Pakil:The Department of Education in the Philippines is aiming to implement measures to enhance social media safety for basic education learners.
According to Philippines News Agency, DepEd's move comes amid a call for additional funding under the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program to bolster school safety, following a shooting incident at Banga National High School in South Cotabato on September 18.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the need for supervision of learners' digital activities to protect them from online risks. Speaking at the ADOPT ICT launch in Pakil, Laguna, he highlighted the inclusion of mental health and social media safety in the department's programs.
This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directives to enhance school safety and strengthen community bonds within the school system. Secretary Angara praised the Department of Information and Communications Technology for its efforts to regulate and promote a safe online environment, noting its actions against applications that exploit young users.
DepEd plans to introduce a School Digital Safety campaign, which will simplify curriculum concepts into practical guidelines for everyday use. This campaign will address safe online behavior, preventing cyberbullying, protecting personal information, and promoting responsible social media use, among other issues.
