The House Committee on Welfare of Children chaired by TINGOG SINIRANGAN Party-list Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez approved recently, subject to style, the amended substitute bill strengthening the internet and digital content safety and online protection for children, as well as providing penalties for violations thereof, and appropriating funds for the proposal.
It substituted House Bill 2203 filed by Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado; HB 2517 by Deputy Speaker Divina Grace Yu; HB 5307 by Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez; HB 5407 by Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon; HB 5542 by San Jose Del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes; and House Resolution 342 by Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta.
“The substitute bill is truly representative of the stakeholders’ desire to give a strong online protection policy for the children.”
In her opening remarks, Romualdez said that the bill already incorporates the proposals and the counterproposals from the stakeholders.
“We have made a lot of progress from a very diverse proposal from our authors to this cohesive and comprehensive bill we have at hand,” the legislator said.
“The most important feature of the bill is declaring the constitute acts inimical to the online protection of children.”
The lady lawmaker added that the substitute bill is truly representative of the stakeholders’ desire to give a strong online protection policy for the children who are all at risk from the inevitable dangers that co-exist with the advancement of inter-connection and technology.
“The measure has a lot of protective features but it also does not ignore the evolving capacity of the child to learn, to explore, and to enjoy the emerging technologies,” according to her.
Romualdez cited the most important feature of the bill, which declares the constitute acts inimical to the online protection of children.
These include child sexual exploitation and abuse materials, creation of high risk viral challenge, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, cyber mob attack, online child trafficking, online impersonation, online grooming, online publication of child terrorist and violent extremism, recruitment and exploitation materials; online selling of non-essential materials, products and services harmful to the physical and psychological safety and well-being of children; and selling of intimate sexual images as well as streaming of child sexual abuse and exploitation, among others.
Government agencies and stakeholders proposed amendments to the bill during the hearing which included recommendations from the Department of Justice (DOJ), National Privacy Commission (NPC), End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism (ECPAT) Ph, and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), among others.
The bill will be submitted to the Committee on Appropriations for its funding provisions.
