The Philippine Senate is finally taking a proactive step to protect children online. A newly proposed bill wants to integrate Internet safety education into the curriculum of elementary and secondary schools nationwide.
Senate Bill No. 2934, also known as the Internet Safety Education Act, aims to equip students with the essential skills to navigate the digital world responsibly and safely.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada, the bill’s author, recognized the growing threat children face online, including cyberbullying, privacy breaches, identity theft, and exposure to inappropriate content. The proposed bill aims to combat online sexual abuse and exploitation of children through preventative measures.
So, what exactly does this mean? The Department of Education (DepEd) will take the lead in implementing the Internet Safety Education Program. This includes developing and implementing age-appropriate, research-based curricula designed to promote internet literacy and ethics. There will also be training programs for teachers, parents, and school administrators on how to address online safety effectively. And, of course, public awareness campaigns to drive home the risks and responsibilities that come with internet use.
This proposal isn’t coming out of the blue. It builds on existing laws like Republic Act No. 11930, which focuses on combating online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
This new bill takes a more preventative approach, aiming to educate children before they face these dangers. It also echoes the concerns raised in a 2017 UNICEF study, which highlighted the vulnerability of Filipino children in the digital age.
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