The Pasig City local government, in partnership with CyberGuardiansPH (CGPH), held the 3rd National Youth Leadership Summit on Safer Cyberspace aiming to increase the public's awareness, especially among the youth, about the effects of the wrong use of the internet and cyberspace and how to prevent them.
(Photo from Pasig LGU)
According to Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, around 150 participants from the city government of Pasig, youth leaders, faith-based organizations, school administrators, and mental health professionals participated in the 2-day event held on Nov. 25-26.
With the theme "PAGSIBOL: Co-creating CyberSafe Homes and CyberSafe Schools through Youth Empowerment and Community Engagement", the summit highlighted the presentation of the 3-year Roadmap on Safer Cyberspace of the city government.
"Ang roadmap na ito ay nabuo sa pamamagitan ng sama-samang ideya ng mga miyembro ng Pasig City Local Council for the Protection of Children sa naganap na 3-day Strategic Planning Workshop on Safer Cyberspace for Children and Youth noong September 2023. Nakapaloob sa nasabing roadmap ang mga programa at proyekto na nakatakdang isulong ng lokal na pamahalaan upang masigurong patuloy na malabanan at maputol ang problema kaugnay ng online abuse at exploitation ng kababaihan at kabataan (This roadmap was created using the combined ideas of members of the Pasig City Local Council for the Protection of Children during their 3-day Strategic Planning Workshop on Safer Cyberspace for Children and Youth last September 2023. Contained here are the programs and projects that will be supported by the local government to ensure the continuous mitigation and eventual eradication of the problem of online abuse and exploitation of women and children)," Sotto said.
CGPH also showcased their comprehensive program urging the people be united in promoting Cybersafe Homes and Cybersafe Schools in Pasig City by Setting-up the structure and mechanism for an Awareness-based systems change to create Nurturing homes, schools, and communities engaged in Combating OSAEC and other forms of cyber threats; and Tapping on various psychosocial, psychospritual, and values-based interventions to Uplift selected victim-survivors in theri continuing healing and recovery And Reintegration as responsible Young member of the society or (SANCTUARY).
In November of last year, the local government unit (LGU) and CGPH signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to strengthen cybersecurity policies and protect the city’s youth from cybercrimes.
In cooperation with Microsoft and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foundation, the MOA seeks to establish partnerships between NGOs and local government units (LGUs) in the local implementation of the ASEAN Cybersecurity Skilling Program (ACSP).
Launched last Feb. 24, the ACSP aims to combat cybercrimes such as cyber sexual abuse, cyber exploitation, and cyber bullying by raising awareness, raising awareness on the importance of cybersecurity and building greater cybersecurity knowledge among people in ASEAN.”
According to the ASEAN Foundation, the ACSP involves “training of trainers (ToT)” wherein 560 young people, educators, NGOs, and CSO facilitators in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam will be taught cybersecurity.
After their training period, they will be able to teach and share their acquired knowledge with around 30,000 underserved youths in the seven countries about “creating a safe, digital ecosystem in ASEAN.”
The ACSP also organizes a regional focus group discussion with cybersecurity experts about issues plaguing the public and private sectors, which will be utilized to create “localized training modules.”
To garner support from the public, the program also involves an online awareness campaign.