Rep. Alfredo D. Vargas III is proposing a bill to declare February 10 as National Safer Internet Day in the Philippines. This is to ensure safety for all Filipino internet users and protect them from potential dangers online. While the internet provides access to information, it also poses risks like addiction, pornography, and compromised mental well-being especially for minors. Data shows 45% of Filipinos have internet access with many young adults and teenagers active online. The proposed bill would direct government agencies to plan educational programs and activities around safer internet use.
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Declare February 10 as National Safer Internet Day - solon
Original Title
feb13.2015Declare February 10 as National Safer Internet Day - solon
Rep. Alfredo D. Vargas III is proposing a bill to declare February 10 as National Safer Internet Day in the Philippines. This is to ensure safety for all Filipino internet users and protect them from potential dangers online. While the internet provides access to information, it also poses risks like addiction, pornography, and compromised mental well-being especially for minors. Data shows 45% of Filipinos have internet access with many young adults and teenagers active online. The proposed bill would direct government agencies to plan educational programs and activities around safer internet use.
Rep. Alfredo D. Vargas III is proposing a bill to declare February 10 as National Safer Internet Day in the Philippines. This is to ensure safety for all Filipino internet users and protect them from potential dangers online. While the internet provides access to information, it also poses risks like addiction, pornography, and compromised mental well-being especially for minors. Data shows 45% of Filipinos have internet access with many young adults and teenagers active online. The proposed bill would direct government agencies to plan educational programs and activities around safer internet use.
Declare February 10 as National Safer Internet Day - solon
A lawmaker is set to file a measure proposing to declare February 10 as National Safer Internet Day in the country to see to it that every Filipino Internet user observes safety in dealing with the technology. Rep. Alfredo D. Vargas III (5th District, Quezon City) said by declaring the National Safer Internet Day, every users safety is ensured while exhausting the benefits of the Internet. Albeit useful, the Internet also has its perils. Because of its accessibility, many risks are also being confronted by the users minors and adults alike, said Vargas, vice-chair of the House Committees on Health and Social Services. According to Vargas, while the Internet, as a technology, has been very helpful to every Filipino, with almost all kinds of information made accessible to virtually everyone, it has also its perils, ranging from simple addiction to the technology to pornography. Vargas said data show that around 45% of the Philippine population has access to the web. Facebook alone has about 30 million Filipino registrants, 40% are young adults (18 to 24 years old) and 15% are teenagers (13 to 17 years old). Evidently, as the population of the country increases, the number of Filipinos gaining Internet access also increases. A very alarming phenomenon is the so-called computer addiction. Aside from computer addiction, pornography is also a major issue, Vargas said. Computer addiction has ruined many lives resulting in broken families, compromised jobs and disrupted education, among others. This is because of the prevalence of Internet cafes in all types of neighborhoods; children of school age engulf themselves with too much gaming mostly online, he said. This has believably affected the mental well-being of the young and is tantamount to alcohol and drug addiction, Vargas stressed. In filing House Bill 5429, Vargas said it is the obligation of the State to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people across the country. Under his proposal, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is directed to plan, design and implement programs and activities in celebration of the National Safer Internet Day every year in close coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Other national government agencies, local government units, and other government instrumentalities shall actively participate in the activities of this celebration. With the technology of the Internet now easily accessible to almost everyone, it is now time that safeguards are instituted to protect users, be they are adults or minors, from the dangers the Internet poses, Vargas stressed. (30) lvc