PROMOTING INTERNET WELLNESS IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. PROMOTING INTERNET WELLNESS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
ISIA 2016 CYBERJAYA, MALAYSIA
DR MILEN RAMOS * DR NENITA BUAN
Philippines

2. Researches done and implementation
(services) in the Philippines, challenges,
success story
National plan on Internet Wellness
New research focus area in area country.

3. Researches done and
implementation
(services) in the
Philippines,
challenges, success
story

5. LAWS ENACTED ROAD
HEALTH
INFORMATION
CAMPAIGN
ROAD

6. CREATIONS OF
NATIONAL LAWS,
BILLS AND
RESOLUTIONS INSTITUTIONAL
INITIATIVES i.e.
universities
COMMUNITY
SYNERGISTIC
EFFORTS

8. CREATIONS OF NATIONAL LAWS,
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
INSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVES
i.e. UNIVERSITY INITIATED
PROGRAMS
COMMUNITY
SYNERGISTIC EFFORTS

9. CREATIONS OF
NATIONAL LAWS,
BILLS AND
RESOLUTIONS

10. The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 is the first law in the Philippines which
specifically criminalizes computer crime, which prior to the passage of the law had no
strong legal precedent in Philippine jurisprudence.
While laws such as the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8792
regulated certain computer-related activities, these laws did not provide a legal basis for
criminalizing crimes committed on a computer in general: for example, Onel de Guzman,
the computer programmer charged with purportedly writing the ILOVEYOU computer
worm, was ultimately not prosecuted by Philippine authorities due to a lack of legal basis
for him to be charged under existing Philippine laws at the time of his arrest

11. The Act, divided into 31 sections split across eight chapters, criminalizes
several types of offense, including illegal access (hacking), data
interference, device misuse, cybersquatting, computer-related offenses
such as computer fraud, content-related offenses such
as cybersex and spam, and other offenses.
The law also reaffirms existing laws against child pornography, an
offense under Republic Act No. 9779 (the Anti-Child Pornography Act of
2009), and libel, an offense under Section 355 of the Revised Penal
Code of the Philippines, also criminalizing them when committed using a
computer system.
Finally, the Act includes a "catch-all" clause, making all offenses
currently punishable under the Revised Penal Code also punishable
under the Act when committed using a computer, with severer penalties
than provided by the Revised Penal Code alone.

13. The Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom (abbreviated
as #MCPIF) is an internet law billfiled in the Philippine legislature.
The bill contains provisions promoting civil and political
rights andConstitutional guarantees for Philippine internet users, such
as freedom of expression, as well as provisions on information and
communications technology policy, ICT4D, internet governance, e-
governance, cybersecurity, cyberwarfare, cyberterrorism,
and cybercrime.
The Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom was proposed as an
alternative[1] to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 whose
enactment was met with mixed reactions.[2] Proponents of the bill claim
that the #MCPIF is the first crowdsourced bill in the Philippines

14. The Act has universal jurisdiction: its provisions apply to all Filipino
nationals regardless of the place of commission.
Jurisdiction also lies when a punishable act is either committed within the
Philippines, whether the erring device is wholly or partly situated in the
Philippines, or whether damage was done to any natural or juridical person
who at the time of commission was within the Philippines.
Regional Trial Courts shall have jurisdiction over cases involving violations
of the Act.

15. The Act has universal jurisdiction: its provisions apply to all Filipino
nationals regardless of the place of commission.
Jurisdiction also lies when a punishable act is either committed within the
Philippines, whether the erring device is wholly or partly situated in the
Philippines, or whether damage was done to any natural or juridical person
who at the time of commission was within the Philippines.
Regional Trial Courts shall have jurisdiction over cases involving violations
of the Act.

16. COMMUNITY
SYNERGISTIC EFFORTS

18. City Ordinance No. 44, series of
2006 (Marikina City) - all internet
café and computer rental shop
owners to religiously exercise their
authority and rights in prohibiting
students and minors renting
their computer units during
school hours admitting minors
from 7 PM to 7 AM during weekends
and holidays.

