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.
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