DILG seeks regulation to limit children’s access to social media
MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government is seeking regulation to limit children’s access to social media amid the recent campus shooting incidents.
During the House plenary deliberations on the DILG’s proposed 2027 budget, the agency’s budget sponsor, Camarines Sur 4th District Representative Arnie Fuentebella, said the DILG wants sites that “brainwash” children to commit violence taken down.
“Ang puno’t dulo nito, ‘yung sinasabi natin na matagal na natin pinag-uusapan na regulation, lalo na ng Facebook, lalo na po ng Meta. Kailangan din natin ang tulong nila na i-take down itong sites kung saan bine-brainwash ang ating mga kabataan, so we’re talking about the security of our kids now,” Fuentebella said.
“Alam natin na mga menor de edad ang mga tina-target ng mga black sites operation na nagbe-brainwash po ng ating mga kabataan. So we have to be very careful,” he added.
The DILG gave assurances it is on top of the issue, adding that intelligence reports helped save more than 40 children.
“Hindi po natin ito pinapabayaan. Ang alam lang natin ‘yung tatlo na insidente na nangyari sa Tacloban, Zamboanga, South Cotabato. Pero hindi n’yo na itatanong kung ilan na ang nasalba ng ating kapulisan. More than 40 na mga bata ang naisalba na because sa ating intelligence reports na I cannot divulge kung saan galing. Pero may mga tumutulong sa atin, sa ating pamilya sa DILG. And Sec. Jonvic Remulla is on top of it,” Fuentebella said.
The DILG encourages students, parents and school personnel to report potential threats to the police.
“Well, we have the 911, Mr. Speaker. So kung may reports tayong nalalaman, just dial 911, 5 to 7 minutes andoon na po ang ating kapulisan. But, again, mas kailangan paigtingin ang ating pangangampanya, hindi lang ng kapulisan, lalu na ng ating komunidad. Even our PTA, our teachers, our barangay officials, our local government officials. Tulong-tulong po ang kailangan. Hindi kakayanin ng ating kapulisan,” Fuentebella said.
“We need to equip our police. We need to equip our DILG family, para matugunan ang safety, lalo na ng ating mga kabataan,” he added.