President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said there is no single solution to violence in Philippine schools as his administration weighs whether to support a blanket ban on minors’ access to high-risk online services.
Speaking in Singapore, Marcos described recent incidents involving children as a “psychological” and “generational problem,” rather than solely a police or education issue.
He said the government is studying the proposed restrictions carefully, warning that a blanket ban could push children to hide their online activities and make it harder for parents to detect potential grooming.
Congress Advances Bills Restricting Minors’ Online Access
Congress has moved forward with separate measures to regulate children's access to digital platforms.
The Senate has approved on final reading a bill banning minors from accessing high-risk digital services. On October 12, the House of Representatives approved its version, the proposed Safe and Friendly Environment for Kids in Digital Spaces (SAFE Kids) Act, by a vote of 287-3.
The House measure would prohibit children under 13 from creating or using social media accounts and certain interactive gaming platforms. Teenagers aged 13 to 17 would have restricted access, subject to parental consent and safeguards covering targeted advertising, recommendation algorithms, and endless scrolling.
The bill would also establish a SAFE Kids office under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to enforce the rules and develop age-verification systems.
Senate and House Versions Differ
The two chambers must reconcile their respective bills through a bicameral conference committee before a final version can be sent to the President.
The Senate version calls for a total ban on minors under 18 from accessing the covered services, while the House measure proposes different restrictions based on age.
The legislative push follows school shootings in South Cotabato, Zamboanga City and Tacloban that killed nine people.
DepEd Launches National School Safety Week
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) launched National School Safety Week on October 12, with activities scheduled through October 16 in public schools nationwide.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara, speaking at the launch in Cainta, Rizal, emphasized that keeping children safe requires collective action from families, schools and communities.
“We are not powerless,” Angara said, underscoring the importance of a shared responsibility in protecting students.
