The Quezon City government on Monday, Feb. 23, is strengthening its capacity to provide a child-safe digital environment, aiming to protect children further from online abuse and exploitation.
Coinciding with this year’s Safer Internet Day for Children, the Quezon City government gathered student leaders, parents, Barangay focal persons for the protection of children, and internet service providers to promote a safe, responsible, and ethical use of digital technology for children.
The discussions include the use of artificial intelligence, safe and responsible digital practices, including cybersecurity basics, reporting mechanisms, and digital self-care strategies.
Guest speakers emphasized the importance of mental health and digital well-being of children.
According to a study conducted by Microsoft, teenagers around the world commonly experience harms online, including hate speech, scams, and cyberbullying.
However, 72 percent of the victims show resilience by having someone to talk to. This data increased for the second consecutive year, promoting a safe space for those who experience online abuse
"Data shows that our young people are not helpless; they are capable of reaching out and reporting the dangers that they experienced online. As the local government, this is where we have to take action: we have to build an environment where our children can feel safe to speak up and ask for help," Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
Quezon City serves as UNESCO’s pilot city for Media and Information Literacy, implementing various initiatives and programs, empowering people, and the youth to practice critical thinking in processing information and digital platform uses.
In relation to this, the Quezon City council is set to pass an ordinance on digital wellness and healthy screen time for children and teens, ensuring that adolescents are guided in responsible internet both in school and at home.
Meanwhile, the Gender and Development (GAD) Office in partnership with the Public Affairs and Information Service Department (PAISD) is scheduled to relaunch TekkiNanay to equip parents with basic digital literacy to help guide their children as they navigate online spaces.
Frontline responders such as social workers, psychometricians, police officers, and teachers, were trained on the Multi-disciplinary team- Basic Internet Crimes Against Children (MDT-BICAC) of the International Justice Mission to strengthen their skills in responding to cases of Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children.
"We have to make the internet a safe and meaningful space for our children, where they can thrive, learn, and express who they are. Dito sa QC, walang puwang ang panganib: online man o offline ((In Quezon City, there is no space for danger: whether online or offline). We will ensure a child-friendly digital space for our children ,” Mayor Belmonte added.