By Ben Rosario
The successful anti-cyberbullying program initiated by South Korea-based Sunfull Foundation will be carried out in the Philippines with the support of congressional leaders.
South Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man (2nd from left) and House of Representatives leaders sign a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of anti-cyberbullying action initiated by Sunfull Internet Peace Movement in the Philippines headed by Byong chul Min, director of the SK-based foundation, and Sunfull Ambassadress and Bulacan Rep. Rida Robes. Also in photo are Deputy Speaker Rosemarie Arenas and Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Ann Hofer, chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. (MANILA BULLETIN)
South Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man lauded efforts in the House of Representatives to combat cyber-bullying, noting that his country’s experience of suicide incidents triggered by social media interaction was the same as this country’s.
Han lauded San Jose del Monte Rep. Rida Robes, chairperson of the House Committee on People Participation, for spearheading the Sunfull Internet Peace Movement in the Philippines in a bid to address the adverse effects of cyberbullying on the youth.
Robes, Han and Min Byoung-Chul, Sunfull Foundation chairman, signed a memorandum of agreement to work together to encourage the public to cooperate in ferreting out cyberbullying and hate messages in social media.
Also lending support to the anti-cyberbullying movement were Deputy Speaker and Pangasinan Rep. Rosemarie Arenas and Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Ann Hofer, chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
“I agree with Congresswoman Robes, who, in her privilege speech last August, expressed the need “to work even harder to come up with actionable strategies that will pave the way for more constructive and nurturing experiences online among Filipinos,” stressed Han.
He noted that the MOA signing coincided with the 70th anniversary of Korea-Philippines diplomatic ties.
Robes explained that under the MOA, the involved parties will pursue the objectives of the Internet Peace Movement by encouraging the public to limit their social media posts to positive messages and statements of encouragements to victims of malicious online attacks and victims of tragic world events.
The senior administration lawmaker said the Philippines has experienced the adverse effects of cyberbullying that Congress swiftly passed the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and the Anti-Bullying Act.
“We are committed to protect our youth against all forms of online attacks and harassments!,” Robes declared.
Robes has been named the Sunfull Foundation ambassadress in the Philippines.
She cited the foundation for leading its own anti-cyberbully9ing and anti-hate speech campaign in 2007, adding that over 7,000 schools and organizations are now supportive of the organization.
“Its movement to spread positive, encouraging speech in social media has rippled to out to more countries and we in the Philippines are extremely happy that you have started to extend the movement in our schools,” the lady solon said.