By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has filed a bill aimed at equipping elementary and high school students with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the internet safely and responsibly.

Estrada introduced Senate Bill No. 2934, which proposes adding internet safety education to the curriculum for elementary and high school students. The bill aims to raise awareness among children about the potential dangers of social media use.

“The Internet Safety Protection Act is a proactive approach to ensure that 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 evolving threats of the virtual world,” the senator said.

He also explained that the proposed program would focus on safe internet usage and raise awareness about the dangers associated with social media apps, text messaging, instant messaging, websites, blogs, emails, and mobile devices.

The program will emphasize the importance of privacy protection, identifying fake news, avoiding cyberbullying, and recognizing online predators.

Under the proposed measure, the Department of Education (DepEd) would be responsible for identifying, developing, and implementing an Internet Safety Education Program, which would include educational technology, multimedia applications, and lesson plans.

ia/mnm

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Recognizing that online connectivity serves as the backbone of the modern world, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) under the leadership of Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has released P2.5 billion for the government’s free Internet in public places program.

On Thursday (15 February 2024), the DBM said in a statement that Pangandaman has approved a P2.5-billion Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to implement the Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP).

“This funding is crucial because the internet is central to our emerging new age—the digital era. It is the backbone of our modern world. It connects us and makes everything more convenient, powering education, the economy, health care, public safety, and even government services,” Pangandaman said.

It was learned that the FPIAP involves the construction of ICT facilities like high-capacity networks, middle- and last-mile ICT infrastructures, as well as towers, data centers, assets, and other service buildings.

Targeted public areas include national and government offices, public basic education institutions, SUCs, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) institutions, as well as public hospitals, medical care facilities, plazas, and transport terminals.

The DBM said the FPIAP aims to provide zero-cost internet access in public spaces nationwide.

It also disclosed that the P2.5-billion SARO is chargeable against the Free Public Internet Access Fund—Special Accounts in the General Fund (FPIAF-SAGF) under the 2024 national budget.

(el Amigo/MNM)