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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
I .Xya;cr 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
As a gateway to the vast information highway, the Internet is widely used 
by students. It has been estimated that 70% of Internet users in the country are 
students. 
Unfortunately however, the Internet has as much offensive materials as 
it has useful information. With the proliferation of pornography and violence in 
the cyberspace, the State is obliged to take steps to protect the Internet users, 
particularly the young ones. 
Since limiting access is next to impossible, the government can start by 
regulating Internet access in all public and private libraries of educational 
institutions in the country. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
A 
MANUEL E. VI LAR, JR. 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
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AN ACT 
REQUIRING LIBRARIES OF PRJYATE AND PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 
WITH INTERNET ACCESS TO INSTALL A SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY FOR 
BLOCKING INTERNET WEBSITES DISPLAYING OBSCENE AND VIOLENT 
MATERIALS PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
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 "Students' Internet Protection 
Act of 2004 ' I .  
SECTION 2. Coverage. All private and public school libraries with access to the 
Internet shall be covered by this Act. 
SECTION 3. Declaration of State Policies. The state recognizes the vital role of 
the youth in nation building and shall promote and protect the physical, moral, 
spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. 
SECTION 4. Definition of Terns. Whenever used in this Act, the following terms 
shall mean: 
a. 
Internet - the vehicle to the information highway which can be accessed 
through the use of a computer and other peripheral when connected by 
an internet service provider; 
b. 
Web site /IP Address- to any home page or Universal Record 
Locator 
(URL) of any entity which post text information, pictures, movie clips, 
sound or any other materials that can be seen or accessed over the 
internet; 
c. 
Blocking Software Technology - a computer software commercially 
available used for blocking or filtering web sites displaying obscene and 
violent pictures, video clips, sound, or any other form of literary 
do cumen t at ion ; 
Task Force - the Student Internet Protection Task Force 
d. 


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e. 
Obscene and Violent Internet Materials - any inappropriate 
materials containing but not limited to indecent, immoral, 
internet 
violent, 
blasphemous and other categories as may be classifies by the blocking 
software technology, that comes in the format of pictures, video clips, 
sound files and literary documentations which can be accessed in any 
web sites. 
SECTION 5. Installation of a Blocking Software Technology in Private and Public 
Educational Institutions - Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, all 
libraries in both private and public educational institutions, are required to install a 
blocking software technology, to be updated regularly as necessary, in their 
computer systems that have access to the internet. 
SECTION 6 .  Minimum Requirements for a Blocking Soflware Technology - any 
computer software shall be used for blocking internet web sites containing obscene 
and adult materials if it satisfies the following minimum criteria: 
a. 
Should be able to block websites containing obscene and adult materials 
using contemporary Filipino cultural values as standard; 
Should be capable of blocking search requests from search engines 
containing words arid phrases leading to web sites containing 
obscene and adult materials; 
Should support major internet standards that rates web sites such as 
but not limited to the following content coding mechanisms: Safesurf, 
RSAC, IVSR, VSR and KidCode; 
Should be capable of updating its database list of web sites containing 
obscene and adult materials; 
Should be highly protected from end-user tampering; and 
b. 
c. 
d. 
e. 
f. 
Should be software upgradeable. 
SECTION 7. Student Internet Protection Task Force- There shall be created a 
Student Internet Protection Task Force to be represented by 2 members each from the 
Department of Education Culture and Sports (DECS) and Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED), to enforce the provisions of this Act and within 15 days from its 
effectivity, promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations. 
SECTION 8. Powers and Functions of the Task Force - The powers and 
functions of the task force for purposes of Sections 5 and 6 hereof shall include the 
following: 
a. 
To formulate rules and guidelines to implement the law; 


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b. 
To ensure the proper enforcement and compliance of the law by 
conducting a quarterly on-site ocular inspection on all libraries of private 
and public schools with internet access; 
To screen and accredit the type of blocking software technology to be 
used by educational institutions as provided in Sec. 6 hereof, to be made 
in a quarterly basis; 
c. 
d. 
To recommend disciplinary actions against concerned officials of 
educational institutions, violating the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 9. Non-compliance by Concerned Officials - Heads of educational 
institutions who failed to comply with the provisions of this Act s h d  be charged 
administratively and shall pay a penalty fee of not more than P100,OOO for the first 
offense and an addition of another P100,OOO for every succeeding offense. 
SECTION '10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, and other issuance inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SECION '1 1. Separability Clause.- If for any reason, any provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected. 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately upon 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,