Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� A bill seeking to include internet and social media education in elementary and high school curricula nationwide has been filed in the Senate.
In his Senate Bill No. 2934, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada noted how children are becoming increasingly technologically savvy.
He said filing the measure would help equip elementary and high school students with the knowledge and tools to help them navigate the 鈥渧irtual world safely and responsibly.鈥�
鈥淭he Internet Safety Protection Act is a proactive approach to ensure Filipino children are informed and resilient in the digital age. By integrating this into the school curriculum, we aim to create a safer online environment and protect the next generation from the ever-evolving threats of the virtual world,鈥� Estrada said.
According to the Senate鈥檚 second top leader, the existence of Republic Act No. 11930, or the 鈥淎nti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials聽 Act,鈥� already established a strong legal framework to combat online-related crimes.
However, he emphasized that the recently filed legislation acts as a preventive mechanism and empowers children to protect themselves from the risks associated with the online world.
READ:
Estrada said the proposed Internet education program will focus on the following:
- Safe usage and increased awareness of the dangers associated with social media app text messaging, instant messaging, websites, blogs, emails, and mobile devices
- The significance of educating students about privacy protection
- Identifying fake news
- Avoiding cyber bullying
- Recognizing online predators
Should it be signed into law, Estrada said the Department of Education will be tasked with identifying, developing, and implementing an Internet Safety Education Program, which includes educational technology, multimedia applications, and lesson plans.