SENATOR Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has filed a bill seeking to integrate a comprehensive internet safety program into the curriculum of all elementary and secondary schools nationwide.

Under Senate Bill No. 1077, or the proposed Internet Safety Education Act, Estrada said the measure aims to equip young Filipinos with the knowledge and skills to safely navigate the digital world amid rising cases of cyberbullying, identity theft, fake news, internet addiction, and online sexual abuse and exploitation.

“While the internet offers numerous benefits in education, communication, and access to information, it also exposes children to serious dangers. This bill intends to provide them with the right tools to protect themselves from these risks,” Estrada stressed.

He cited a 2017 UNICEF study, The State of the World’s Children: Children in a Digital World, which revealed that one in three internet users globally is a child. The same report identified the Philippines as among the most vulnerable, with eight out of ten Filipino children at risk of online sexual abuse or bullying.

In the same year, the Department of Justice’s Office of Cybercrime received more than 45,000 tip-offs about sexual images of Filipino children from the U.S.-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

To address this, the bill mandates the Department of Education (DepEd) to design and implement an age-appropriate, research-based Internet Safety Education Program. The program will cover safe, ethical, and responsible internet use, media literacy, and strategies to prevent online risks.

DepEd will also be tasked to develop interactive resources and lesson plans, train teachers and school personnel, support peer-driven safety initiatives, launch public awareness campaigns, and educate parents on guiding their children in responsible online use.

Estrada emphasized that the proposal complements Republic Act No. 11930, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children Act of 2022, by focusing on prevention and education.

“This is about empowering our children to become responsible digital citizens, protecting them from online dangers before they become victims,” he said.