DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG), the National Youth Commission (NYC) and the Philippine
Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), shall promulgate the rules and
regulations necessary for the proper implementation and the accomplishment of the
purposes and objectives of this Act.

Section 10. Penalty. - Any person who shall provide access to internet games
in violation of IGRCB’s classification and violates Sections 5 and 6 of this Act shall,
upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment of three (3) months and one day to
one (1) year imprisonment or a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00)
but not more than Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 300,000.00) or both at the
discretion of the court.

If the offender is an alien, he shall be deported immediately after serving
sentence.

The license to operate the internet cafe or computer shop, or to engage in any
business involving internet games shall also be revoked permanently.

Should the offense be committed by a juridical person, the chairperson, the
president, secretary, treasurer, or the officer or shareholder responsible therefor, shall
be the persons penalized.

Section 11. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, the amount
necessary is hereby appropriated out of the certified available funds in the DICT
annual budget or any other agency of government, determined by the Department of
Budget and Management, not otherwise used or allocated. Thereafter, such amount
as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid, the
other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.


Ce eed

Section 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees or rules inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers

of general circulation.

Approved,