Manila: Several sectors in Northern Mindanao: including parents and government agencies, welcomed with caution a proposed law regulating gadget use among children.
According to Philippines News Agency, House Bill 7887, also known as the Children's Gadget Use Regulation Act, was filed by Asenso Pinoy Party-list Rep. Henry Oaminal Jr. The bill proposes prohibiting screen time for children aged zero to two, limiting screen time for those aged two to 12, and setting regulations for ages 13 to 17 in schools and community settings. Oaminal expressed concerns about the impact of gadgets on children's development, noting the ease with which gadgets are given to children for temporary peace.
Milyn Aban, a 30-year-old solo parent from Barangay Canitoan, supported the proposed law, believing it would aid her in monitoring her children's gadget use. Her children, aged 12, 10, and 8, are frequent users of mobile phones, often using them even after returning home from school as a form of enjoyment.
Conversely, Crystal Raro, chair of the Department of Technology Communication Management at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, emphasized the need to empower parents directly. She expressed concerns that certain provisions might intrude upon family lives or privacy, underscoring that caring for children should be a fundamental parental responsibility over legislative measures.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Northern Mindanao (DSWD-10) offered "conditional" support for the bill, highlighting the principle of the best interests of the child. Grace Dael, DSWD-10 Children Sector Focal, stated that while safeguarding minors from digital harm is essential, state intervention should remain "subsidiary in nature." The department's support hinges on the bill being developmental, protective, and enabling in character.
Telecommunications company PLDT-Smart, represented by chief sustainability officer Melissa Vergel de Dios, viewed the bill as timely and in alignment with its advocacy against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children. De Dios remarked that child protection is a significant advocacy and the bill promotes age-appropriate access to content.
The bill suggests non-intrusive monitoring and voluntary household participation, ensuring strict confidentiality of information collected by barangay health workers. The Department of Health, local government units, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government are expected to play roles in implementing the bill. Oaminal highlighted the bill's parental and communal approach, with advisory and supportive parental components that emphasize education rather than enforcement.