20. Anti-DOTA Addiction Bill
Filed In Congress
Valenzuela City first district
representative Win Gatchalian filed a bill
at the House of Representatives seeking
to prohibit all computer shop owners from
letting minors enter their shops within
school hours
According to the representative, House
Bill 4740, also known as the “Internet
Cafe Regulation Act”, will limit children’s
access to computers in order to prevent
addiction and other “untoward incidents”
on online and computer games such as
DOTA and Counter Strike, citing the
violent incidents that occur among players
when stakes are raised.

21. Minors To Put Under Limits At Internet
Shops In Valenzuela City
The Valenzuela City Government strictly
implements the Sangguniang
Panlungsod Ordinance No. 13, series
of 211, otherwise known as, “The Internet
Ordinance of Valenzuela City,” beginning
with a massive poster and tarpaulin
campaign around the city.
The campaign aims to inform the public
that in Valenzuela City, minors, or any
person below 18 years old, are allowed at
internet cafés, and computer rental and
gaming shops from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30
p.m. only.
Tarpaulins were installed at conspicuous
areas around the city and posters are
being placed at internet cafés, and
computer rental and gaming shops, to
spread awareness among the owners and
operators of such establishments that a
new local law to regulate their operation
inforce in force.

22. The simply designed poster, featuring clear-cut text and a sketch of a school-
age girl in front of a personal computer stamped with a red caution symbol, is
one of the series of posters and tarpaulins released by the Office of the City
Mayor, through the Public Information Office (PIO), along with the
posters/tarpaulins against selling of liquor and tobacco products to minors, and
posters/tarpaulins on the prohibited hours of selling liquor and alcoholic
products in the city.
Under the ordinance, minors shall be restricted to enter the internet shops
and cafés from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and beyond 9:30 p.m., allowing them
ample time of five hours and a half to do school research and home works.

23. Furthermore, Section 5 of the said Ordinance limits the operating hours
to until 1:00 a.m. Internet cafes in the city are usually open
24/7. “Minors lingering at internet shops till wee hours in the morning
are among the reported concerns from parents and concerned citizens
alike,” said City Mayor Sherwin T. Gatchalian of the rationale of the
ordinance which he approved early this year.
The regulation of the allowable hours shall be fully-implemented except
during weekends, holidays and school vacations.
Any violator shall be fined with a maximum of PhP 5, 000.00 and/or
closure of the establishment and cancellation of the business permit.
The assigned team of the Business Compliance Task Force (BCTF) will soon
conduct a massive random operation to check if internet shop owners will
comply with the new local law.

25. LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (Philippines) – Internet
cafés in the province of Benguet deep in the Cordillera
mountain ranges shall control the type of content that
can be accessed by their customers.
A child Internet user shall not be allowed to access
nudity, sexual activity, and aggressive violence (unless
it is an essential part of any educational requirement in
school).
Whenever possible, the Internet café establishment
shall install filtering software that shall inhibit all
Internet users’ access to pornographic websites.
These are just some of the very stringent regulatory
provisions of an Ordinance recently enacted by the
Benguet Provincial Board prescribing guidelines and
regulations of the operation and service of Internet
cafés and other similar establishments within the
province.

26. An Internet café establishment which violates the provisions of the Ordinance
shall face the cancellation of its business permit and license and an
imprisonment of the owner for six months to one year and a fine from 500 to
5,000 pesos.
Known as the “Child-Friendly Internet Café Ordinance”, it
embodies the provincial government’s “role in protecting children against
abuse, exploitation and violence, in all forms and means, including violence
against children in cyberspace, brought about by the use and access of the
Internet through Internet cafés and other establishments.”
The Ordinance seeks to affirm the province of Benguet duty to promote,
protect and safeguard the survival, the development, protection and
participation rights of all children, consistent with the Convention on the
Rights of the Child and the Philippine National Strategic Framework for Plan
Development for Children

27. .
Under the said provincial ordinance, a child Internet user (anyone below 18
years old) shall not be allowed to use the services of an Internet café during
regular school hours for on-line or network gaming, e-mail, chat or any other
service, unless permission is given by a duly-authorized representative of the
school, parent or guardian.
“Permission” is defined in the Ordinance as something that “must be written and
accompanied by the contact details of the duly-authorized school representative, parent
or guardian for verification purposes”.
In addition, the Provincial Ordinance requires that all Internet café establishments “shall
maintain open cubicles for each computer unit that will allow employees or staff of the
Internet café establishment to view the type of content or Internet services being used”.
The Ordinance also requires that all Internet café establishments “shall adopt and inform
all Internet users of a procedure for reporting any intentional or accidental access to
illegal, offensive or harmful content on the Internet”.

