PLDT and Smart Communications are calling for closer coordination among government agencies, technology platforms, telecommunications companies, schools, parents, and child protection groups to address online risks facing Filipino children.
The call comes amid concerns over children’s exposure to harmful and graphic online content and cases where digital threats spill over into the physical world.
At the “Safe Online Space Forum: Building Safer Online Spaces for Filipino Children and Families,” representatives from the Senate, Department of Education, Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Converge ICT Solutions, TikTok, media organizations, non-government groups, medical professionals, teachers, gamers, and parents discussed measures to improve child protection online.
PLDT said efforts to protect young internet users should involve government, telecommunications companies, schools, parents, mental health professionals, youth groups, and civil society while taking into account access to information, freedom of responsible expression, and the use of digital tools for education and economic activity.
“No single player can solve this alone,” PLDT chief operating officer Menardo G. Jimenez said, adding that the company intends to use its network and reach to help reduce digital risks and bring different sectors together to identify priorities and recommendations.
Discussions at the forum covered policy and regulatory safeguards and the responsibilities of network operators; ways to identify harmful content, limit its amplification, and improve responses across platforms; and measures that families, schools, and communities can take to improve children’s ability to deal with online risks.
Participants also discussed support mechanisms for children who experience online harm.
The forum is part of the PLDT Group’s child online safety initiatives. The company also participates in PROTECTA Pilipinas, a multi-sector alliance involving government, industry, and community groups focused on cyber resilience, critical infrastructure protection, and online safety.
