Quezon city: The Quezon City government is ramping up measures to shield children from online abuse and exploitation, towards a child-safe digital environment by strengthening prevention, policy, and response mechanisms to address digital threats.
According to Philippines News Agency, the city government cited findings from Microsoft's Global Online Safety Survey showing that teens worldwide commonly experience cyberbullying, scams, hate speech, and other harms online. Mayor Joy Belmonte underscored the urgency of building stronger safeguards. She stressed that while 72 percent of young people reported seeking help after experiencing online risks, government action remains critical.
"Data shows that our young people are not helpless; they are capable of reaching out and reporting the dangers that they experienced online. As the local government, this is where we have to take action: we have to build an environment where our children can feel safe to speak up and ask for help," Belmonte said.
In observance of Safer Internet Day for Children, the city government convened student leaders, parents, barangay child protection focal persons, and internet service providers to promote safe, responsible, and ethical use of digital technology for children. Discussions covered artificial intelligence, cybersecurity basics, reporting mechanisms, digital self-care strategies, and mental health awareness to enhance knowledge and practical skills in the digital space.
Meanwhile, to institutionalize safeguards, the Quezon City Council, led by Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, is set to pass an ordinance on digital wellness and healthy screen time for children and teens, guiding responsible internet use in schools and at home. The city will also relaunch TekkiNanay, a digital literacy initiative of its Gender and Development (GAD) Office and the Public Affairs and Information Service Department (PAISD), to equip parents with basic digital literacy so they can guide their children online.
The city government added that its frontline responders, including social workers, psychometricians, police officers, and teachers, have undergone training under the Multi-disciplinary Team-Basic Internet Crimes Against Children (MDT-BICAC) program of the International Justice Mission to strengthen case response to cases of Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
"We have to make the internet a safe and meaningful space for our children, where they can thrive, learn, and express who they are. Dito sa QC, walang puwang ang panganib: online man o offline (be it online or offline). We will ensure a child-friendly digital space for our children," Belmonte said.