28. National plan on Internet
Wellness
Institutional initiatives can serve as
prototype for national prevention

29. INSTITUTIONAL
INITIATIVES

30. DepEd Order No. 86, s. 2010 –
Prohibiting Students In Public And Private
Elementary And Secondary Schools From
Going To Computer Shops, Malls, Theaters
And The Likes During Their Class Hours

31. Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services
GUIDANCE, COUNSELING AND TESTING SERVICES
Psycho-Social Well-Being Center:
Wellness Program for Prevention of
Internet/Computer Addiction

32. Rationale
With the University’s Vision, Mission, Philosophy, Goals and Objectives. The
Guidance Counseling and Testing Services has focused its development program
on extension service program and modernization of facilities.
The reality of students and youth today reveals a multitude of complex issues
and problems impacting not only on the individual but on the community as a
whole. Specifically only students who are suffering from different psychological
problems should be given the opportunity to undergo alternative process of
determining their responsibilities on the basis of their social, cultural, economic,
psychological or educational background.
With the goal of Guidance Counseling and Testing Center, the Psycho-Social
Well-Being Center will give practical knowledge and intervention programs that
will help and prevent the problems being encountered by our students and the
whole community as well.

33. The Office encounters different problems from the
students related to internet addiction:
Depression
Suicide
Family Problem
Stress
Anxiety
Cyberbullying
INTERNET ADDICTION

34. Main Objectives:
A. To make prevention/intervention programs on
Internet/Computer Addiction
B. To make programs for the problems encountered by the
students. Brought about by Internet/Computer Addiction:
B.1 to help the students overcome and prevent depression;
B.2 to assist the students in understanding their problems not to
lead to suicide or have prevention program for suicide;
B.3 to make program for the students to manage their personal
family problems;
B.4 to help the students develop positive outlook in life;
B.5 to make the students be aware of their duties and
responsibilities to their communities and;
B.6 to make the students responsible and committed to
themselves and their communities.

35. GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR DIFFERENT PROBLEMS
RELATED TO “Internet Addiction”
I. INTERVIEW
II. FAMILY
HISTORY
III. ASSESSMENT
IV. PSYCHOLOGICAL
ASSESMENT
V. TEST
ADMINISTRATION
FOR SPECIFIC
PROBLEM
VI.
PSYCHOTHERAPHY/
INTERVENTION
PROGRAM

36. SPECIFIC INTERVENTION
PROGRAMS

37. PUP PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR
INTERNET/COMPUTER ADDICTION
1. RESEARCH
A STUDY ON INTERNET ADDICTION IN RELATION TO
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED MANILA
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: FOR PREVENTIVE PROGRAM

38. PUP PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR
INTERNET/COMPUTER ADDICTION
2. MAKE A PROGRAM
TO OVERCOME
INTERNET ADDICTION
GOAL: To Regulate the
use of
Internet/Computer

39. 3. APPROACHES
1. RECORD KEEPING: Record your number of
hours using the internet daily
2. DISCIPLINE: use internet at least 3 hours
before going to bed, and use alarm clock to
remind you.
3. AFFIRMATIONS
“I’m Healthy, I’m Strong and I Can Do IT!”
4. POSITIVE APPROXIMATION
5. REWARD YOURSELF through positive
reinforcements
e.g. Shopping, Dinning, Salon/SPA

40. 7. Read books and watch movie theater or television instead
of internet
6. MAKE A HABIT to have Physical/Sport
activities instead of using the internet
8. Meet friends in person
9. Socialized, attend to parties and join socio-
civic organizations
10. Have an active participation in your
community.
Thru: Clean & Green, Spiritual Projects

