Daet Bishop Rex Andrew Alarcon, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Youth (CBCP-ECY), has expressed support for the regulation of the use of the internet by children for their own safety and protection.
“Let us protect and help the Filipino youth and make sure that we create a safe space for them in their use of the internet to safeguard them from abuses and harm,” said Bishop Alarcon over Radio Veritas during the recent observance of International Safer Internet Day for Children.
“We must unite in the fight against the dangers and threat posed by social media against the welfare of the youth. Let us help protect them from potential online abuses including online child abuse and child pornography, trafficking, addiction, and others. These do not only affect the young but everyone,” he stressed.
The Church leader commended the efforts of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in partnership with the internet service providers and local government units for projects like “Click, Respect, Connect – CRC Next Level: Ligtas na Ugnayan Online,” which aims to spread awareness on safe internet use for the youth.
“Let us all join hands in helping promote safe internet use for the Filipino children,” said Bishop Alarcon.