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Sti Te
., ORFICE OF Tre SFLRETARY

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session ) 10 :
dh 12 PT SS:
SENA
sB.No 1218

INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The computer and computer system, including internet access are key tools of
learning among young students by. facilitating research sharing, innovation and fast
communication. It likewise provides instructional needs and develops learning abilities
and skills of students.

At present, internet cafes, video and computer games shops proliferate within the
vicinity of schools, public playgrounds, day care facilities and churches. While exposure
to computer and the computer system is a valuable educational source for children and
students, this has also resulted to their easy access to some obscene, sexually oriented
and violent materials, thereby polluting their young minds and eventually damaging their
future,

In order to address this problem, this proposed measure seeks to prohibit the
operation and maintenance of video and computer game shops within a radius of five
hundred (500) meters from schools, public playgrounds, day care facilities and
churches. The owners or operators of internet cafes and other computer-related
establishments near the places specified shall be required to post a specific schedule
for the use of computers by children and young students. They shall also be required to
provide a “lock out” or has the capability to “disable” the computer. Said computer
establishments are required to have safety policies and technologies in place. In order
not to disrupt the normal business operation, adult customers who want to access the
“blocked site” may ask the computer establishment to unlock or disable the same

In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly soyyht.

MAI V{LLAR


SES
OFFICE DF Thi SECRETARY

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session ) 10 uk 12 Piss

s8.No L218 * peceweo By: f :

INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR

AN ACT
REGULATING THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF INTERNET CAFES,
VIDEO AND COMPUTER GAME SHOPS AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS,
PROVIDING COMPUTER SERVICES WITHIN THE VICINITY OF SCHOOLS, PUBLIC
PLAYGROUNDS, DAY CARE FACILITIES AND CHURCHES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and promote
the physical, moral, intellectual and social well-being of the youth. Pursuant to this
policy, it shall regulate the operation and maintenance of internet cafes, video and
computer game shops and such other computer related services by prohibiting their
operation within the radius of five hundred (500) meters from schools, public
playgrounds, day care facilities and churches.

SECTION 2. No video and computer games shops shall be operated or
maintained within the radius of five hundred (500) meters from schools, public
playgrounds, day care facilities and churches.

In order to ensure compliance with this Section, video and computer games
shops shall be required to install video monitoring systems within their establishments.

SECTION 3. Owners or operators of internet cafes and other establishments
offering computer services located near schools, public playgrounds, day care centers
and churches shall be required to provide a ‘lock out” and shall “disable” websites in
internet that are inappropriate for children and students. They shall likewise be required
to post a specific time schedule for the use of computers by children and young
students: Provided, however, That they shall be allowed to use the same only upon
presentation of their school identification cards and a school certification issued by the
authorized school official to the necessity of the research work: Provided, further, That
said computer establishments shall have safety policies and technologies in place:
Provided, finally, That the owner of the establishments shall unlock or disable the filter
upon request from adult customers.

SECTION 4. The local government units concerned shall deputize their
personnel to render an on-the-spot inspection of internet cafes, video and computer
game shops, and such other computer-related services operating near the vicinity of the
schools, playgrounds, day care centers and churches within their respective units:
Provided, however, That they shall review files and communications within the
computer establishments to maintain system integrity and ensure that children and
students are using the system in a considerate and responsible manner.

SECTION 5. Owners or operators of internet cafes, video and computer games
shops and such other establishments offering computer services found to have violated


any provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment of one
(1) year and/or a fine of One Hundred Thousand (P100,000) Pesos, or both at the
discretion of the court: Provided, that, in case of subsequent conviction said
establishment shall be closed and license permanently revoked.

SECTION 6. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), in
coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health (DOH),
shall formulate and issue such rules and regulations necessary for the proper
implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, rules or regulations which
are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or
repealed accordingly.

SECTION 9. EFFECTIVITY -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,