41. 4. ROOM CAMPAIGNS
Conducted by the Counselors
5. SEMINARS, FORUM AND ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS
ON THE ILL EFFECTS OF INTERNET/ COMPUTER
ADDICTION
6. POSTER MAKING CONTEST WITH THE THEME:
PREVENTION ON INTERNET/ COMPUTER
ADDICTION
7. GROUP DYNAMIC ACTIVITIES

42. CONCLUSIONS
CHANGE – How do we cope with the constant changes?
DIRECTION – how do we set a new direction when the future is less
predictable?
OVERLOAD – how do we keep our own heads above water to notice the
signals of vital change?
ENROLMENT – how do we communicate and cope with different cultures
that we may be thrown into as a result of change?
STRESS – how do we manage our own stress and that of the people we
depend upon?
LIFE BALANCE – how do we create, through our goals, balanced lives for
ourselves?
A NEW WAY – how do we develop a way of thinking a bit differently?
Dr. Nenita Fajardo-Buan, RP
Certified Clinical Psychologist
Director, Guidance

43. New research focus area

44. Epigenetic research
WHY IS EPIGENETIC RESEARCH IS APT IN OUR
CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS
FILIPINO CHILDREN SHOWED THE
MOST VULNERABILITY

45. FACTS
Unicef showed that there are about three to six million Filipino children
left behind as parents pursue work abroad.The figure of affected Filipino
children casts a huge shadow when compared with Indonesia's one million
and Thailand's half a million.
Feminization” of migration has complicated the situation as it “implies a r
edefinition of the economic role of women in society and within the
family as well.”
The absence of parents, creates “displacement, disruptions and
changes in care-giving arrangement.”
Such effects are more felt when it is the mother who works abroad, as
families go through more adjustments, than when it is the father who
goes to work abroad.
This is because men do not easily take up care-giving when they assume
the role of the mother

46. the social costs of labor migration cannot be denied, impacting severely on children,
psychologically and physically.
While children feel the economic benefits of parents working abroad, various studies
however show that children “do not recognize this as a form of care.” Thus, children of
migrants are less socially adjusted.
Those with absent mother “tend to be more angry, confused, pathetic and more afraid
than other children
Absence of the mother could be the most disruptive in the life of the children.”
The feeling of neglect and abandonment is most felt by the eldest daughter who assumes
the mother’s role in the family as the father struggles to take the mother’s role.
Some report that such communication technologies as the mobile phone and the internet
have been instrumental in easing the anxiety arising from separation (Porio 2007). In
Madianou and Miller’s (2011) study of long-distance parenting among Filipina migrants in
the UK, mothers felt empowered by the mobile phone, as it allowed them to partially
reconstruct their roles as parents. Others contend that ICT use can heighten feelings of
anxiety because of increased awareness of how different their family situation is from the
norm (Miller, 2007).

47. Labor migration of parents also skews the values of children as they view it only
in terms of “money equivalent.” With no proper guidance from the parents, the
regular remittances lead to materialistic attitude of children.
Children of migrants are also vulnerable to abuse and violence with the parent’s
absence
Children of OFWs, particularly of migrant mothers, are more ambivalent
about the benefits of transnational communication. Parreñas (2005)
describes young adult children’s feelings of abandonment and longing for
deeper emotional intimacy with their mothers that cannot be appeased by
weekly calls over the mobile phone. Moreover, such connversations are
typically “commodified,” in that the discourse is dominated by the mothers’
admonitions that the child achieve in school or behave appropriately in
exchange for the mother’s sacrifices and economic contributions. Negative
feelings are allegedly diminished when children receive support from
extended families and communities, enjoy open communication with their
migrant parents, and clearly understand the limited financial options that led
their parents to migrate in the first place (ibid.).

48. FUTURE GOALS
1) Making our Department of Health recognize this silent epidemic
for more efficient information campaigns through its
endorsement
2 Acknowledgement that internet addiction as a
disorder or a pathology to reckon with as it
produces not just behavioral aberration but
molecular changes
2) Mapping epigenetic factors to identify
factors in the environment that creates phenotypic
changes in the genome as an alternative way of
prevention (i.e. maternal abandonment during the formative
years greatly predispose or make these
offspring and can affect succeeding generations more
vulnerable to this type of pathology

49. Thank you very much